Advice on Powermatic - Made in Taiwan Series 2000 table saw

[Kev]

So ... I probably shouldn't [embarassed]

If I can get hold of a barely used model cheaply, does it make sense? This wasn't in my plan, is probably way too big and the "made in Taiwan" aspect makes me nervous.

Any comments, concerns, advice, rants, etc - all welcome.

This one has a hole for a router lift in the extended side table ... just a rectangular hole. The side table looks to be made of particle board (I'm trying to organise an inspection).

Generally ... PLEASE HELP ME!!!

 

[fshanno]

You bet it makes sense.  If you need a cabinet saw.  Made in Taiwan is par for the course and is not problem.

I hunted and hunted for months for a used late model .3hp or bigger cabinet saw with a riving knife.  Never found one at a good price, certainly not a Powermatic.  Settled for the Chinese made low end Grizzly 3hp G0691.  Not a bad saw for $1275 total including lift bed delivery inside my garage.  But it's no PM2000, that's for sure.

 

[Kev]

Tried to get a look at the saw this afternoon - what a carry on. It's in a storage unit and the owner is overseas ... met his wife there, but she's lost the keys. Over an hour of my life gone and I didn't even get to peek at the saw [sad]

I don't like bidding on this sort of stuff from potentially very old pictures - you never know what you're getting. The auction ends Monday and I "may" get the chance to see it Sunday evening ... I'd better take my Syslite along!

Plus you can't power it up in a storage unit, so I won't know if the motor is a cracker or a dud.

 

[SittingElf]

If its been sitting in a storage unit that doesn't have climate control for a long period of time, it's almost a sure bet that there will be some significant surface rust on the cast iron. Not that big of a deal, but it may look awful, but be able to be taken care of with some good elbow grease.

As for "Made in Taiwan", I wouldn't worry much about that if it's a Powermatic, Laguna, SawStop, or higher end Grizzly. Their quality control procedures are pretty stiff, and I've had a number of products that have been just fine from Taiwan. (Especially my SawStop Pro Cabinet Saw).

The router extension is probably MDF. Normal for router extensions on a table saw. It is probably a manufactured extension, and not home made. That would be a plus.  I have an Incra TS/LS fence system with the Incra router table extension, and it's great.

Get a really good look at the inside of the machine. If rust has penetrated into bearings and trunions, that could be an issue.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Cheers

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Well, I will be the one that says piss on the Taiwan and China made tools and machines then.

Sorry, there is a reason they are made there, so they can be cheap. I have no time for cheap crap, or can I afford cheap crap. 

 

[fshanno]

Well, I will be the one that says  on the Taiwan and China made tools and machines then.

Sorry, there is a reason they are made there, so they can be cheap. I have no time for cheap crap, or can I afford cheap crap. 

You have to concede at least one exception to that rule.  I bet your computer is an important tool for you, probably more important than any other single tool you own.  And you own some awesome tools.

 

[jacko9]

Kev,

You don't say how much the saw is going to cost?  If it's a steal, go for it but if it's close to retail pass it bye there are lots os used saws out there.

Jack

 

[Kev]

Kev,

You don't say how much the saw is going to cost?  If it's a steal, go for it but if it's close to retail pass it bye there are lots os used saws out there.

Jack

It's an auction, so I won't really know till then end ... just trying to consider my maximum bid. Unable to see current condition, not being able to see it run, not having much in the way of local support (if any now) and being much larger than I was aiming for. Then add the need for serious DC.

What am I thinking  [scared]

 

[Stephen B]

Kev,

You don't say how much the saw is going to cost?  If it's a steal, go for it but if it's close to retail pass it bye there are lots os used saws out there.

Jack

It's an auction, so I won't really know till then end ... just trying to consider my maximum bid. Unable to see current condition, not being able to see it run, not having much in the way of local support (if any now) and being much larger than I was aiming for. Then add the need for serious DC.

What am I thinking  [scared]

I would let it go, too many variables and your doubts can be heard in your words.

[wink]

 

[JoggleStick]

If it not the saw you need and you have no use for it, so it can pay it's way....

Then it's probably too much.... No matter how cheap you get it.....

In my experience, the deal of a lifetime comes along about once a month......

 

[Glenn in Shailer]

...hey Kev, if it's the one at Brookvale, it looks pretty good to me from the photos.
Grab it man just grabit.
I have the 15HH thicknesser and love it. Need more gold tools and green

 

[Kev]

...hey Kev, if it's the one at Brookvale, it looks pretty good to me from the photos.
Grab it man just grabit.
I have the 15HH thicknesser and love it. Need more gold tools and green

Hah! Yeh, the pictures do look good - just having a really hard time seeing the real thing. The seller's in Japan and his wife has lost the key to the storage unit. May get to see it tomorrow evening, but I not going to bid if I can't eyeball the thing - it could have been stored away years ago and the northern beaches aren't kind to iron!

I've just been out pondering space in my garage again ... MAN I need more space [sad]

 

[Glenn in Shailer]

I've just been out pondering space in my garage again ... MAN I need more space Sad

...and if that's a thicky behind the table saw, make her an offer for both gold machines. [tongue]
Then you will need more space. Take over a bedroom maybe.

 

[Kev]

I've just been out pondering space in my garage again ... MAN I need more space Sad

...and if that's a thicky behind the table saw, make her an offer for both gold machines. [tongue]
Then you will need more space. Take over a bedroom maybe.

Looks like a sander ... then a Jet lathe. Lots of hardwood in there too.

 

[GregBradley]

You can get some good things made in Taiwan. The problem is that the company having them made needs to stay on top of every step of the process.

WMG, the company that owns Powermatic, Jet, and Wilton is a horrible company, possibly even worse than Stanley Black & Decker. I have an very old Powermatic drill press and it is wonderful. The new ones made in Taiwan are a disaster. They have just completely redesigned it to "fix" the issues and the complaints are already rolling in.

One more American company ruined by the way most business works in the US today.

FWIW, my brother is very happy with his new Sawstop. Made in Taiwan but assembled in the US, I believe.

I usually assume that the person that bids too much will win it. You only get a good deal when there are very few bidders or the bidders are very knowledgeable. Sounds like they are making it difficult to inspect the saw properly and somebody will assume it is fine, which it likely will not be.

 

[Kev]

I chickened out [unsure]

I got to look at the machine on Sunday ... couldn't power it up as it was in a storage complex. A big rectangular hole in the table extension for an after market router lift (it wasn't the proper "Powermatic hole") also made it less attractive.

I think it was a fairly honest machine, but it's BIG

So I'm back on the Precisio v's CMS fence [embarassed]