New to the forum

[Stan Rogo]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this forum. I have been reading a lot of things on this site and seems like there are a lot of very knowledgeable woodworkers hear. Well I just purchase a Powermatic 15 inch HH planer but after reading on this forum it seems everyone is down on PM and it's giving me a little buyers remorse. I know they are over priced but I thought that with the Byrd HH installed on it you could probably spend close to the same amount buying a grizzly and retrofitting a Byrd cutter on it. My thinking was to try to buy machines that I wouldn't want to try to sell to get something better later. Well the PM gets delivered on Friday I hope I can enjoy it even though I feel a little upset after reading all of the bad things on the forum.

[Jack Wilson50]

I have a PM2000 Tablesaw and am very happy with it. I am sure you will get many years of good use from your planer.

[Van Huskey]

First forget most of what you read not everyone is down on Powermatic, the most vocal PM hater has never owned a PM machine...

Second, in this market you buy the machine not the manufacturer and PM makes some of the standout machines.

Third, the 15HH is a standard 4 post planer BUT you do get some extras for your extra dollars. You get a machine made in Taiwan which has better fit/finish and cosmetics than the 4 post planers made in China, it has a Byrd head which uses a shear cut and many including Fine Wood Working feel this give a better finish than straight cutters in some of the imported journal heads. You also spent a chunk of your money on something built in the US and supported our economy. You also got a 5 year warranty which is up to 5 times as long as the one provided by some of the other importers.

Finally, The biggest legit gripe against the current PM is that it doesn't offer the best value, this is true depending on your budget an expectations. PM is not as good now as when the machines were made in the US, then again they aren't priced like machines made in the US. In my eyes the 15HH is a fine machine and has positives not shared by some of the other import machines. They are certainly not the cheapest Asian imports but many of their machines are arguably the best in their Asian class.

[Paul McGaha]

Hi Stan,

Welcome to Sawmill Creek.
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I have a Powermatic 15HH Planer. Bought it new in 2009. It's been fine, No complaints.

Half of my shop is Powermatic and I'm happy with them. They've performed well. No regrets.

For future tool purchases I'll seriously consider Powermatic, based on the good luck I've had with them so far.

PHM

[Stan Rogo]

Thanks for the positive replies. By the way since you brought up the warranty the model I bought was the 90th anniversity which comes with a 90 month warranty. It was the same price as the regular HH model but with the 90th anniversity model you get extended warranty, a digital readout height adjustment , and a PM floor mat. I would really like to buy machine completely made in the USA but I dont know if there is such a machine. Thx stan

[Ken Fitzgerald]

PM to my knowledge has a good reputation. The only reason most of my tools aren't PM is because of price. As a hobbiest I can't justify spending twice as much for a tool that I don't use every day. Thus I have some Jet and some Grizzly that I don't expect to see the same fit and finish but I paid 1/2 the price for those tools versus the PM counterpart.

My PM-3520B has been a great lathe.

[Van Huskey]

I would really like to buy machine completely made in the USA but I dont know if there is such a machine. Thx stan

Sure, Northfield will be happy to sell you a all US made planer, their smallest is 18" (model #2) and the prices for it start just north of $19,000. :D Just call them up and ask to speak to Jeff.

[David Kumm]

Stan, you did fine. There are really only three main subsets of machinery types, Asian, European, and old USA. Old USA or old euro are a hobby within a hobby as you need to enjoy rehabbing, sourcing parts etc. The payoff is huge but not for everyone. You bought a better quality Asian with a great head. Get to know how the machine works and don't be afraid to set it up well, adjust the pressure rollers and whatever else it has, make sure the cutterhead is parallel to the base, put adequate dust collection on it and it will outperform any machine that isn't set up correctly, and most aren't. Study what you like and dislike and the knowledge gained will serve you well. I have some pretty high end stuff and there isn't a machine I haven't modified and everyone could stand some more improvement. Dave

[John Coloccia]

Most of PM's lineup is well made. I don't care for their drill press, but everything else I can think of off the top of my head is very nice, even today. I generally find them to be poor values so I don't recommend them (except their lathes, which are right in the mix and quite popular with serious turners). You definitely shouldn't feel bad for having bought a Powermatic. It's a good, solid machine that will give you many years of trouble free service.

[Mike Heidrick]

You only have to please yourself in your shop. If you are fine with what you paid then the value is moot. It should work just fine for you.

[Jefferey Scott]

I've had my PM 66 tablesaw for over 10 years and it's never disappointed me. I'm sure their planer is a good machine. No need for any remorse. Welcome to the forum!

[Myk Rian]

I would really like to buy machine completely made in the USA but I dont know if there is such a machine. Thx stan
Then you are talking "Old arn".

[Paul Johnstone]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this forum. I have been reading a lot of things on this site and seems like there are a lot of very knowledgeable woodworkers hear. Well I just purchase a Powermatic 15 inch HH planer but after reading on this forum it seems everyone is down on PM and it's giving me a little buyers remorse. I know they are over priced but I thought that with the Byrd HH installed on it you could probably spend close to the same amount buying a grizzly and retrofitting a Byrd cutter on it. My thinking was to try to buy machines that I wouldn't want to try to sell to get something better later. Well the PM gets delivered on Friday I hope I can enjoy it even though I feel a little upset after reading all of the bad things on the forum.


Powermatic doesn't advertise on this forum, therefore complaints about it are not deleted.
Other companies advertise here, so negative stuff about them is deleted.
It skews the reality.. Really, this is not a good site for vendor reviews.
I can understand why the mods run it this way (they have to make money), but just a caveat.

I am sure your Powermatic planer will be fine. I have the Jet 20 inch helical and I totally love it (Jet and Powermatic made by the same company although there are probably differences in the specific machine.).
When you buy from any company, you run the risk of getting something not 100% right, but most companies will take care of you and make it right.

Get excited about your new tool coming it.. I am pretty confident you will love it.

[Sam Layton]

Hi Stan,

Welcome to the Creek. I am another one that likes Powermatic. I have a Powermatic table saw and lathe. Both are great machines. Just one thing to remember, no photo's, did not happen...

Sam

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Powermatic doesn't advertise on this forum, therefore complaints about it are not deleted.
Other companies advertise here, so negative stuff about them is deleted.
It skews the reality.. Really, this is not a good site for vendor reviews.
I can understand why the mods run it this way (they have to make money), but just a caveat.


Paul, your statement is absolutely untrue. Whether or not a company advertises here has absolutely nothing to do with a thread gets edited, moved or deleted. The usual cause of a rant thread getting moved is due to the uncivil, incoherent, illogical, unfair attack on a manufacturer. Realistic complaints about any manufacturer can be discussed at SMC as long as the thread meets the guidlines established by Keith Outten in this post:

Before You Rant Read This
December 20th, 2010

"It is the intent of SMC to permit the airing of concerns regarding the suitability of a particular product, or the quality or sufficiency of customer service provided by a vendor in any particular instance provided there is not a breach of contract component involved.

However, these rant types of threads often deteriorate into a "piling on" and develop a very negative tone. That doesn't assist other viewers in assessing the overall advisability of whether to buy this particular product, nor to assess the overall customer service provided by that manufacturer/vendor.

In order to be fair to the many vendors that provide woodworking products who are not represented here, the following policies will be in force:
The original poster must have first contacted the manufacturer/vendor and have attempted a solution PRIOR to posting the thread.
The original poster should provide factual details of the problem, and details of efforts that have been made with the manufacturer/vendor to rectify the problem.
Subsequent posts by others must be limited to suggestions to the original poster to assist in rectifying the problem - not to pile on because you had similar problems.

SMC is a woodworking forum. The intended purpose is to provide a community in which useful information may be shared among our members. Threads that do not achieve that purpose will be locked, or removed as necessary." SawMill Creek is not a Court of Law and we are not in a position to judge a breach of contract case here, therefore SawMill Creek will not become a stage or a courtroom for a one sided legal dispute, it just isn't our mission.
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Last edited by Keith Outten (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/posthistory.php?p=1752480); 08-02-2011 at 4:46 PM.


Secondly, Moderators don't have to make money. We are unpaid, invited volunteers.

I don't have a clue where you got this misinformation.

[John Coloccia]

I'll second what Ken just said. I'm very honest with my opinions. I call junk what it is, and I praise the really great products and company experiences...sometimes different products from the same company. I don't think I've ever had a post deleted or modified a moderator for that reason. I've slammed plenty of products for being completely inadequate for the advertised purpose based on experience with the product.

Don't mean to single out Grizzly, but just as an example, SMC was turning into the Shiraz bat phone...people were coming on with one or two posts to their name and ranting, and I don't think anyone...especially not just lowly members like me...wanted to see this turn into a convenient place for people to simply get attention and action.

Sorry, Ken...I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth, but that's how it looks from my point of view. I've never seen a fair criticism of any product get censored.

[Gary Herrmann]

My first jointer was a PM. It worked flawlessly. Do your research as you buy the machines that you need. Buy the brand/model that meets your needs, not the opinions of others. You'll like that Byrd head. I've got one on my jointer and my planer.

[Don Morris]

First, welcome to the best wwing site on the planet. You're right, there are some very helpful people here and I've taken advantage of them often. It has been said that there have been a lot of quality projects made with less than high end equipment. It's the people that make the difference. TRUE, TRUE. Get to know your equipment and I'll bet you'll be doing great stuff. Questions when you run into dilemmas and problems...ask. You'll get many opinions and guidance here, not always the same, but most have been through it before you and more than once I've been SAVED by the people on this forum. The Neanders wouldn't think of using a PM...but they do some beautiful things without any of our SawStops, PMs, Grizzlys, etc.

[Sam Murdoch]

Hi Stan. Relax and enjoy your PM they are "mostly" standout machines. I have used bandsaws and planers with no complaints and have been very happy with my own jointer. I would not hesitate to buy another PM if the need arose.

[Matt Mackinnon]

I know that the PM machines are great. The cost of shipping them up here to Canada was just to great to even consider, so I have not bought them. But if the machine works, and you are clearly getting value for your money in the forms of a better head and an actual warranty. What difference does it make if others don't feel they want to spend their money the same as you did.

What does count is that you have a machine that fills a need, and makes you happy using it.

[Stan Rogo]

Thanks again for every ones positive feedback. I have been woodworking for two years now and I cant get enough of it. I am always reading to learn more so when I found this forum I thought what a great place to get and give information about this passion that I am so consumed with. I will give my opinion on the new PM planer after I spend some time setting it up and using it. I am once again looking forward to receiving my new planer tomorrow thanks to all of your positive replies.

thanks again stan

[glenn bradley]

Don't stress Stan. That mustard paint runs pretty deep for some folks despite the price. I agree with Van that often negative statements about a machine's quality can come from a person who is not qualified to make them. Over the last several years people have been focusing more on the specific machines that one company or another does well, regardless of the paint job. I have good machines in green, grey, mayo and so forth. I am sure many of us could name a machine that PM, Griz, Jet, Delta and even those "better" guys do very well, and do not so well, or even do poorly. That's a solid planer design you have there; used by several providers. I have the Grizzly version with the spiral head and have been nothing but happy with it.

[Kevin Gregoire]

whats wrong with PM? i have their 14 bandsaw and its one of the best tools i own. would love to have one of their tablesaws next.

oh, welcome to the forum, your going to love it here with lots of great people! be sure to check out the free give away section as
there are a couple freebies to get signed up for that will be given away soon.