Powermatic PM1800
- Thread starter hanshamm
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thanks for your comments Chris. I agree. I was originally looking at the Laguna LT18 but with all the plastic and comments on bad customer service I'm looking elsewhere.
I was originally going to get a new table saw but now I'm thinking I'm going to make a bandsaw the center of my shop and see if I can do without it.
The only downfalls I see are:
1) sheet goods - track saw excel here I think
2) Large Cross cuts - Better on MFT/3 than a table saw
3) Dados - Not as fast as a table saw but routers/tracks work well enough
4) Cut quality - Can be easily cleaned up with a hand plane or jointer.
Something I'm missing?
I was originally going to get a new table saw but now I'm thinking I'm going to make a bandsaw the center of my shop and see if I can do without it.
The only downfalls I see are:
1) sheet goods - track saw excel here I think
2) Large Cross cuts - Better on MFT/3 than a table saw
3) Dados - Not as fast as a table saw but routers/tracks work well enough
4) Cut quality - Can be easily cleaned up with a hand plane or jointer.
Something I'm missing?
Hansham,hanshamm said:
Yes. Sort of... For some really large pieces of sheet goods, you may want a cutting table like Ron Paulk's. An MFT won't cut it (pardon the pun). Cut quality? A TS can give you glue-ready cuts. What the heck do you need a jointer for?
IMO... A band saw is more important than a tablesaw for most people. That said, a small table saw, like a Bosch 4100 or a Precisio (NAINA), will make repeated small rips easier. That's about it.
At some point, I'll probably get a bandsaw and small table saw. But for the last five years of remodeling, I've not missed them (not much).
Regards,
Dan.
WarnerConstCo.
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Still get the BS but, you will need a few table saws and jointers are for more then edge jointing a rip.
Got to face your large lumber somehow.
Got to face your large lumber somehow.
I have a setup for breaking down large lumber/sheet goods... My MFT/3 comment was more about cross cutting long pieces rather than wide ones.
PM1800 at list price I agree is very $$. However, powermatic is having a black friday sale so you can get one for under 4k shipped no tax. That puts it right in the price point of the LT18. I've used the LT18 it's a nice saw but I have to say the PM1800 feels much more solid.
I'll probably end up getting a table saw again but I think investing into a high end bandsaw is better than a high end table saw...if you had to choose.
I've heard comments from local dealers of laguna that they don't compare the two because PM1800 is considered an industrial bandsaw and it's not an apples to apples comparison...not sure if that's true but that might be why there isn't a single review stacking them up against each other.
PM1800 at list price I agree is very $$. However, powermatic is having a black friday sale so you can get one for under 4k shipped no tax. That puts it right in the price point of the LT18. I've used the LT18 it's a nice saw but I have to say the PM1800 feels much more solid.
I'll probably end up getting a table saw again but I think investing into a high end bandsaw is better than a high end table saw...if you had to choose.
I've heard comments from local dealers of laguna that they don't compare the two because PM1800 is considered an industrial bandsaw and it's not an apples to apples comparison...not sure if that's true but that might be why there isn't a single review stacking them up against each other.
bonesbr549
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hanshamm said:
I've looked at that saw and it is nice. However I would reccomend an old piece of American Iron. You can't beat the old stuff and the price is probably a 1/3rd of new. I just saw a Tanowitz 36" for $600.00. It would cut circles around anything of today. I have a Grizzly 17" HD with a laguna blade for resaw. It's ok, but no where near the quality but for a dedicated machine for resaw its great. I've got a 1934 delta 14" (all original) with a 3/8" blade for cutting small stuff. The original 14" and nothing like the delta 14" of today. I'm restoring a Walker turner 16" BS from the 40's right now that weighs in at about 1000 lbs(replacing the bearings). If you ever use and see the old stuff you'd never want a new piece again. JM2CW
Your probably right two bandsaws are better than one. I've used an old oliver and I have to say I still think the PM1800 does a very good job and will do the small stuff as well. Space is a premium in my shop and it's cheaper to buy one good machine than to have two taking up valuable space. There have been so many advancements I really don't think generalizing like that is accurate. Machinery in general has come very far since then, not to say there isn't crap out there.
ZeesWoodShop
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I love mine, pretty much dedicated to re-sawing veneer and book matched panels. I have a Laguna Re-Saw king 1.25 carbide blade in it and it is one mean saw. Here is a video I made about it
thanks...I've seen your video before 
I heard those blades aren't actually carbide...
I did put mine on a mobile base and there is a slight vibration. Pass the nickel test so I maybe overly picky.
I have to say the fit and finish is well beyond the laguna's...I basically didn't go laguna because of their bad customer service reputation and also the reason I won't buy their blades. I did get the timberwolf carbide blade but haven't used it yet.
I heard those blades aren't actually carbide...
I did put mine on a mobile base and there is a slight vibration. Pass the nickel test so I maybe overly picky.
I have to say the fit and finish is well beyond the laguna's...I basically didn't go laguna because of their bad customer service reputation and also the reason I won't buy their blades. I did get the timberwolf carbide blade but haven't used it yet.
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