Replies

1. 
   RickL | Nov 26, 2005 12:01am | #1

   I drilled a hole for an axle slightly off center to the left of the base of my PM66 and made wooden legs that were secured to the base and mounted swivel wheels on the extension legs. Used 6" wheels on the axle so it rolls easily over bumps on the floor and is only 1/2" off the floor. Patterned after the HTC base which is the better mobile base compared to many out there. I had the wheels so cost was almost nil. Best price on casters is Grizzly.

2. 
   Thew | Nov 28, 2005 06:03am | #2

   I bought one of the Shop Fox heavy duty bases from Grizzly. As I recall they were reasonably priced and it is very well built. Regardless of the base, 400 lbs is a lot to roll around too often, so mine stays in one place most of the time.

   Thew

3. 
   BG | Nov 28, 2005 03:19pm | #3

   Kessler,
   I've got a shop fox also that does the job nicely...however, need to put your arse behind it to get things moving..that works for me. I watched a guy move his Delta Uni with table extension....with one hand...it seems to me this is one of those get what you pay for thingies...

4. 
   mike4244 | Nov 28, 2005 11:12pm | #4

   shopfox

   mike

5. 
   johneone05 | Dec 07, 2005 03:38am | #5

   Two things that I thought well worth the money on my PM66 - the mobile base (from Powermatic) and the HTC outfeed rollers.

6. 
   joepez | Dec 10, 2005 01:41am | #6

   did you replace your mag switch with the original switch or go with a different than factory? i am asking because i hate the switch on my pm 66. the shut off button is tool small to find after you done a cut and maybe holding the piece at the same time.

   i would like to replace it with a type of paddle shut off switch?

   by the way, what year is the saw you refurbed?  thanks

1. 
   KesslerCraftsman | Dec 10, 2005 06:21am | #7

   Hi,

   It's a 1982...the old green model..not the newer metallic gold model.I purchased a new 3 HP single-phase Baldor motor made for the PM66...specifically for Plaza Machinery and then bought a new switch from Powermatic..it's a pushbutton model and the stop switch is easy to find..the start switch isn't as easy... The switch was less than $100 from Powermatic...

   I also put a brand new 52" Biesmeyer fence  on it as well...sure cuts nicely compared to my 1.5 HP Jet contractor's saw..which will soon go up for sale.

   Good luck!lp

7. 
   mapleman | Dec 10, 2005 08:58am | #8

   Kes,

   For God's sake man, don't buy the HTC!!!! I did - $180 from tool crib. Worst instructions I've ever seen. Wrong size holes in parts which require a trip to the hardware store for larger bolts/nuts. Called and talked to a guy in their tech dept. Told him they were shipping parts with 3/8 diameter holes and supplying 1/4 carriage bolts to fit them.  He told me "wow, I'll have to look into that. Thanks for letting me know." No  - "hey, let me send you the right bolts, a free t-shirt, etc."  It will be the last HTC product I ever buy in my life -  screw HTC!

   Lee

1. 
   DaveR | Dec 13, 2005 06:47am | #9

   I've had pretty good luck with HTC, although, it might have something to do with only living 2 miles from the HTC plant in Royal Oak, MI. I bought one for my PM 66 with an extension for the side table. It works great. Good luck.
   Dave

8. 
   highfigh | Dec 13, 2005 07:51am | #10

   Since I keep my saw against the wall in my garage and can't move it in like I'm parallel parking it, I went with the Shop Fox. I have the 7' rails and extension table so I set it up the way I needed it to be. The HTC can't be reconfigured so I ruled it out, even though I know the sales rep. I move mine around all the time and have never needed to re-tighten or adjust anything on the base or the saw.

   I bought a mobile base "kit" from Rockler that I used for my saw before I got the longer rails. What a piece of crap! It's basically the corners and a wheel with a big tab that flips up to make it stationary but you have to make your own side rails. Mine was tweaked at the corners so the whole thing was out of wack. It also has no bushing for the wheels and the choices for wheel failure are A) The nuts loosen and fall off of the bolts or B) you overtighten the nuts and the wheels stop turning, grinding the bottom flat. They should have come with nylock nuts so there wouldn't be an issue with that, but they could have also used a steel sleeve in the wheels to limit the pressure on the plastic.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."