Replies

1. 
   johnlill | Jun 14, 2006 04:41pm | #1

   Big C,

   I just got a PM2000 a couple of weeks ago. The casters work great - a few turns of the wheel and the saw is very mobile. I few turns the other way and the casters easily retract. The handwheel is easy to pull out to raise/lower the casters and easy to push back in for normal blade angle adjustments. I heard that early runs of the saw had problems with the caster mechanism but that seems to have been fixed. Maybe the one you looked at was from an early run.

   I only have the 30" rails due to space limits in my small shop. But the saw with extensions weighs close to 600 pounds so I don't think a little weight on the extension would tip it over.

   I don't regret my purchase at all - it only needed a very minot adjustment to the fence. Everything else was dead-on right out of the box. Runs very smoothly and the quick-release on the blade guard means that I will actually use it!

   Have fun!

   John L

1. 
   user-93560 | Jun 14, 2006 05:03pm | #2

   I have some space limitations too. I could go with the 7' rails but it will be tight. I do not see me cutting a lot of sheet stock the long way. There might be some value to having a place for my router on the extension. Does that work well with the PM2000?

    For those of you who have a shorter rail (less than 7'), how do you handle sheet stock? Do you use one of those fold down or permenant outfeed tables? Panel saw? Does the PM2000 have a version in between 30" and 7'? The website is not very detailed about the various versions.

1. 
   johnlill | Jun 14, 2006 06:07pm | #3

   The 30" rail means the capacity to the right of the blade. The other rails that are available on the PM2000 have a capacity of 50" to the right of the blade. I made an outfeed table for my 30" PM2000 and a short extension to the right wing. So I should be able to easily cut to the center of a 4' sheet of plywood (altough I have not had the need to do that in the short time that I have had the saw).

2. 
   mike_b | Jun 14, 2006 07:41pm | #4

   Big C,

   I recently looked at a 2000 at a local dealer (not to buy -- I'll be buried with my 66), and he mentioned that there had been issues with the retractable caster system in some of the very first saws, but that it had since been resolved. Perhaps the saw you looked at was one of the first that inadvertently got through.

1. 
   jc20unc | Jun 14, 2006 08:06pm | #5

   Big C and others,

   There was an issue with the original caster system that was found by Powermatic and halted production to insure customers would not have the problem. They have since replaced a brass washer with a bearing in the caster system to fix the issue.

   As for the salesman you encountered, it could have been one of his first tries as it is a bit tricky and took myself a few times to get familiarized with the system. Once you have raised and lowered the machine a few times it is quite simple.

   Also on the PM2000 we have in the showroom with the 50" fence the caster system has no trouble lifting the legs off the ground for easy mobility. Like the 66, the PM2000's are available to be packaged with a router system.

   The 66 is still a great table saw and we sell a lot of both. The PM2000's we have sold have been with our customers for just a few months with no problems to speak of yet. Try this link for researching the PM2000's various options: http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/index.cfm?LineNbr=2&StartRow=11&area=shop&action=vendors&vid=2&CID=796&TO=1

   Happy table saw hunting!

1. 
   user-93560 | Jun 15, 2006 03:53pm | #6

   Thanks for all the advice. Model 1792001K says it has a "lift". What does that mean? Is that the place for the router?

   Thanks again.

1. 
   jc20unc | Jun 15, 2006 05:32pm | #7

   Anytime, The 1792001K or others indicating "W/Lift" mean in addition to the table saw, extension tables, 50" in this case or 30" rails, fence, motor cover, legs, and instead of a regular table you will receive a table with a cutout to fit the Router Lift you also receive. The actual router is to be furnished by the user.<!----><!----><!---->

   If anyone’s looking for a good deal on a complete setup, it's not the PM2000 saw but on Jet table saws there is a special offer until 8/31/06 for a table saw complete with the router package and a free 2-1/4HP Bosch Router for around $1699.00 or less, there is more info: Jet/Bosch Special<!----><!---->

    

1. 
   user-93560 | Jun 15, 2006 06:59pm | #8

   Thanks for the info. Is the router lift good quaity, easy to use, works with lots of routers? Inother words, is it worth the extra money?

2. 
   mtclay1 | Jun 24, 2006 06:30pm | #9

   does the pm 2000 share the same tawainese motor as the jet? ive heard nothing but complaints and motor replacements for thr jet. why cant we get the pm2000 with a baldor?

1. 
   hdgis1 | Jun 25, 2006 05:30pm | #10

   I think you can. Didnt the recent issue of Pop Woodworking review one with Baldor motor?

2. 
   jc20unc | Jun 26, 2006 04:32pm | #11

   It is not the same motor as the Jet, whether it is made by the same mfg. or not I am not aware. That is odd we have sold a few of the Jet table saws and haven't seemed to have any major issues with them. The majority of our sales regarding table saws are the Powermatic 66 and here lately a lot of customers have shown interest in the PM2000. In my opinion the 66 is still the way to go for the typical commercial shop but for a homeowner or extreme hobbyist the PM2000 has its advantages with casters to easily move around in small places, great dust collection, and easily removable guards for blade changes.<!----><!----><!---->

   The Model 66 table saw is the only table saw you can get a Baldor Motor on and is still made in the <!----><!----><!---->U.S.A.<!----><!----> You’re looking at about $200 or so more for a 66...