Features

• Includes two year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• Enclosed fan-cooled 3 hp induction motor with dual capacitors for full efficiency and power
• Commercial-grade cabinet saw
• Biesemeyer Commercial Fence System with 50" cutting capacity
• 4" dust port located on back; included tool box

Reviews (2)

Delta's Black Sheep
I received this saw for Chrismas.It arrived in good condition, but there are a number of very disconcerting aspects to it.

The saw is manufactured in Taiwan - not in the USA (like the unisaws).According to Jason Carpenter of Delta (1-800-368-1487x3143) it was designed for the Canadian market and brought down to the states to compete with Jet.Not being a unisaw, there are a number of changes.

First, the throat plate is different and unique from *all* of the Delta table saws (cabinet/contractor). At present, you cannot purchase a zero clearance throat plate for it.

Second, the base dimensions are different.I purchased a mobile base with extension (50-289) and it does not fit.Delta has the square section (50-729) which you can order for $121.01.It is not yet listed on their web site or any other site I've seen.The extension (50-284) is an extra $113.30.I plan to modify the 50-289 to fit my needs.

In the spec sheet, the max dado width is 15/16".They don't mention that you need a special arbor to cut this dado with - and you can't leave the special arbor on as it will hit the underside of the table for deep angled cuts.

Another complaint I had was that the cast iron extension wings were not perfectly flat.I had the front and back flush, and had a lit in the middle of about two sheets of paper.In the end I was able to flex it mostly flat at the recommendation of the Delta service center.

What has been most frustrating is the customer support on this saw.I've called Delta several times and the person on other end usually says, "Wow, this saw is brand new.I've never heard of it.Let me see what the manual says."On the mobile base, I called specifically to ask if the 50-289 would work - and was told yes.

I plan to keep this saw as I believe it is worth the money and I don't want the hassle or added cost of shipping it back in excange for a true unisaw; I would however stongly recommend getting a unisaw instead of this one.

Fantastic saw at a great price!
Got this saw for Christmas (a few days early).I have a Delta contractors saw that was pretty nice but still not a cabinet saw.Having used a friend's Unisaw off and on for years I was very familiar with the quality.But wow, is this a great saw!

I'm still not sure what, if any, difference there is between this saw and the Unisaw.Everything seems exactly the same to me.The only thing missing is the extension table.You have to build your own for this one.For the several hundred dollars in savings I didn't mind at all.

The saw arrived in good condition and assembled without much trouble.They recommend two people due to the weight but I did it all alone without a lot of trouble.The assembly instructions are simple and easy to follow.They even include extra bolts and screws and the hardware you need to attach the extension table you build.Also include a diagram for building the extension table.

The main table was perfectly flat and nothing required adjustment.The two cast extension wings are both not quite perfectly flat but are so close it doesn't cause any problems.

If you're familiar with Biesmeyer you already know how great their fences are.If not, then you're in for a pleasant surprise.

The only negative I've encountered is the switch location.It just doesn't work where it is and there was no bracket included for moving it out on the fence where it needs to go.I build my own bracket but I assume you can order one from either Delta or Biesmeyer.In any case, this was not enough of an issue to cause me to rate the saw less than five stars.

Plenty of power, precision cuts, and with the addition of an Osborne miter guide this is just the perfect saw for me.

If you're looking for a great price on a truly exceptional piece of equimpment built to last a lifetime, then look no farther.This is it. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Large 20 throat capacity for larger projects
• 3.5 amp induction motor for cool, smooth running operation
• Cast iron construction for minimal operating vibration and a smoother cut
• Adjustable dust blower keeps sawdust away from cutting line

Reviews (1)

Wonderful machine, mostly
This scroll saw is a pleasure to use. No vibration, quick blade changes for inside cuts, many great features. The stand is sturdy (could use wheels!) and the table top is rock solid.

It lacks a light or any part to which a light could be readily attached. The dust collection nozzle works very well, when hooked up to my collector or shop vac.

My scroll saw arrived missing two bolts to hold a box which protects the wiring. In all, I made seven or eight calls to Delta. They promptly and repeatedly sent me the wrong bolts. Turns out they have no way to keep records of service calls, so you start at the beginning each time. These particular parts are mislabeled at the warehouse, and there is no way to find the right ones.

I finally gave up and taped the circuit box in place. It's a small item, but shows that the Delta customer service operation is in need of a major overhaul. Not the people, necessarily; every one was pleasant and as helpful as possible. But they are hampered by a stone-aged information handling system. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whether you'll use it mainly for resawing or for creative curved cuts, you'll appreciate everything about this workhorse band saw from its rock-solid construction to its micrometer adjustment for ball bearing blade support and the blade guide blocks that assure absolute accuracy. The cast-iron table is a generous 16 by 16 inches and easily tilts 45 degrees right and 9 degrees left for bevel cuts. The max cut capacity is 6-1/4-inch thick, and even at that, with the 1-1/2 hp motor, you won't experience any bogging. Blade change, the least favorite job of band-saw owners, is really not so bad: There's a side take-out slot for the blade, and you won't even have to remove the rip fence guide rails when you're changing blades. We're impressed, too, with the Veri-Set quick-index tensioning system, designed to get you back to cutting wood and not fumbling with blade tension. Cutting brass, then steel? The multi-step pulley makes it a snap to change speeds for different materials. We didn't hook up the press to a dust-collection system, so we can't vouch for how well the integral port pulls sawdust, but the rest of its features would make any woodworker happy.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Lower blade guides have safe, accurate, micrometer adjustment
• Powerful 1-1/2 HP, 115V, guarded drip proof motor
• Full 16" X 16" cast iron table tilts 45 degree and 9 degree left for beveling operations
• 4" integral dust port for woodworking operations
• Quick-stop table presets with table turret

Amazon.com Review

There's not much a band saw can't do--if you have one already, we bet you love it. It's an amazingly versatile tool and, quite honestly, offers the most fun in a shop. This Shopmaster model is a great first band saw for the home shop because it's powerful, compact, and has features you get on the big boys. You've got 9 inches from frame to blade, and the ribbed aluminum table offers a miter gauge slot and a rack-and-pinion, table-tilt mechanism for precision adjustments from 3 degrees left to 45 degrees right. A 1-3/4-inch dust port will draw the chips and dust away from your sight line when connected to your shop vacuum or your dust collection system, and a flex-neck lamp that's right on the housing keeps everything in the light. We love this for its compact size--20 by 30 inches--and its light weight--just 33 pounds--so even the smallest shop owner can have fun cutting curves. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Pre-drilled base holes for easy bench top mounting
• Powerful 1/3-horsepower ball bearing motor for smooth operation
• Flexible lamp illuminates table and workpiece
• Miter gauge slot for straight and angle cutting operations
• Rack and pinion upper blade guide adjustment for proper blade positioning

Reviews (19)

Almost worthless...
I have owned this band saw for almost three-years, and it is the most frustrating mechanical device I've ever encountered! It cuts fast and smooth, but it will not cut a straight line no matter what I do. I've changed blades (a Delta website suggestion) and made countless adjustments following the owner's manual. Using the fence, the blade will track at least 1/2" from a straight line on a 4" cut in 1" soft pine. This one experience has soured me on Delta products.

I don't see the problem here.
I bought my Delta band saw because Delta has a good name and I did not have lot of money to spend. $99.00 was just up my alley. Then I read the reviews on this sight and almost passed out in despair. So I really put this saw to the test and check out EVERY problem people complained about. Mind you I have never used a band saw before, so I had no idea what I was doing. After carefully following the instructions to align it up properly(something I learned must be done with any band saw), I started cutting everything in every way.
To sum it up in one phrase: The saw works great! And for those of you ney-sayers that think I was a light on my saw, I even cut half inch strips from an oak log that just cleared the height of the blade with a little jig I made. I do admit that when I feed the stock too quickly the saw crawls to the left of my line, but when I feed it slow enough I have never had a problem. For those of you who said the saw has insufficient power, I really have no idea what you are talking about. My only complaint is that I find the table and miter gauge a little flimsey, and the blue throat plate is not flush with the table and some stock gets stuck there and hickups as I push it along.
But for $99.00 this is a great saw. Especially for a beginning weekend wood worker like me. Obviously this saw is not first class, but try finding any kind of power saw for $99.00 that has really high quality. You do get what you pay for. And for this price I got alot.

The Dumpmaster
I have a Delta 14 inch bandsaw and I wanted a bench top for quarter inch thick stock. Well, with faith, you set the guide blocks horizontally to the sides of the blade and behind the teeth, set the bear support, and you do this for the bottom set too. Finally, you set the band tension. What do I get? vibration, a wishie-washie
bade that "Kentucky windage" can't keep straight and sawtooth gauges that has me feeding at brake neck glacier speeds. Two days of this and I gave it the heave-hoe into the into the dippsie-dumpster.

Not the greatest, better than nothing
I bought this to replace a Shopsmith bandsaw. The most aggrevating problem is the lack of availability of quality blades. All the problems everyone has had with not being able to cut straight I had with the Shopsmith. I was able to solve the problem by purchasing better (i.e. not Vermont America or Olsen) blades. I found that the silicon steel blades solved the problem, but alas, they are not available for this Delta 9". I use this saw to cut blanks for my lathe, mainly for making pens, pencils, etc. Even with a new blade, the unit does not have the power (stops) to cut 8/4 stock.
I did manage to resolve all the problems of this saw - I purchased a 14" Jet.

What a waste of time
I followed the setup instructions meticulously, adjusted the blade guides, tension, etc. carefully. First thing I noticed when I turned it on was the vibration in the terribly unbalanced machine. Next, as other reviewers noted, it will not track a straight line, nor vertical, either freehand or with a fence. And even if it did, the vibration is such that a freehand cut will never be smooth. I've worked with power tools for 29 years, made clocks, furniture and cabinets, and I have to say this is the worst quality power tool I've ever seen. There is no excuse in packaging a machine so defective that the first thing you have to do is send it in for service. Fortunately the store gave me a refund a couple days after I bought it. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Fits Delta Right Tilt Unisaws, Contractor Saws, and Heavy Duty Shapers
• Easily moves oversized stock, aiding in cutting and shaping operations
• Easy grip feed handle for maximum control
• Glides on 7 ball-bearing rollers for smooth action

Reviews (9)

Installation nightmare... woodworkers doing steel work
The good news: Ordering and receiving the "Sliding Table Attachment" from amazon.com worked perfectly. The bad news: The installation is a nightmare, requiring major steel work such as drilling holes into your table saw steel base. But worse, everybody who owns a Unisaw with a Unifence Guide,such as the Biesemeyer, is expected to saw off 8" from both steel guides and in addition cut the Biesemeyer front guide bar steel box profile. If you don't like that, Delta tech support suggests to simply redrill all mounting holes and move the entire steel guide assembly 8" to the right. Never-mind, how difficult it is to match up the mounting holes with the base. Did I mention, that the existing side table has to be removed too, leaving the power switch dangling in the air. The customer service suggests to move the power switch bracket to the next screw hole, which would be in between the mount of the Biesemeyer fence, creating a gap of about 1/16", hence misaligning your guide fence. Of course, you will not find anything of this on Delta's web site. There is a small note in the instruction manual. If you think, Deta's customer service (phone support or customer service center) will help you, be prepared for a big surprise. The attitude is just as backwards as the age of the company. They really expected me to cut my table saw in half (literally speaking) and be happy with it. In summary, this attachment will only make those woodworkers happy, who also have a steel shop and don't mind doing steel design work for Delta. To be fair, the attachment is somewhat easier to install on cheaper Delta table saws.

Great add-on... with a design flaw
This is a great add-on product for shops that need a means of squaring sheet stock, but don't have nearly the floor space for either a real panel saw or the larger after-market sliding table attachments available (describes my type of work and shop environment to a "T"). The first thing that attracted me to this item was the fact it did not require support legs and allowed the saw to be shifted in position without having to re-align everything (my Unisaw is on a mobile base and is frequently moved to accommodate cuts). The structure of this product is solid and very well built with plenty of adjustment points to ensure the unit can be made as accurate as you wish (how accurate this product is has a direct correlation to the amount of time you spend setting it up). The installation took less than two hours, but you should allow the rest of the day to adjusting & aligning and then re-adjusting and re-aligning and then doing it all over again... and then very possibly doing it all over again the next day. The manual tells you how to make all the required adjustments, but does not explain how shifting one adjustment effects everything else. Not frustrating, just time consuming figuring it all out and patience truly is a virtue when setting up the Delta sliding table. Everything in the packaging was complete and undamaged, although the melamine table on mine was badly cupped, I hammered in a couple of wedges front and back to straighten it out until I can get a new one.

Delta have made this add-on almost impossible to get information on (it took several calls to get Delta to post the manual on their web site), there is a total lack of specifications such as recommended floor space, size of the overall unit once attached to the saw etc. This was critical information for me and my small shop and took a great deal of digging to find out. FYI, the bars are 57" long that the table slides on and the fence is 42" long, you can use those dimensions to work out if this item attached to your saw will fit in your shop. Another minor point is the photo they use in the manual and on their web site shows this unit mounted on the contractor saw. This gave me the impression that this is really a light weight product intended for hobby or casual use. Kind of off-putting for commercial users who own a Unisaw, but fortunately this is not the case and I would rate this product for light industrial use. Many thanks to the other reviewers of this product herein, based on your reviews I did further research on this product; if all I had to go on was information available from Delta I would have bought something else. The reduced capacity of this sliding table did not turn me off in the least, not every shop that does cabinet making full-time requires the ability to deal with 4 x 8 sheet stock (my back gave out on that folly years ago). So I get suppliers (with real panel saws) to chop sheets down to sizes I can effectively deal with prior to humping them into the shop, the Delta's maximum 36" crosscut capacity is fine for 99.9% of what I do. Sadly, the fact that the fence must be re-located to the rear of the table to cut 36" and then adjusting and re-adjusting "square" for both the front and rear fence positions is a bear of a job, and in my humble opinion totally unnecessary... and also in my humble opinion the design flaw.

With the fence in the front position it slides a full 10" past the point on a Unisaw where the fence has cleared the blade on a crosscut (even at maximum height). I realize this length of slide is to accommodate a 36" crosscut with the fence in the rear position. However, why not add that capacity to the front by shifting the bars the distance they overhang the back of the saw toward the front of the saw? This will add at least 10" of cutting capacity (and another 12" with the blade at an appropriate height for 3/4" stock) with the fence in the front position and forget about having a rear position for the fence entirely. This would eliminate the need to move the fence around and enable a much more positive and definitive positioning system for the fence on the table. I can't believe that I'm the first to make this observation on this product; but given the difficulties I had in even finding this product, one has to wonder about how much focus Delta has on the add-on market so I'm not holding my breath for improvements. Having said all that, next to the Unifence this is the best add-on product I've put on my Unisaw (or any of the Unisaw's I've used in the past 30 years). I should have done this years ago, great value (only slightly more money than "precision" mitre guides but with 100 times more capability) and thus far has proven invaluable. Highly recommended.

Delta 34-555 Sliding Table review
I installed this attachment on a Unisaw with a Beisemeyer fence. You need to remove the left table cast wing and cut back the fence hardware as well. I cut mine back right on the saw with a Sawzall. Only took a few minutes. The system installs in a few hours total and has enough adjustment to get it aligned. The first cut was perfectly square and smooth. Works well for me.

Well Worth the money
I just purchased this sliding table. I had a project that required large panels to be mitered at 45 degrees and I have always looked at getting a sliding table so decided to take the plunge.
I was a little concerned after reading some of the comments on calibrating this table. However, as I assembled the table to my saw I was able to focus on how each step would affect the allignment so that when I had to do final adjustments it was relatively easy. I would go so far as to say that the whole instalation process was actually quite enjoyable. All of the critical adjustments were made to ecentric connections so it is clear that delta had a pretty good design to make adustments possible.
Now that it is installed I am finding all different ways to use this. All of those special methods for trying to cut a panel are now gone. Smooth action, accurate cuts and a real "solid" feel. I would highly recomend this to anyone who has a delta contractors saw as not only is a great addition, but it also adds some nice weight to the saw itself.
As far as value I would say that you can not go wrong with this product.

Second review
I wrote my first review when the sliding table was partially installed. I (obviously) was not happy at the time for the reasons cited in that review. However, to be fair to Delta, and to give my fellow enthusiasts the best portrayal of the tool, I am writing again. First, I was able to flatten the sliding table using braces and shims, though if you had the same problem Delta would warranty the table. Remember, mine sat in the box until the warranty had expired. I did order a replacement table from Delta in case my straightened table gave me more problems. Though Delta couldn't offer a warranty replacement, they did pick up the shipping charge (they offered, I didn't have to ask).

Adjusting the table to the saw is a tedious task so plan on spending almost as much time on this part as bolting the pieces on. Be sure to verify that the travel tube is parallel to the saw blade as I had to shim (one less feeler gauge in the world) mine to get the alignment correct. Also, I set the table about fifteen thousandths above the saw table and I am finding this works fine.

Once set up, the sliding table works as intended. It easily moves long or wide stock cleanly through the blade. With the setup disappointments behind me and some experience with the table, I now have to give it the "thumbs up!" ... Read more

Amazon.com

The X5 is one of the finest pieces of machinery we've seen. It's the left-tilt version of Delta's magnificent Unisaw, and everything from the motor to the finely machined T-slots is of the highest standard. Take the motor, for example. It's a 3 HP, single phase 230-volt with full-voltage starter. It flawlessly powers a positive-traction, three-belt V-drive that runs between two massive lifetime ball bearings for no--and we mean zero--vibration. The table is cast-iron, smooth as glass, along with two cast-iron extension wings and a beautifully laminated table supported by rock-solid, leveler-footed steel legs. Riding along the huge 76-by-27-inch table surface is a 50-inch Unifence guide with an adjustable flip-stop; if you've ever used one, you know the precision. It glides like it's on air and locks down with not a hair's breadth of error, even at its maximum 50 inches to the right of the blade. Even the arbor is a piece of perfection, precision-ground, stress-proofed and flange-faced after production. Inside this 600-pound saw's cabinet is a clever slope that directs sawdust right to the 4-inch duct collector chute to eliminate clogging in the cabinet. Quality saws always have a T-slot for the miter gauge, and this one's no exception, allowing you to extend Delta's super-precise Auto-Set miter gauge far beyond the front edge without tip-out or instability on both sides of the 10-inch blade. The left-tilting arbor allows you a max cut of 2-1/8 inches at 45 degrees, putting big gorgeous bevels well within your reach. If it's precision and power you're after, this is the last saw you'll ever buy.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Five year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• Includes machine with left tilt, 3 HP single phase motor for powerful cutting
• 50" Unifence saw guide with adjustable flip stop
• Carbide tipped 50 tooth ATB&R saw blade, laminated table board, adjustable steel support legs
• Two cast iron extension wings, standard insert, miter gage, motor cover and 4" dust connector

Reviews (2)

items improperly shipped
Amazon shipped this item using ABF as the freight company. Either the table saw was not secured to the pallet or ABF removed the strapping, because the tip indicator had been activated. In addition, the box was crushed on one side and there was a 6 inch and an 8 inch hole in the box. A quick inspection also revealed the motor cover had been crushed and the styrofoam packing was laying in pieces. The drill press, shipped on the same order, had punched through the box and had indications that the shaft impacted with another item. The jointer also had punched through the box and styrofoam packing material.

All items were on pallets however, none of the items were strapped down to the pallet and no shrink wrap was used to secure the items to each other.

After a full day of deliveries by this truck, there were no signs of tie down straps, loose or otherwise, anywhere on the truck nor were the other two crates on the truck strapped down. Boxes listed as 'This Side Up' were laying on their sides. Boxes clearly labled 'Top Heavy' were not secured to pallets.

After seeing this level of shipping abuse, no further inspection was necessary as the entire shipment had to be refused.

Interesting enough, Amazon is glad to cancel the order and provide a refund however, I somewhat expected them to offer to resend the items using another carrier... which they did not.

Last saw you'll ever need
Size, power, flexibility, power, precision, power, power, power.I'm a casual woodworker.I'd like to think I'll someday get good enough to find some obscure feature this saw lacks.I doubt I ever will.My 2nd and final saw purchase.No regrets, not even the cost. ... Read more

Features

• Five year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 1-1/2 HP induction motor for smooth power and long performance
• 10" cast iron wing, stand, belt and pulley guard
• See-thru blade guard with splitter and anti-kickback attachment
• Miter gage, V-belt, arbor, motor pulleys, 30" Unifence system complete with side extension table

Reviews (4)

Very nice contractor saw
I've been using this saw for about three years now (when I bought it it was called the Platinum Edition, not X5; everything is identical though).

It's a great contractor saw. It cuts well and can be transported with two people. However, there are a few drawbacks.

First, moving the saw always throws the extension table out of alignment. If you move the table between sites, I suggest that the table be completely removed. The table is attached with wood screws and they just are not substantial enough to hold the table while moving it.

Second, dust collection is atrocious. If you plan on using this is a cabinet shop, you need to attach something to collect dust.I tried the dust chute manufactured by Delta and it is a complete waste of time.Instead, I attached 1/4" hardboard. NOTE: the best way to do this is to attach it between the legs and frame, which requires a lot of effort.

Third, the blade height mechanism is very difficult to adjust.The blade height mechanism loosens over time.So, if you are cutting dados and it is loose, you can end up with a dado that starts at 1/2" deep and finishes at 1/4" deep. Tightening it requires that you be a contortionist or that you turn the saw upside down.

Fourth, the blade guard is tough to work with. The plastic housing does not stay up and out of the way. I eventually tossed the blade guard and purchased a Beisemeyer after-market splitter, which works great.

Fifth, I don't see any benefit to the UniFence.In the three years I've used it, I've never had a situation where I wanted to change the oriientation of the fence. But I've had many occasions where a Beisemeyer fence would have been useful. Also, attaching jigs to a UniFence is much more difficult than attaching to a Beisemeyer.

Sixth, the motor will bog down when cutting thick tough wood, like 5/4 oak or rock maple.

So, this machine gets four stars (and I put a cabinet saw on my Christmas list).

Solid Contractor's Saw
I've been shopping for a contractor's saw for awhile and I checked out the Delta, DeWalt, Jet, Grizzly, Etc.Most woodworkers I knew had either a Delta or a Jet and both saws have staunch supporters.The things that swayed me toward the Delta were: 1) The Unifence (easy to set up/adjust, versatile, and extremely rigid/accurate)2) Delta has a great reputation for customer service3) The X-5 version has some heft at almost 300lbs4) I can take advantage of the X-5 rebates that have been going on5) 5yr warranty...I probably won't need it.The saw is well built.

I had high expectations for this saw...

Now that I've had the saw for about a month.I am still very satisfied with my choice.

I had a small shipping damage issue with a couple of parts that Delta sent replacements for without delay.I had to wait on hold, but when they talked with me, the response was immediate and courteous.I love a company that cares for customers.

I set up the saw by myself with little or no difficulties.The only thing that was close to time consuming was mounting the motor and aligning the belt properly.The Unifence was easy to set up and align.The best way to ensure that you have great fence alignment...MAKE IT EASY TO ADJUST.The fence is solid with no side deflections (I checked out all fences at retailers and at Woodworking shows, the Unifence is up there with the best).Blade 45 and 90 deg stops were also very easy to adjust.

Part finish was excellent and the saw looks like a quality piece of equipment that I will give to my sons...after 30 years or so.

Cutting with the saw was a great experience.The saw is very stable, quietly powerful and safe to operate with splitter and guard.

When I get the mobile base, I'll be able to move it around when I am using other tools.

I really couldn't ask for more out of a Contractor's saw.

Except maybe one thing...If power tools are going to be sold by Amazon or any other vendor that ships.The packaging needs to be a little more robust to withstand the abuse that individually shipped tools can get.Replacing parts for shipping damage can't be a good way to make profits.I want Delta to be around for a long time, so please spend a little more on packaging.

Great Table saw.
We bought this table saw for our workshop so we did not have to use our portable contractors saw in the shop.It took awhile to assemble it and some parts were broken, however they were shipped to us within 3 days.The only thing I do not like is that you can not mount an outfeed table to it when you have the unifence system.The motor housing when tipped to cut at 45 degrees sticks up above the table level and so the outfeed table would prevent tipping to a full 45 degrees.
Other than that, has great power, well built and easy to use.

No better 10" contractor saw
I have wanted a 10" table saw for 30 years since I worked in a cabinet shop at that time.My livelihood went other directions so I could not justify the expense and commit to a tool of this size when moving.A year ago I began building a 1700+ sq. ft. house for myself mostly by myself and by last spring I was ready and very excited to finally order a saw.My son who is in fine woodworking for a living said that I ought to seriously consider Jet and Grizzly.I am a shopper who likes to research all possibilities.As it is now said and done, I have a 10" Delta Contractor's Special w/Unifence setting on my jobsite.What a joy to use, it accurately shaves paper thin slices of wood and has adequate power to cut in it's full range.I am excited at the prospect of converting to 220v when I set it permanently in my garage/workshop.The assemble was a breeze, a little over an hour and I am moderately good w/tools. The parts fit is very precise and the table and fence were no problem.I am very proud of the quality I was able to buy from an American company.There is no reason to look farther for a table saw than Delta and provided by Amazon/ToolCrib with the best price, service and shipping. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Delta's Shopmaster TS220 is a step up from their benchtop saw, offering a larger table with outfeed extensions and a powerful 15 amp motor that can slice through hardwoods without bogging down. The solid anodized-aluminum table measures 17-1/2 by 34 inches and allows for a 20-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade. When working with long pieces, you can pull out the steel outfeed extension for better support, then collapse it back into the table when you're done for more compact storage. There's a front- and rear-locking T-square-type fence, and while it isn't as desirable as the fences found on larger Delta saws, it's more accurate than the fences we find on many benchtop saws. We also like the large paddle switch that makes quick shutdowns easy and the sturdy steel stand that comes with this saw. This saw will work great for do-it-yourselfers and beginning woodworkers, but professionals and people taking on more extensive home remodeling work will want to consider stepping up to the greater capacity offered by one of Delta's industrial saws. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 15-amp motor provides plenty of power for all cutting operations
• Anodized-aluminum tabletop provides a smooth work surface
• Capacity to cut 3-inch material at 90 degrees, 2-1/2-inch material at 45 degrees
• Rip fence locks front and rear to maintain accuracy of cut

Reviews (6)

Much better than expected
You already know it has a smallish table and non-standard miter slots. So let's call this half a table saw. I paid $179 for mine. That's half a table saw at a third the price of a "real" table saw. So I couldn't resist trying it out.

In brief, you can do everything with this little saw that you can with a contractor's saw, plus one thing more: You can heave it around your shop, or up the stairs, or into your station wagon. With careful setup and adjustment, everything locks down straight and true. The measuring tape on the rip fence rail is amazingly accurate.

I have one major complaint: Would it have killed Delta to make the miter gage slide a little longer?

I'm chronicling my experiences with this tool at http://benchsaw.blogspot.com

For a more complete review:

• Why I bought it
  
• Setup
  
• First cuts and a miter gage improvement
  

I'd recommend this saw to cheapskates like me with limited shop space and a tendency to make their own jigs and fixtures, since you can't use store-bought ones.

Delta TS220LS Shopmaster 10" Bench Saw
This review is an update reflecting a couple of months of regular use. I've deducted one star for the throat insert, as detailed below.

ASSEMBLY: Assembly took over an hour, due mainly to the time required to positively identify the many fasteners.

SETUP: Heel-to-toe blade alignment, miter gauge alignment, and fence alignment were acceptable out of the box. Blade tilt stops and indicator were off, and after adjustment they did not return dependably to the preset stops.

PROs and CONs: This saw cuts well and produces clean, accurate cuts. However, as has been my previous experiences with Delta Shopmaster tools, they are a decent value for the price, but attention to detail is lacking. My main complaint with this tool is the crappy insert that doesn't sit flush with the table, causing boards to sometimes hang up on the exposed lip when ripping with the fence. This not only decreases accuracy, but leads to frustration and potentially dangerous situations when ripping thin material and cross-cutting short workpieces. Another problem is the non-standard miter gauge slots which do not accept after-market accessories such as featherboards and tenon jigs.

This would have been a 4 but...
Don't necessarily let this "low" rating dissuade you from buying this saw new. This review is for the refurbished model.

I bought this saw as a replacement for a big Sears model that I used to own. It was taking up to much room in my garage and was very heavy and difficult to move around. I am a weekend wood butcher and knuckle buster. I wanted a smaller lighter model and don't need the heavy duty features of a big iron model.

My saw arrived UPS with the carton tattered and horrors, the bottom was unsealed quite a bit. Opening it I found the contents were strewn about with some of the small nuts and washers loose. There was absolutely no padding or packing to protect or restrain the contents. Some parts were scratched and others were laying against the carbide saw blade. No saw blade teeth appeared to broken though, and it looked like the major parts were there and still intact. Amazingly the saw table was not scratched or dented even though there was only the thin cardboard box to protect it.

After completely assembling the saw and stand I started to make any necessary adjustments. The saw blade was WAY out of alignment. The instructions said that alignment shouldn't be necessary as it was factory set. It also said that if adjustment was necessary to loosen some screws accessible from the top of the saw table. These were very difficult to loosen and appeared to have been tightened way to much. I had to use a wrench on the underside. After getting them loose I still couldn't adjust the saw blade parallel to the miter-gauge slot. I'm talking about a quarter inch here, not a millimeter. I tried to take the blade off and found the adjustment so bad that the provided wrench wouldn't fit between the saw top and saw arbor notch.

My choices were to either send the saw back or completely take it apart. I choose the later. I removed the leg set, and took the top of the saw off it's plastic base to expose the guts. This also meant taking off the front tilt and elevation handles and the wiring. I was down to just the top, motor, and motor mount.

By loosing the "Floating Jack Shaft" mounting nuts the motor and assembly could be swung back into alignment. I did careful measuring before retightening the bolts to have minimal realignment upon reassembling this saw.

I also found that the miter gauge had lost its pointer during shipping so I made a new one out of scrap aluminum. Other lost parts consisted of a few lock-washers and a screw. More annoying to me was ending up with washers, screws, and an interesting machined part that I cannot find in the assembly instructions or parts list. One final anomaly was that the supplied screws that are used to hold the front rail to the saw were too large to fit into the holes drilled in the rail. I could have searched for smaller headed screws but decided to ream the holes with a drill bit "chucked" in a vise grip. Well, this is a refurb so I wasn't too surprised at all of this.

So why didn't I rate this one eyed, three legged dog even lower?

Because I feel it will fit the need for which I bought it. This is a bench saw made of an aluminum top with a plastic base so although it is not as stout as the big iron it doesn't need to be. I will NEVER use it as a work-top as I sometimes did with my old saw. The trade-off is that it is much easier to move around. It has plenty of power for the kinds of jobs I have planed for it. It cuts 1 inch softwood and 3/4 plywood like butter, although it starts rather abruptly getting up to speed almost instantly. More surprising is that it is very accurate. It actually has less run-out than my old cast-iron saw had and the rip fence locks tight and true. Once running it is actually quieter than my old saw too. Much of this has to do with the blade one uses.

It being small is an asset for me in another way; I feel safer using it. I can wrap my fingers over the rip fence easily to keep them out of harms way. Wood glides effortlessly over the machined saw table, which is dead flat. The table insert is a bit cheesy, being made of thin stamped steel. Making a zero clearance one may be a challenge because of the thinness. Since it can only rip to 20 inches I can not cut down the center of 4 foot sheet goods. But I could never do this accurately with the big saw either. Its' fence was too short for that kind of work. Especially for one person to handle without extra tables set up. I sometimes would try but the saw line always wandered. I would have been better off using a clamped straight edge and portable circular saw. Or even a router that could make the final shape and cut to size in one pass.

I feel if you buy this saw and don't expect big iron performance then you will be pleasantly surprised with its' power and accuracy. Having on hand a couple each of 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 mm combination wrenches will get it together and get you out of trouble too. You will need a flat head screw driver and a number 2 & 3 phillips-head screw drivers. A combination square should be used to check for squareness and blade alignment. I also used never-seize on all bolts that screwed into the aluminum table.

All-in-all I would have rated this saw a 4 if I hadn't had to fuss with it so much. Buy new and you can hopefully save yourself this.

Inexpensive table saw worth every penny
A starter saw that helped put the finishing touch on a beautiful cabinet installation convinced me to come out of woodworking retirement and attack a complete kitchen remodel. Yes it's inexpensive and could use a bigger table, but for a portable saw to cut cabinet trim pieces and other small projects, it is great. Sure I'll be spending [$$$] for a Jet next year but this was worth the minimal bucks today.

Poor Saw
I bought this saw as a starter to see what I wanted out of a table saw. I discovered after purchasing it that the arbor is too short to hold a traditional dado set. Instead Delta has a wobble dado blade that can fit on the arbor of this model. Needless to say, this is pretty much useless for doing any smooth cuts. The fence is also shoddy, although I expected this from a starter model. If you have a compound miter saw and a circular saw, you can do anything this table saw can do and more. Don't waste your money on this one - spend more and get something better. I plan to return mine to the retailer. ... Read more

Features

• Cast iron frame and table for improved stability
• Upper and lower tire brushes for improved blade tracking
• Large, 2-wheel design improves blade life
• Built-in dust port for dust collection
• Heavy-duty, 1/2 HP ball bearing motor

Amazon.com Review

This entry-level scroll saw from Delta has only the bells and whistles that thehome hobbyist really needs. It's a cut above their SS200 model, differing mostly in that itoffers variable speed and the Quickset II blade-changing system, both handy features.The cast iron, round table--measuring 11-3/4 inches in diameter--will tilt to 45 degrees tolet you cut bevels. When you're done, a positive stop brings the table back accuratelyperpendicular to your blade. If you're looking to do some interior scrolling, this saw is agreat choice at a good price. Its Quickset blade-changing system allows you to drill yourpilot hole, snap open the Quickset chuck, run the blade easily through your pilot hole, andseat it back in the Quickset chuck--a snap, and you're cutting. Blade tensioning isaccomplished with a fingertip control, extending your blade life and preventing snappedblades. The nifty built-in blower keeps your cut line clear. The saw has onboard bladestorage, as well as a pretty generous 16-inch throat capacity (the distance from the bladeto the inside back of the saw). You can buy a stand for it or mount it on your workbench;either way, predrilled holes in the tool base will make that job a breeze. --Kris Jensen- Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 2-amp induction-type motor provides quiet, smooth power with less vibration
• Variable speed for the best cutting results in a variety of materials
• Quick-set blade chuck for quick, easy blade changes
• Cast iron construction reduces vibration

Reviews (10)

Not Impressed
I bought this unit at Sears about a year and a half ago and right away found the blade vibration side-to-side was awful. In addition the blower tube did not work. I took the unit back to Sears and they repaired it. The blower tube will remove very light dust if I can get the outlet close enough to the material but that is as good as it gets. The blade movement is still the same and Sears says there is nothing they can do about it. I have tried bolting the unit down but that only served to vibrate EVERYTHING else off of the work bench(even an impact wrench). I can make pretty good cuts on soft wood up to 1/2 inch or hardwood up to 1/4 but thats it. Try anything more and the blade wanders all over the place no matter how it is tensioned. Maybe I just got a lemon but I have yet to have a good experience with anything in the "shopmaster" line.

GREAT Saw at GREAT Price
I got this saw 7 months ago and have put many hours cutting 1/8th to 1" wood, hard and soft with no problems. I have placed the saw on an old end table (unbolted) and there is very little vibration if any. The blade changing is very fast and can be done in seconds not minutes. First thing I recommend if you buy this saw is throw away the blades that come with it and get some good ones (not delta). It will make a BIG difference. Only one problem I found and that is the table only tilts one direction and makes it difficuly to do relief cutting. I fully recommend this saw to anyone.

Poor design????
Very interesting to find the same problem in Gainesville. The little saw worked great until it tip of the upper arm broke and ate the rubber mount below the arm. I wouldn't have been so disappointed given the low price but it was almost new.

You get what you pay for
I purchased this saw to make puzzles and didn't want to spend a lot. I got what I paid for, a decent saw for a very low price. Out of the box setup was smiple. I had to re-drill/mill the top pivot point and reinstall the collect as it wasn't rotating freely causing severe vibration and breaking blades. It takes me about 30 seconds tops to change the blade. The blower (to blow away dust) is barely funcitonal. Variable speed feature works great. I've used a variety of unidirectional multidirection blades. All work well. Invest in the right blades, work your pieces SLOWLY and always have the clamp down tight on your piece, and it will work fine. I spent almost as much on getting the right blades as this very reasonably priced machine. The quality is average if that, but the price is unbeatable. Even including the small repairs I had to do on the machine.

Cheap Canadian Import - Avoid at all Cost!
This is what happens when we import products.
This is 1950's technology, that's why it's $59 at Lowes. It takes 1 hour to change the blades. The tension control came unscrewed and would not go back in when changing the last blade. This piece of junk is going back to Lowes.
CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP! Don't buy imports. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This benchtop saw from Delta's Shopmaster line offers accuracy and reliability in an easily portable package. It has a 13 amp, 120-volt motor for plowing through cuts and features a 17-1/4-by-26-inch table that allows for a 9-7/8-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade. There's a self-aligning rip fence that locks in parallel to the blade and a T-slot groove in the table so you can use a standard miter gauge for crosscutting. It also has a see-through blade guard with an integral splitter and antikickback fingers, and a toggle-style on/off switch. This model comes with a hefty steel stand so you can use it anywhere you need it. While this is a great saw for do-it-yourselfers working on smaller projects, people needing more rip capacity and a more powerful motor will want to consider a step up to Delta's TS220 Shopmaster saw. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Powered by a 13-amp, 120-volt motor for dependable cutting power
• Lightweight for easy portability
• Ample capacity to cut 3-inch at 90 degrees, 2-1/2-inch at 45 degrees
• Rip fence locks front and rear to maintain accuracy of cut

Reviews (5)

Worth the money
I have to agree with some of the previous reviews. This is a good, portable table saw. I wanted an inexpensive and portable table saw to get my workshop started. The low price, light weight and included stand fitted my needs exactly.

I have used this saw to build some bookcases and to rip some nailers for a crown molding project, as well as some other smaller jobs. So far this little Delta has powered through everything with only the problems that would come from any other lightweight, portable saw. I did pick up a thin kerf Freud Diablo after-market blade. This saw and blade combo makes VERY SMOOTH cuts while the included blade is great for chewing through stock when a little wave doesn't matter.

This is not a cabinet saw with an ultra-accurate fence. Don't rely on the included rule. Get out your T-square and set the fence. Once the fence is set, I've found that it stays in place.

Yes,the mitre slots are smaller than standard and that is a pain in the backside but with a little creativity and some time at the bench grinder my after-market Bench Dog feather boards fit like a dream.

The table is small but the portability of the saw was important to me. I stopped at Sears and picked up two Craftsman roller stands and the small table is no longer an issue. The beauty is that all three pieces don't take up much space in my garage.

The saw is lightweight and has a tendency to wander on a smooth surface. A piece of plywood with some 2x4's attached in a square shape solves this problem. Set the stand legs inside the square and your body weight stops the wandering. Make sure that the plywood is long enough so you can stand on it while guiding your work piece through the saw. The plywood leans against a wall behind the rollers and saw and doesn't take up much space in my garage.

So there are is my opinion of this inexpensive, portable saw. My only complaint with the saw is the non-standard mitre slots (this is the reason that it didn't get 5 stars). The other complaints are inherent with all portable table saws.

If you need to make ultra-accurate cuts or power through a ton of hardwood every day, this is not the saw for you. If you do the occasional project and have minimal storage area, this is a great saw with a nice price tag.

Don't get it just because it is cheap!
I picked up the Delta TS200LS about 3 months ago from my local Lowe's. I like the Delta name and needed a table saw; I didn't have much money to spend. Solely because of that, I chose the Delta TS200LS. The miter gauge slot and blade insert are not standard and you will not be able to find generic upgrades for them. Once I decided to buy a new miter gauge, due to the aluminum cheapy included, I finally found out that this was not standard. After getting the chance to use a better Delta, I noticed that my previous wavy lines in my cuts weren't due to me using the equipment incorrectly; it was the equipment! I could never get a perfectly straight line, even on rip cuts with the fence. This may be a good saw for work site needs but if this is going to be set up in your home and you plan on using it more often than rarely, do yourself a favor and spend some extra money. With Lowe's gracious 90 day return policy, I just picked up a TS300 for $300 and THIS is a table saw! Perfect cuts each time and it doesn't feel like my table wants to vibrate away now.

Do it yourselfer, hobbiest, homeowner
Just finished putting together my new Delta TS200LS Shopmaster 10" Portable Bench Saw. Putting it together was a pretty simple task and the instructions were clear enough. Time to put the saw together was just under an hour, total time with doing the recommended adjustments on the splitter and 90 degree and 45 degree stops was about an hour and a half. The saw did not seem to need a whole lot of adjustments out of the box, it was however a little off parralel. I gave it a good test spin by cutting up some old 2x4 pt and 2x6 pt then fed it some nasty old 4x4 pt that I had laying around. It certainly has the power to handle that type of material and the cuts were true and clean. This saw should be able to handle any small woodworking project you should have around the house with ease. Don't get me wrong I can't see throwing a full sheet of 1" plywood on it and hope it will cut it in half straight, this saw is just not for that after all its a portable saw with only a 26" table. All in all you can't beat the price and worthiness of this saw (shop around, I have seen this saw for as low as $99.00). My first project with my new saw is building a place to store it. I look forward to working with this saw on some other projects that the wife has lined up also.

Good Inexpensive Homeowner Saw
Ok. Lets get something straight - this is an inexpensive little saw. If you want to do more than little projects, invest the money for a better saw. Having said that, yes the miter slots are smaller, and not as accurate as those on other Delta's. This saw has the same size miter slots as the TS200 series & TS220LS. The idea is, it's not meant for big jobs so a smaller miter gauge and slot are fine. Don't pan a saw, or cry "Sour Grapes" because you can't weigh yourself with a thermometer - it wasn't designed for that. The TS-300 (formerly 36-600) & other contractor / pro series saws have more heavy-duty miter gauges & slots at a more heavy duty price. In addition the fence is a little rickety. However, if you take the time to work with the adjustments and you can get it to do pretty well. I always measure to be safe (measure twice, cut once). Everyone knows the value of a table saw lies in its fence and miter gauge. Here you get what you pay for. The directions were very good and saw assembled in a little more than an hour. Make sure you take the time to check the set up. Out of the box my blade was not aligned with the table correctly, I found out the hard way- my error. I had to make an adjustment that I should have checked for and performed when I set up the saw. The blade splitter is a real pain (most are junk). Again you will need to take the time to properly adjust it [which I actually did]. However you still can't throw it back and have it stay out of the way for making adjustments or measurements. The anti-kickback clips have a tendency to catch on the material and throw off the feed and alignment. I took mine off, but for safety reasons I don't recommend that anyone else do this. The stand is fine, the weight & stability are very good. The saw is easily portable. The on/off switch is in a good / safe place. There's plenty of power for small projects. The blade that comes with it is fair for the homeowner. However, I recommend a thin kerf Freud blade - it will help a lot. I used my TS200LS to make a fish tank stand and build a Murphy bed cutting 3/4" birch plywood and 2x4's. The TS200 performed admirably. Now my wife wants me to build an entertainment center (time for a bigger better saw). Overall, this is a good little saw for the money and small projects. If that describes your needs than this is the saw for you, no doubts. For bigger jobs perhaps not. My father always said buy quality and you'll only cry once. Amazing how the older I get the smarter he gets. }:-) I hope this review helps.

Sour Grapes!!
T-slots are to small! The Shopmaster I have 3/8 x 5/8 T's. Delta's jigs do not fit! When I called their service no., I was told there was nothing I could do! ... Read more

Features

• Includes two year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• Powerful 15 amp motor generates 5200 rpm blade speed for maximum cutting power
• Built in arbor lock for easy, single wrench blade changes
• Lightweight aluminum alloy construction for durability and easy portability
• Dual bevel ability, with easy to read scale and adjustable positive stops at 45 degrees left and 45 degrees right

Reviews (4)

this one over Dewalt
I was tired of using my circular saw and not getting "Dead on " cuts. Sure 90 degree cuts were easy but the others were time consuming. A project I started in the house convinced me now is the time to shoot the lock off my wallet and buy a compound miter saw. I didn't need the big 12" saw and I don't use the saw every day. As always I wanted a good quality saw. I looked around and did my research before heading to home depot. I was stuck between the Dewalt and the Delta. Both had many of the same features but the Delta had more. Dewalt had accessories I could buy, but the Delta already had them in the box. I didn't have to order anything or pay anything extra. Still I was going back and forth as to which was a better saw. DeWalt has a great reputation for a reason. I spoke with the very knowledgeable man in the tool corral and he spoke highly of both. Being I was a "weekend warrior" he suggested I opt for the saw that had the same power but came with more accessories. I bought the Delta and have no regrets. It was accurate right out of the box. The bevel adjustment is right up front. No reaching around the back like most saws. The slide out handles and clamp have been extremely useful. I might eventually get a better blade but the one included has worked just fine. It zips right through and does it accurately. I bought this saw to speed up my work and it has done just that. If I had to do it all over again I would again buy the Delta.

Accurate right out of the box
My husband and I are home-improving our 1881 Cape on a budget, and we purchased this saw and a portable table saw as Christmas presents for one another. This saw will make that work a LOT easier.

We read reviews here on Amazon, in various shop magazines, websites and solicited advice from experienced carpenters & home improvement cronies. Having done our homework, we ended up with the Delta 36-585 when the weekend before Christmas 2003, Home Depot had a sale on power tools -- 20% off.

We have used it pretty much daily since. It was basically set to go right out of the box. We checked the blade alignment and miters for accuracy and it was smack dab on, no need to adjust ANYTHING! We were amazed.

The dual bevel feature with the front lock is great. Miter and bevel angles are easy to set. Unlike other saws even beyond this price range, this saw included a clamp and extension wings. The included blade is fine for most work, and sharp enough to make very clean 45 degree miter cuts. We've used it to frame in oak, a set-in section of granite tile on our countertop, and it made the cuts perfectly.

Although the saw included a dust bag, don't be fooled. MAYBE 20% of the sawdust generated is captured. We plan to connect the saw to our Shop-Vac but of course, have to find the appropriate connector widget to do so. If all shop tools had standardized dust collection fittings, the world would be a cleaner place. Even so, this saw still rates 5 stars in my opinion, as few other saws do any better with dust collection.

We think this saw is an excellent value for the price, and with care it should last for years.

Great Saw
Bought the Delta 36-585 at H.D. at a great price. The saw is as good as they come. Great quality,ease of operation,decent blade,there may be better out there but not at this price. If you need a excellent 10" Dual Bevel, front Bevel Lock, Compound Miter Saw this saw is the ticket

Best Deal Out There
This is my first Delta product. Apparently, it's a new model. I looked at most of the other miter saws out there and pretty much made up my mind to just grab the DeWalt 703, which seemed to be the best made for the price. I base a lot of my judgement on feel and the DeWalt seemed to be the beefiest. Then I stumbled on the Delta 36-585 at Home Depot. It seemed just as sturdy as the DeWalt, maybe just a tiny bit less so (I mean TINY) but it had way more features and capability, for the same price. I think they were running a special or introductory offer, because it was $199. I haven't seen it for less than $260 anywhere else, including the Internet. The saw is complete quality. Everything feels rock solid and tight. The cuts, miter, bevel, and 90 degree, are dead-on accurate too. A great thing about it is the dual bevel capability, which is only available on much more expensive saws, at least the ones that I've seen. Also included are steel extension wings and a clamp, which I think are optional in the DeWalt. Another really great feature is the fact that the locking mechanisms for both the miter and bevel are right up front. No reaching behind to loosen the bevel clamp. Easy and fast! This saw is high quality and light, and a breeze to use. I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you can't find it at the lower price. ... Read more

Features

• Includes two year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• 3 HP, 230V, 1 Phase
• 4" dust port
• Large cast hand wheels
• T2-50 fence and Unifence

Features

• Includes two year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• 2 HP, 230V, single 60 Hz., motor
• Quick tension release lever allows for quick blade changes
• Table extensions for full support towards frame
• 12" resaw capacity, roller guide bearings, table tilts 8 degrees left and 49 degrees right

Reviews (6)

Very Disappointed in the quality of guides
First things first... For those of you who own this saw already, somebody wrote in a review of it that it's a pain to have to tilt the table for the lower inner blade guide bearing adjustments. I found an extra allen wrench that fit, and ground the short end off with a bench grinder, down to about a quarter inch. It's still a pain, but you can just fit it in there to loosen the setscrew without having to tilt the table.

PS: Amazon.com ROCKS!

Now on to my review...

I have a few real problems with this saw. First the blade size is practically unavailable, whereas it would have been easy for Delta to make this saw in some very common blade sizes quite close to the 136" that it requires.
Second, The guides flat out SUCK. Everything on the upper end of this saw is weak. The guide adjustments are pointless in almost every fashion, because poor quality machining on cast iron parts that don't fit well make setting the guides an exercise in futility. COME ON DELTA!!! This is the most important part!
I have an old 14 inch wood and metal cutting saw that has a SUPER lowering arm. It's about a 1 inch steel bar that fits perfectly in a 1 inch steel track, with a couple of straps holding it in place. How SIMPLE. It's perfectly accurate. Delta's wind up and down guide arm, AND the bearing holder castings are JUNK JUNK JUNK! I'm considering buying the material to make an arm that is like my old saw. It doesn't wind up and down, but hey, if it stays put on the vertical plane, (which Delta's definitely DOES NOT, then who cares.

Third this saw has a fairly weak table and trunnion setup for a saw of it's size. I would NOT recommend this saw to anyone....Except maybe my old landlord;-)

The power, frame, and wheels are good on this saw. It's a SHAME Delta has let the junky guides get through on these. I think Delta, Powermatic, just to name a couple, are riding on the name these days. There are much nicer sturdier products available from other importers, like Grizzly, and Bridgewood, that kick these old faithful American names butts!
Too bad it has to be that way.
If I could get anything close to what I paid for this saw, I'd sell it in a blink of an eye, and buy some old beater machine thats twice or three times as heavy and needs rebuilt. In the long run that would be a much better investment. I would suggest Bridgewood or Grizzly for the re-saw bandsaw category over, either Delta or Jet's 18 in. saws. You can get more there for your money, if you really want a NEW saw. Grizzly has some pretty junky equipment, BUT they also make some really good stuff. I think after seeing their showroom, I would definitely buy a mid to upper size bandsaw from them. Bridgewood has great bandsaws, for a new import.

The Good...
This saw has a tension LEVER. Very good idea.
The cast iron wheels are nicely made, and run very smooth.
Good power.
Saw frame is FAIRLY sturdy, but could be a little beefier.
Nice fence
Switch is magnetic, and located well.
Dust collection design is good, but needs an upper wheel brush added for best results.
Table is pretty flat.
Motor pulley and speed adjustments are easy.
Neat inboard table extension idea. (For those companies just too cheap to actually throw a big cast iron table on their saw.)
REGARDLESS... DON'T buy this saw.
The crappy guide parts and lowering arm overrule all the goods listed.

Good saw but could guides could be much better
I got this saw the other day. Very beefy saw. Fit and finish are good. Agree with other reviewer that lower blade guide is tough to adjust since you have to tilt up the table just to be able to access it. First the bad parts:

I will go further and state that I think for a saw of this quality, Delta should have put much better upper and lower blade guides that what was included with the saw. The castings for the mounts are cast iron and are not very high quality. Not smooth finished and the upper guide bearings that ride on either side of the blade do not even ride parallel to each other. The bearings ride on eccentric shafts that are held in place with a setscrew to adjust the distance to the blade. The rear upper guide bearing sits on a cast iron piece that is held inplace with a set screw. It is adjusted for distance to the blade by moving it by hand in and out. No screw adjustment or any fine tuning available. Also it and the lower rear bearing adjustment have plenty of slop in them. So much that the bearings can droop down (not parallel with the blade) by about 1/8th of an inch or more. Given the fact that this is one of the more expensive Taiwanese 18" saws on the market, this lack of quality is unacceptable. Other competitors saws have much better QC and designs for their blade guides. Unfortunately Carter does not yet have a retrofit blade guide kit for this saw. So far I have not been able to get the saw to cut strait when trying to resaw a 3" piece of hardwood.

The good: As I said, fit and finish is good. Power is good and I think the overall design of the saw is good. Comes with a magnetic starter, table extension and a good solid fence. I have ordered some replacement parts from Delta and their response was very good. Unfortunatley, the design of the blade guides is critical to the working of the saw and these will probably get replaced when Carter comes out with a replacement kit.

My Delta 28-682 is NOT made in the good ole U.S.A.
I researched buying a 18 in bandsaw for several weeks before ordering a Delta. I chose Delta because I have several pieces of their equipment now and am well pleased with them, they are Made in the U.S.A. as their history indicates.

What a surprise when I was looking for blades which are special made, to find the word IMPORT in a dealers description; this is after I had placed my order. It is hard to find that this bandsaw is foreign made. Even Delta takes 4 working days to tell you it is imported. I have worked in woodworking 40+ years and run some American made equipment that is 74 years old that produces as good as the first day. My experience with foreign is it looks good but it does not last. I could have saved $200 by buying another better equiped foreign bandsaw.

Best Bang for the Buck!
Bought this saw a couple months ago before Amazon was carrying them.Did much comparison shopping between brands and decided that this saw had all others in its class beat by far, at least on specifications.Now that I've had the time to get familiar with the beast, I'm happy to say that my expectations have been exceeded!

A concern I had before buying was the blade sizes Delta says the saw will accomodate....1/2 to 1 1/4.... this worried me since I wanted a saw that would cut a tighter radius than a 1/2" blade will allow.Spoke to my blade dealer and he thought I should have no problem with 1/4.... He was right! The thinner blade tracks as easily as the 1/2 and with no deflection.

Advantages versus closest competion?Two full horsepower with dual capacitor motor which draws only an amazing 8.6 amps, 12" resaw capacity, very comfortable working height, 400 lbs with heavy cast iron wheels and quality tires, dual dust ports make for a very clean machine, quick tension release and easy to use tension adjustment, carter style bearings, useful table extender, pre-wired for 230.

Saw runs smooth as silk with plenty of resaw power. Plus it's just a beautiful beast to look at!Could not be more pleased two months into the game!

Great saw, great price
I've had this saw for the past 3 weeks. Quality is very good. I gave it the nickel test after set up, and the nickel stood up through start up and shut down. A real smooth runner. Blade change was easy. So far I have resawed 8" wide walnut, 10" maple spalted logs 3 to 4 ft.long, some 8" sycamore, and a 5" log of osage orange, 3 feet long. The saw had no trouble with any of these woods and did not bog down in the slightest. I was able to make1/8" veneer from the splated maple. SWEET !! The blade tensioner is beefy and very easy to use. Just pull down on the handle to tension & pull up to release. I actually take the tension off after use now. There are several minor annoyances. Thelower inside blade guide is difficult to adjust. You have to angle the table to get at it. The saw blade was onlt 1/2", cheap, and needed to be replaced. The tip of the allen wrench broke off in one of the set screws for the guide bearings.What a pain. The manual could be a little more verbose, especially about tracking and guide adjustment. The tracking adjustment screws seem a little cheap but are functional. All in all, this saw has earned every bit of the 4 stars I gave it. If it cut the wood by itself, I'd give it a 5! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This benchtop saw from Delta's Shopmaster line offers accuracy and reliability in an easily portable package. It has a 13 amp, 120-volt motor for plowing through cuts and features a 17-1/4-by-26-inch table that allows for a 9-7/8-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade. There's a self-aligning rip fence that locks in parallel to the blade and a T-slot groove in the table so you can use a standard miter gauge for crosscutting. It also has a see-through blade guard with an integral splitter and antikickback fingers, and a toggle-style on/off switch. While this is a great saw for do-it-yourselfers working on smaller projects, people needing more rip capacity and a more powerful motor will want to consider a step up to Delta's TS220 Shopmaster saw. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Powered by a 13-amp, 120-volt motor for dependable cutting power
• Lightweight for portability
• Ample capacity to cut 3-inch at 90 degrees, 2-1/2-inch at 45 degrees
• Rip fence locks front and rear to maintain accuracy of cut

Reviews (2)

Great for the beginner weekend warrior!
Great entry level 1st timer table saw. Good for occasional weekend warrior and looks impressive in the suburban garage woodshop. Seriously, mine has served me well. I bought this saw nearly 10 years ago. I built a moble cart to mount it on providing an extended table area and storage below. However, as my skills and demands on it have increased (i.e. ripping and dadoing LOTS of hardwood trim)it is no longer up to the task and finally died. I got every penny's worth out of it though!

Excellent value and precision
For the moderate woodworker or home remodeler, this benchtop table saw is excellent. The value and return-on-investment are tremendous. It is light weight, easily portable, and maintains its calibration and precision very well.

I have one in my home workshop (garage), and my son uses his everyday on jobsites (wood flooring installations). ... Read more

Features

• Complete with clamp bar, front and rear posts, 2 sliding clamp screws
• Fits Delta machines with 3/8-by-3/4-inch miter slots for angled cutting and shaping
• 120-degree swing with positive stops at 45 and 90 degrees for quick set up
• Provides more accurate straight and angled cut off work
• Includes clamp kit 34-568 to secure stock for more accurate cutting

Features

• 15 amp motor
• Front bevel lock
• Squeeze-release sliding fence
• Includes two year limited warrant on parts and accessories

Features

• 3 HP, 230-volt, 1 phase induction motor
• 3,450 rpm
• Crosscuts 29-inch maximum, rips 41-inch maximum (outboard)
• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories"

Amazon.com Review

The TS300 sits at the top of Delta's Shopmaster line of table saws and is designed with intermediate woodworkers and serious home do-it-yourselfers in mind. A 15 amp motor spins the blade at 5,500 rpm, providing plenty of power for working with hardwoods. The TS300 has a 22-1/4-by-20-3/8-inch cast-iron table and two steel extension wings, offering plenty of table space, and a 27-inch rip capacity to the right of the blade--more than enough to rip full sheets of plywood in half. (Try that with your average benchtop saw and see how it works.) You can also cut dados (up to 13/16 inch) with this saw, or perform molding operations with a cutterhead accessory. We like the T-square fence on this saw; it's hard to find a fence as reliably accurate in this price range. This saw also come with a good miter gauge for use in crosscutting operations. While the TS300 will provide more than enough saw for home users and intermediate woodworkers, professionals will want to consider a step up to one of Delta's industrial contractor saws. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 15-amp motor for powerful cutting action
• Internal cog-belt drive for smoother power transmission
• 27-inch maximum rip to right of blade cuts past the center of plywood sheets
• T-square fence system for precision cutting

Reviews (11)

Not what I wanted.
I didnt like my craftsman saw, because of it was so light, the blade had about 3/16'' runout and alot small things were plain junky on it. I decided to upgrade to this delta saw. I didnt like what i got.

The blade wobbled with about 1/16'' runout wich isnt good. The motor is very loud. I tried to cross cut a peice of walnut 1'' thick, and 2'' wide and i could hear the motor stalling out on me. If you plan to just cut 3/4 pine, or plywood its an ok saw. If you buld furniture, it wont cut it.

Good choice for the price.
I purchased this saw as an emergency replacement one night. Paid $271 at Lowes. I feel I got my moneys worth from this purchase. Many saws I looked at were much cheaper feeling for more money. I rate this saw as a homeowner model, its really too weak for every day use. It will just pull my 8" dado, you have to go slow. It rips 1x4"s well and thats what I cut the most. Overall its a great saw for what you get if its $300 or less. It did better than expected. I actually got the fence to square up on the first try. The best low priced saw I've seen.

So far so good
This is the first tablesaw I have ever used, let alone owned. I expect I will be using it for an occasional home project - nothing anywhere close to daily. Having said that, here are my initial impressions.

The saw arrived yesterday, and it took me most of this morning to put it together. Most of the time was spent calibrating and leveling the table and blade. The instructions were generally very useful and clearly diagrammed which of the multitude of bolts, washers, etc., should be used in each step. I did notice a number of confusing typos, though, so it should be read with an open mind!

Once assembled, the saw seemed to cut very smoothly. The cast iron tabletop gives the saw a solid feel, and there is no noticeable vibration in the table. I've cut both pine and oak in varying thicknesses and so far, so good.

By the way - Amazon is currently listing this saw for $400. Lowes has it for about $300, but you can get Amazon to price-match for you.

Great Saw at a Great Price
This tablesaw is a great leap forward for those who own a inexpensive entry level tablesaw. The cast iron table coupled with a sturdy leg system give you great stability for almost any work. While this is still for the home hobbyist or do it yourself user it is in my opinion at the top end of those saw for those users. At $300 (which is all you should be paying for it) it is an excellent value!

OK for Price But Underpowered
I've had this tablesaw for approximately one year. I use it at least once per week for home improvement/repair and furniture making. The two main factors that brought me to my ultimate purchase of this saw was that it had a T-slot for the mitre gauge and the price (a local home center sells it for less than Amazon).
Here what I've found;
Table
The table is flat, although I spent several hours sanding the top to remove the machining grooves.
Blade Adjustments
The blade was parallel with the mitre slots right out of the box.
Tilt stop at 90 deg was out of calibration but easily fixed.
Tilt stop at 45 deg was right on.
Fence
The supplied fence is in two parts (to allow it to fit in the box) At first I was dissapointed, but the guide rail is continuous to the right side of the blade. Most of my use of the fence is to the right of the blade so the two piece fence has not been a concern. Calibration of the fence was fairly easy, about ten minutes. Fence design has a tray that collects dust. The dust and shavings that sit in the tray can alter the calibration of the fence. I have to clean the fence tray before every adjustment.
Table Wings
The table wings are made of stamped steel and impossible to adjust the whole wing to be on the same plane as the cast iron table top. I opted to align the bolted edge level with the table and the opposing sides taper down slightly.
Blade Guard
This safety items is very hard to install in the same plane as the blade. It needs frequent adjustment to stay aligned. When mis-aligned, it actually becomes a safety issue. I have uninstalled my guard.
Motor
The universal 15 amp motor is approximately the same size as found in a standard quality circular saw. The main tasks that circular saws perform are cutting 2 by X pine material and 3/4 in plywood. This motor, with a professional quality blade (Freud), is at it's max limit doing these tasks. In fact, just crosscutting a 2x4 with a brand new professional crosscut blade slows the motor considerably. Univeral motors are very loud making this saw a noise disturbance in the house. I might be able to get away with some later night woodworking with a quieter saw. You will definitely need hearing protection as you would with any tablesaw.
Throat plate
The throat plate on this saw is of thin steel with two rubber washers to "adjust" height. It is impossible to get the throat plate on the same plane front and back with the table. To make my own zero clearance throat plate, I have the rout a 1/2 MDF board to 3/32 around the rim and then rout two "shelves" 11/32 from the surface for the mounting screws. I wish Delta would have made the initial lip depth 1/4 in to accept a home-made hardboard insert.
Blade
The supplied blade is a general purpose blade that is OK for rough cuts. I suggest you purchase a new blade that will easy the burden on the motor and give a cleaner cut.
Stand
The stand is very sturdy and sits level on the floor.

My conclusions
For the price, this tablesaw can be of use to the homeowner who will use it infrequently to accurately cut 2 by stock and plywood. If you will be using this saw to do frequent work or , like me, intend to cut stock of a higher density than pine (like oak, maple, cherry, etc) I suggest you look for a saw that has much more horsepower. ... Read more