I just bought a 64A contractor’s saw and it has turned out to be a mess. I am so bummed I can’t even get mad, because I was expecting the best saw money can buy and it has several big problems. So….I need advice on whether this is a common issue w/ Powermatic and what I should do:
1. The “Accu-Fence” (ha) is way out of square. While the adjusters can get it square to the table, it was welded so that it is 1/2″ out over the length of the fence body.
2. The fence has a bigger problem; the left face is not square to the table. I can get a 018 feeler guage in a gap at the weld on that side of the fence where the body mounts to the part that rides on the rails.
3. The front rail has a visible bow to it at the very end, over the last foot or so, dropping a little over 1/16″, which makes setting the rail level impossible (since it is heavy angle iron).
Powermatic and the dealer have said they will get me a new fence. Hopefully they will check it before sending it out.
Now, here is the kicker; the wings don’t sit level with the table. A straight edge across the width of the saw leaves 032 gap along the main table. After pulling off the wings I found that the mounting faces of the table are out of square very slightly (maybe 1/32″ over a foot or so), but this is enough to cant the outer edges of the wings upward enough to create this problem.
So, what do I do? Powermatic tech support said they had another call this AM about the same problem (w/ the wings), and they were assembling a saw there onsite to see if they ran into the same problem. The bad thing is I didn’t buy from a local dealer and I’ll be @#*$ if I want to try to pack this thing all back up to ship back. I feel stuck.
Replies
what a mess. good luck with the fence, thankfully a fence is relatively easy to ship.
about the wings: you could just drill and tap, or drill through and through-bolt.
one way to hold the wings in place at the correct level would be taking out the bolts holding the wings on. putting a smaller diamiter through-bolt in the existing holes just to hold it in place while you drill the new holes (a roller stand will help to hold up the other side untill you've drilled the new holes)
Keep us posted //and maybe somone will come up with a better solution.
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--> measure once / scribble several lines / spend some time figuring out wich scribble / cut the wrong line / get mad
I think you have a couple of real issues and one non-issue.
The fence sounds like a disaster, and PM owes you a good one.
The wings, however, are not a big deal, and certainly not worth the hassle of exchanging the saw. Many, perhaps most, saws with cast iron wings need some shimming to level the wings, and this is often included as a routine step in the setup instructions. I'm surprised the PM tech didn't suggest it. A few strips of tape (I like to use foil HVAC tape) above the bolt holes should do it.
A friend of mine had similar problems and the belt guard didn't fit either.
"I shoulda had a Delta"!
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Don't worry too much. Every new tool is a gamble. Even the best brands (Powermatic is one of them) have bad days. The fence needs to be replaced, I'd try to get a Beis out of them. The wings are not that big of a problem. I get pretty anal setting up my tools and out of the three high quality saws I bought the wings always needed to be shimmed to fit right.
I use aluminum tape and brass shim stock. The aluminium tape is sold at the Borgs in the airconditioning duct area. It is used to seal ducts. The brass shim can be had in the hardware area. A metal working supply store will have shim stock in rolls of various sizes. If the wing is high shim the top, if it is low shim the bottom.
Good luck,
Mike
Pack it up ,send it back and get a refund. The Powermatic contractor saw is crap. Don't be confused with the cabinet saw quality Powermatic.There cabinet saw is top of the line, and I believe still made in USA. The contractor saw is a poor quality taiwan import.
Sounds like the fence has many "birth defects". Get a new fence and rails through dealer/PM. The wings sound manageable with shims.
Good luck!
Well, here is the follow-up to the problem with the 64A. My first words to anyone considering one, I would think twice (and that includes Jet since they are the same company).
Thanks to those who suggested shims. I was able to get the wings pretty flat w/ minimal shimming. The aluminum tape was actually too thick. Pretty amazing how much one little maching error is magnified over the width of two wings.
As for the Accu-Fence; they sent a replacement and that one is out of spec as well, only in this case the tail stock where the clamping mechanism attaches is not square to the body and can't in towards the rails. So tight that it only fits onto the glide tube w/ a push and of course it is too tight to lock down ro slide (and yes, the set screws are loosened).
What kills me is that on both fences the various problems w/ weld up are so bad that they are easily visible to the naked eye. How did this garbage ever make it out of the factory? In fact, how did they ever make it to powedercoat? WMH Group's quality control is crap. The dealer told me that the company Powermatic contracted with that was welding up those fences went out of business. If true, I can see why.
Of course, as the only American made piece of the saw it doesn't say too much about made in America quality. At this point the whole thing may just go back. I'm not palletting this thing up though. I may just do a charge back on my credit card and tell them to come retrieve this POS. What an amazing dissappointment.
Yep, I'd definitely send it back. Go for the General or the new Grizzly. The General has a Bies fence.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
if a cabitet saw would work for you, the grizzley can be had for less than what you probably spent on the PM 64a______________________________________________
--> measure once / scribble several lines / spend some time figuring out wich scribble / cut the wrong line / get mad
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