When I recently bought a 1958 Delta Unisaw, it came with a 14 foot set of rails. I don't know for sure if the rails and fence are original. The rails and fence are in good shape. My shop is not big enough to accommodate the length. So I thinking about selling them, trading them or cutting them down to fit. I would prefer not to cut them. Since someone might be able to use this extra-long length.
Also, should I keep the fence itself or sell it with the rails and buy a new one?
I would just cut them down. You'll be looking for a buyer for the rails for a long long time I think. Chances are nobody is looking for them The front rail is just a standard rectangular steel pipe. You could sell them for scrap and afford to buy part of a single 10' length of one from what you earn. Recycle bin steel was at $168/ton last time I looked. Put them on Craigslist for $40obo for the pair and a welder might take them off your hands.
Still makes you wonder what they did that required 14' length of cut, and was limited to a ~ 4" depth of cut max. Right off the top I can only think of a truss maker, but so much easier to crosscut on a RAS.
Loren is correct about how they got the rails, it's standard square/rectangular steel. It would look strange if longer than 20', but that would be standard length prior to cutting.
Still makes you wonder what they did that required 14 length of cut, and was limited to a ~ 4" depth of cut max. Right off the top I can only think of a truss maker, but so much easier to crosscut on a RAS.
That was my thought as well, unless it was ganged table saws or something (one fence to rule them all!). I've got two old saws sharing a fence in my shop, but that's almost more because the second saw is the perfect sized extension wing
Ahhh handy to have 14' TS rails. That will let be break down my 15' x 20' plywood without getting out the circular saw!
Let's make a package deal and see if we can sell my old cutterhead off a DeWalt planer, and a clutch motor from an industrial sewing machine circa 1985. Garage sale? It looks to be a long weekend!
That's a long rail. I'd probably just cut it down. But wouldn't be difficult to fabricate your own.
I just did a DIY upgrade on my Delta 725T2. In my case, it was slightly increasing capacity and changing from a two to one piece rail. Could have bought an out of the box solution. But fabricating it myself cost less than $30.
I just bought a Biesemeyer that was 52" long. The guy I bought it from said that I should at least make sure I can cut a 36" panel as that's the size required for cabinetwork so, that's where I cut it. Make sure you cut the
14'? Someone could order another decal for the measurement scale for the tube and you could get 3 or 4 rails out of it.
I am surprised and appreciative of the many responses all of you provided. Maybe with the exception of the smart-alec response.
Andybb - I really like your suggestion. Cutting the rails to satisfy my needs and then selling rails to others at shorter lengths. That makes a lot of sense.
Kudzupatch - I have had the rails and fence listed on both FB Mktpl and Craig's list for about 2 weeks. It has been nothing but crickets.
P.S. If you cut the tube and rail make sure that the rail is at least 4" longer than the tube (like on the left side) to allow proper clamping of the fence. No need to ask me how I know. I cut them to the same length at 36" but the fence needs those extra 4" of rail to properly grip the tube so I very skillfully welded the tube back together and cut it off at 40".
When Biesemeyer made fences/rails in Mesa Arizona, before Delta bought them out; you could custom order any length fence up to 20 foot long. 12-14 foot rails used to be common find at various Industrial auctions. They usually came on 3PH Unisaw with massive out-feed table too.
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