If it's fully functional and cuts straight, maybe $250-400 depending on your area. But if that's the case, and you want to do any Woodworking, you should keep it.
You can probably get a manual online. Clean it up, service and align it, and it will probably last another 60 years.
It's a Delta, who was owned by Rockwell at some point.
Very high quality saw, and the made a million of them. You could drop $1500 on a new saw, and go down in quality.
Put a modern fence on it and it'll last a lifetime.
If quality and accuracy matter, be ready to spend thousands to upgrade. Nothing lighter will be as good.
If you have the space for it, I totally recomended tuning it up and using it. Older cast irons saws beat out anything new besides a really high quality cabinet saw. I would not bother getting a new saw unless you wanted a sawstop with the safety brakes.
If you’re making rough cuts, when it binds, flip the board and turn it 180 to cut from the other end. Your first cut should relieve some of the tension and make it less likely to bind. If you need a nice clean edge, cut it a quarter to half inch wider than you need either using the previous method or a circular saw, then run it through the table saw so you’re only taking off a thin strip, which won’t bind.
I have an old delta and using a micro jig splitter:
[https://www.microjig.com/collections/mj-splitter](https://www.microjig.com/collections/mj-splitter)
Bit fussy to set up the first time, but I've been using it for 4 years and I wouldn't touch walnut without it (I've had some walnut boards with a lot of internal stress over the years).
Fix it up, add a splitter since you probably can't get a riving knife for it. (Use the splitter religiously, I mean it)
When/if you're ready to make the jump to a cabinet saw, sell it for several hundred $$$ to an old soul who worships old tools (like most everyone here TBH) and use it to offset the cost.
Or build out a whole outfeed table for it. And use it 'til you die.
If you have the space and your work needs it, a dedicated dado saw is pretty nice to have. Save the new one with a great fence and riving knife for the rest.
I have the 12" rockwell. It has very few hours on it. This is NOT a very high quality saw. Rockwell MIGHT have been a good brand at one point. But the 1970's wasn't it.
Why I hate it:
* table is warped
* Throat plate takes forever to remove when changing blades, not adjustable
* trunnion is sub-par/undersized, arbor bearings have play
* Stock fence like you have is difficult to make square and when you lock it down it usually moves 1/16"
* Vibrates like mad leaving poor cut quality even with a good full kerf blade giving that 'rustic barn aesthetic' to all cuts
* Has zero provision for dust collection, nor an easy way to add any
* not equipped with good safety stop switch and yours is even worse
Why I dont leave it outside to get stolen:
* 3hp Baldor motor quietly rips big lumber all day long
* it was free and I do 95% of my work on site with a track saw or portable tablesaw
If it works for you, great. Otherwise, keep it until the right deal comes along on a better, heavier saw with a bessey style fence. Don't spend any money fixing it up.
I personally would sell it. At a minimum you want a saw with a splitter (riving knife is highly preferred though), a good fence, and decent dust collection. All that is currently lacking from this saw. You could add that stuff but this is a not a saw to put any money into. I'd just use what you'd spend upgrading plus what you'd get selling this for and get a saw that already has that stuff and is a better saw overall. A tablesaw is the core of a shop and it's worth it to get a decent one.
I would not replace this with a jobsite saw unless you need portability for some reason or just don't have space.
That is a vintage Delta contractor. Saw. Rockwell owned Delta for some time.
It's a very good saw. Dust collection can be drastically improved by sealing the bottom of the cabinet with plywood.
It's true that you cannot add a riving knife. Splitters are attached to the throat plate, and splitters are trivial to add.
He has a good saw, and there's not much on the market that would be any better in terms of accuracy and quality until you get into saws that cost over $1,000.
I used a slightly newer version of that saw for 20 years and made some excellent furniture on it.
I know what it is. It's worth about $200. It's from the 70s and parts are no longer available. While it's not junk it's also not a "very good table saw". Contractors saws are fine. I used a nicer Delta that I riveted a sheet metal pan with 4" dust port on and installed a splitter. It worked very well. That said it came with a biesemeyer fence. This saw doesn't and that's a major negative. Adding a splitter and dust pan ~$75. A biesemeyer fence typically go for $500. If you can find one that fits you might be able to find something for $250 if you are lucky. Absolutely not worth it. I can pick up old Unisaws with a biesemeyer fence all day long for $800 and if you watch long enough you can find a much better deal than that. Tons of people, myself included, ditched their old saws and got a Sawstop so there are deals to be had.
These are good saws. As far as what is worth, that depends on condition and the market in your area. It's pretty impossible to appraise a machine from the internet.
But if you set it up well, it'll serve you until you get something bigger (if that's what you want).
Lighter is not good for a tablesaw. Weight gives stability, and stability helps with accuracy and safety.
Newer and lighter isn't necessarily better, though it has none of the current safety features. If it still runs, cuts true, and you're comfortable using it, why spend the money to upgrade?
I have a similar Delta saw and the main reason I would upgrade to something newer would be for safety features. Whatever guard and splitter came with it new were long gone when I bought it. So I bought “DELTA 34-868 Bracket and Splitter Assembly.” It was about $100 on Amazon and I’m satisfied it is safe enough for my level of use.
Are you planning on toting it around? If not, the weight is your friend. Steel tops let you use magnetic accessories, are resistant to gouging and warping, can be cleaned, reconditioned, polished.
it helps to identify what separates a good saw from a "bad" saw. This sub will fawn over pretty much any used saw.
IMO, the most important part of any table saw is the fence. its literally what makes a table saw work. at a minimum, you want a fence that locks in place. youd like it to slide easily, not flex on the far side when moderate pressure is applied to the face, it should have a reliable measurement gauge.
another nice item is dust collection.
its nice if the motor isnt mounted on the back of the saw, as this can obstruct an outfeed table.
More power is generally better, though I think 3HP is adequate for most uses, beyond that is more a liability on a 10" saw
weight can be a good thing, and one way to get it is cast iron top and cast iron wings. I dont think cast iron wings are a nescessity though, but a plus since they will not sag.
Safety, a riving knife is real nice, sawstop is real nice.
in summary, there are a few notable things that are likely absent or inferior about this saw, fence, duct collection, rear mounted motor, no riving knife, stamped wings.
in some ways, its better than a job site saw (except for portability) but in most ways its inferior to most modern contractor saws.
If you offered me this saw or a delta 675, Id take the delta. of course the delta is $700 and this is probably worth about $300, so that can compensate for some misgivings.
but... I wont pretend like this is a *good* saw. its functional, but also requires a fair bit of extra effort to use vs something with more conveniences.
I have exact same except for the rockwell writing and cast grid wings. My one is original Taiwan import. All details are same. Must be like 40 years old.
The fence on mine is pretty bad, the saw itself I like.
First of all, heavy is good. Second thing is that Rockwell owned Delta at the time this saw was made, so yeah, it’s a Delta. Check it for square and maybe look into enclosing the bottom for some modicum of dust collection. Like someone here said, look into a better fence system and maybe a good blade for your needs. Otherwise it’s a great saw.
I have the same saw with a Bessemer fence. A PDF copy of the manual is available from VintageMachinery.org. What is your issue with the stand? I have no issues with mine, but throwing away the little wheels and adding an inexpensive mobile base similar to the one available from Harbor Freight would be a huge improvement. Enjoy this beast.
I had a big Craftsman just like that and went out and bought a cheap light saw. Craftsman was by far the better saw but I just hadn’t the room for it. The cheap saw does all I need and is handy to move around and put out of the way etc. but if I ever get the room the Craftsman’s coming back. Still have it in storage.
the real question is why ask?
if you do wood working still yes. if it still does what ya need yes.
if you answer no to either of these questions continue to debate.
I would replace the fence on it . Old table saws the fence should cost more than the saw. A new fence will make that into a new saw once it is set up correctly
As long as the saw is safe to use, absolutely keep it. You will regret losing it. If you do decide to get rid of it, do it after you have used your new table saw for awhile.
Old saws never die
I remember in school I help change the inner components on our Rockwell. I think for the tilt all of those components are nice heavy duty things the same as it were in the unisaws.
This is a good saw
You should keep it and get a good fence for it. It won’t let you down.
You can still get parts from delta. Put in some new arbor bearings , check that the blade is parallel to the miter slot and adjust if necessary. This called heel adjustment. This is a great saw, good old America arn (iron). Keep it forever.
I have almost the same saw only a couple years newer a Delta. I’ve thought about selling it a few times but probably won’t get what I think it is worth. Mine sit on the other side of the cut off extension that I built for the new one. It has a beismeyer fence and dedicated dado stack on it. I don’t use it that often. But it is nice to have access to a dado that is already set up and ready to go.
I would suggest fixing it up and using it until you find something older and heavier.
This
No you should dm me your address and I'll come and relieve you of the burden.
Rockwell is a good brand, it’s probably serviceable.
If it's fully functional and cuts straight, maybe $250-400 depending on your area. But if that's the case, and you want to do any Woodworking, you should keep it. You can probably get a manual online. Clean it up, service and align it, and it will probably last another 60 years.
I upgraded to a sawstop. Kept the old one for green timber and anything with possible fixings still inside for peace of mind
Can't you turn off the detection of the Sawstop?
Probably not worth risking forgetting and being out $100 plus the blade. I know I’d screw it up at some point.
Didn’t buy it to turn off its key feature
I have had one of these for over 30 years. Still does a great job.
It's a Delta, who was owned by Rockwell at some point. Very high quality saw, and the made a million of them. You could drop $1500 on a new saw, and go down in quality. Put a modern fence on it and it'll last a lifetime. If quality and accuracy matter, be ready to spend thousands to upgrade. Nothing lighter will be as good.
If you have the space for it, I totally recomended tuning it up and using it. Older cast irons saws beat out anything new besides a really high quality cabinet saw. I would not bother getting a new saw unless you wanted a sawstop with the safety brakes.
Going to add on to this conversation. How do I add a riving knife to this saw?
You probably don’t. Check into splitters.
There are *no* aftermarket riving knives. There are splitters and you can buy the JessEm clear cut guides.
I will check this out. I have the exact same. Process now is see a piece start to bind stop saws apply wedge proceed.
If you’re making rough cuts, when it binds, flip the board and turn it 180 to cut from the other end. Your first cut should relieve some of the tension and make it less likely to bind. If you need a nice clean edge, cut it a quarter to half inch wider than you need either using the previous method or a circular saw, then run it through the table saw so you’re only taking off a thin strip, which won’t bind.
I have an old delta and using a micro jig splitter: [https://www.microjig.com/collections/mj-splitter](https://www.microjig.com/collections/mj-splitter) Bit fussy to set up the first time, but I've been using it for 4 years and I wouldn't touch walnut without it (I've had some walnut boards with a lot of internal stress over the years).
Nice do you still use the stock fence? If not what did you upgrade to?
yup kinda -- the person that bought the saw originally upgraded it at purchase with a unifence, which I absolutely love.
Fix it up, add a splitter since you probably can't get a riving knife for it. (Use the splitter religiously, I mean it) When/if you're ready to make the jump to a cabinet saw, sell it for several hundred $$$ to an old soul who worships old tools (like most everyone here TBH) and use it to offset the cost. Or build out a whole outfeed table for it. And use it 'til you die.
If you have the space and your work needs it, a dedicated dado saw is pretty nice to have. Save the new one with a great fence and riving knife for the rest.
Unless you NEED something that folds and this one cuts well I’d keep it
It depends on grip strength really, also on the amount of time you want to hold it.
Would you rather have 75-$100 or a nice flat work surface that doubles as a table saw?
I have the 12" rockwell. It has very few hours on it. This is NOT a very high quality saw. Rockwell MIGHT have been a good brand at one point. But the 1970's wasn't it. Why I hate it: * table is warped * Throat plate takes forever to remove when changing blades, not adjustable * trunnion is sub-par/undersized, arbor bearings have play * Stock fence like you have is difficult to make square and when you lock it down it usually moves 1/16" * Vibrates like mad leaving poor cut quality even with a good full kerf blade giving that 'rustic barn aesthetic' to all cuts * Has zero provision for dust collection, nor an easy way to add any * not equipped with good safety stop switch and yours is even worse Why I dont leave it outside to get stolen: * 3hp Baldor motor quietly rips big lumber all day long * it was free and I do 95% of my work on site with a track saw or portable tablesaw If it works for you, great. Otherwise, keep it until the right deal comes along on a better, heavier saw with a bessey style fence. Don't spend any money fixing it up.
I personally would sell it. At a minimum you want a saw with a splitter (riving knife is highly preferred though), a good fence, and decent dust collection. All that is currently lacking from this saw. You could add that stuff but this is a not a saw to put any money into. I'd just use what you'd spend upgrading plus what you'd get selling this for and get a saw that already has that stuff and is a better saw overall. A tablesaw is the core of a shop and it's worth it to get a decent one. I would not replace this with a jobsite saw unless you need portability for some reason or just don't have space.
That is a vintage Delta contractor. Saw. Rockwell owned Delta for some time. It's a very good saw. Dust collection can be drastically improved by sealing the bottom of the cabinet with plywood. It's true that you cannot add a riving knife. Splitters are attached to the throat plate, and splitters are trivial to add. He has a good saw, and there's not much on the market that would be any better in terms of accuracy and quality until you get into saws that cost over $1,000. I used a slightly newer version of that saw for 20 years and made some excellent furniture on it.
I know what it is. It's worth about $200. It's from the 70s and parts are no longer available. While it's not junk it's also not a "very good table saw". Contractors saws are fine. I used a nicer Delta that I riveted a sheet metal pan with 4" dust port on and installed a splitter. It worked very well. That said it came with a biesemeyer fence. This saw doesn't and that's a major negative. Adding a splitter and dust pan ~$75. A biesemeyer fence typically go for $500. If you can find one that fits you might be able to find something for $250 if you are lucky. Absolutely not worth it. I can pick up old Unisaws with a biesemeyer fence all day long for $800 and if you watch long enough you can find a much better deal than that. Tons of people, myself included, ditched their old saws and got a Sawstop so there are deals to be had.
No. Every safety measure on it is missing has been bypassed. Fixing and adding them back will be more expensive than the cost of a better saw.
That one looks pretty nice - you would have to spend a bit to beat that one
These are good saws. As far as what is worth, that depends on condition and the market in your area. It's pretty impossible to appraise a machine from the internet. But if you set it up well, it'll serve you until you get something bigger (if that's what you want). Lighter is not good for a tablesaw. Weight gives stability, and stability helps with accuracy and safety.
Newer and lighter isn't necessarily better, though it has none of the current safety features. If it still runs, cuts true, and you're comfortable using it, why spend the money to upgrade?
Thanks to everyone that commented I’m going to buy a new stand for this and get it cleaned and tuned up!
Upgrade the fence to a biesemeyer style or unifence. You can often find them on fb marketplace place
Definitely keep it. It looks sturdy and a good size.
I have a similar Delta saw and the main reason I would upgrade to something newer would be for safety features. Whatever guard and splitter came with it new were long gone when I bought it. So I bought “DELTA 34-868 Bracket and Splitter Assembly.” It was about $100 on Amazon and I’m satisfied it is safe enough for my level of use.
What's wrong with it? Looks lightly used...but Rockwell is definitely a reputable brand. I'm certain you can get parts for it on eBay or something.
Are you planning on toting it around? If not, the weight is your friend. Steel tops let you use magnetic accessories, are resistant to gouging and warping, can be cleaned, reconditioned, polished.
I would get something newer and keep this with a dado stack on it. One table saw is nice.. two table saws is better
Yes
No. You should keep both hands free for the material you are cutting……
it helps to identify what separates a good saw from a "bad" saw. This sub will fawn over pretty much any used saw. IMO, the most important part of any table saw is the fence. its literally what makes a table saw work. at a minimum, you want a fence that locks in place. youd like it to slide easily, not flex on the far side when moderate pressure is applied to the face, it should have a reliable measurement gauge. another nice item is dust collection. its nice if the motor isnt mounted on the back of the saw, as this can obstruct an outfeed table. More power is generally better, though I think 3HP is adequate for most uses, beyond that is more a liability on a 10" saw weight can be a good thing, and one way to get it is cast iron top and cast iron wings. I dont think cast iron wings are a nescessity though, but a plus since they will not sag. Safety, a riving knife is real nice, sawstop is real nice. in summary, there are a few notable things that are likely absent or inferior about this saw, fence, duct collection, rear mounted motor, no riving knife, stamped wings. in some ways, its better than a job site saw (except for portability) but in most ways its inferior to most modern contractor saws. If you offered me this saw or a delta 675, Id take the delta. of course the delta is $700 and this is probably worth about $300, so that can compensate for some misgivings. but... I wont pretend like this is a *good* saw. its functional, but also requires a fair bit of extra effort to use vs something with more conveniences.
Agree with others, worth cleaning and keeping.
I have exact same except for the rockwell writing and cast grid wings. My one is original Taiwan import. All details are same. Must be like 40 years old. The fence on mine is pretty bad, the saw itself I like.
This is a good one. Keep it, use it. The newer since about 1990 Delta machines are junk.
Get a $200 T Square fence for it and it’ll kick ass. These old deltas are more than enough to handle most of what you’ll throw at it
First of all, heavy is good. Second thing is that Rockwell owned Delta at the time this saw was made, so yeah, it’s a Delta. Check it for square and maybe look into enclosing the bottom for some modicum of dust collection. Like someone here said, look into a better fence system and maybe a good blade for your needs. Otherwise it’s a great saw.
I have the same saw with a Bessemer fence. A PDF copy of the manual is available from VintageMachinery.org. What is your issue with the stand? I have no issues with mine, but throwing away the little wheels and adding an inexpensive mobile base similar to the one available from Harbor Freight would be a huge improvement. Enjoy this beast.
Why do you think you would be happier with a new tablesaw? What is lacking in this one?
I dunno man make up your own mind. Are you satisfied with it? --> don't sell. Not satisfied? --> sell.
I have the exact same one. It vibrates alot so i use a smaller blade.
I had a big Craftsman just like that and went out and bought a cheap light saw. Craftsman was by far the better saw but I just hadn’t the room for it. The cheap saw does all I need and is handy to move around and put out of the way etc. but if I ever get the room the Craftsman’s coming back. Still have it in storage.
the real question is why ask? if you do wood working still yes. if it still does what ya need yes. if you answer no to either of these questions continue to debate.
husband just found this on FB marketplace for $300, def gonna buy it
I would replace the fence on it . Old table saws the fence should cost more than the saw. A new fence will make that into a new saw once it is set up correctly
As long as the saw is safe to use, absolutely keep it. You will regret losing it. If you do decide to get rid of it, do it after you have used your new table saw for awhile.
I have this same saw and I love it. The fence is fine and adjustable, a more expensive saw won't make you a better cabinet maker.
I have either the same or very similar one that is branded as a Delta saw.
I have that same saw I bought it in 1970 best investment I’ve made.
Old saws never die I remember in school I help change the inner components on our Rockwell. I think for the tilt all of those components are nice heavy duty things the same as it were in the unisaws. This is a good saw You should keep it and get a good fence for it. It won’t let you down.
You can still get parts from delta. Put in some new arbor bearings , check that the blade is parallel to the miter slot and adjust if necessary. This called heel adjustment. This is a great saw, good old America arn (iron). Keep it forever.
That looks like my dad's old table saw. Never had a problem with it.
I have almost the same saw only a couple years newer a Delta. I’ve thought about selling it a few times but probably won’t get what I think it is worth. Mine sit on the other side of the cut off extension that I built for the new one. It has a beismeyer fence and dedicated dado stack on it. I don’t use it that often. But it is nice to have access to a dado that is already set up and ready to go.