This is an excellent saw. It seems to me like a slightly smaller, but no less impressive, version of the PM2000, a cabinet saw that I’ve used in my shop for the last decade. The fit and finish were as neat as a pin. Equipped with a 1-3⁄4-hp motor, the PM1000 did very well in the ripping test. It’s massive, too, weighed down by big cast-iron trunnions and a stout motor and arbor assembly. The T-square-style fence was solid, had the least amount of deflection, and was simply bigger and beefier than the other fences.

 

The riving knife and blade guard are locked in place by a cam clamp, making switches from one to the other quick and painless. There is a single leaf on each side of the blade guard, and they operate independently, so it’s no problem to raise one above the fence for thin rips. A detent holds the leaf up. Blade changes are a breeze, too, thanks to an easy-to-use plunge lock on the arbor. The power switch is another great convenience, as it’s perfectly positioned at hip height and easy to find with your hand or hip. Dust collection was good, too.

 

As good as the PM1000 is, it’s a microscopically close second to the SawStop, only because it doesn’t have a safety system that’s equal to that on the SawStop.