Craigslist is Taunting me

[Kent E. Matthew]

There is a guy selling a Powermatic Model 180 planer for 200 dollars. He devulges that the motor needs to be repaired. Should I be jumping on this deal?

[Matt Meiser]

Well, since you took the time to post this rather than contact him, you can assume its gone. :D

Seriously, unless it is a basket case that's a great deal.

[Rob Russell]

If the bearings, cutterhead and everything else is in good shape, replacing the motor is a few hundred dollars. Sounds like a great deal to me.

[Tony Bilello]

How would you test it out of motor is shot?
Could also have bad bearings, worn blades, etc. all of these things cost money.

Tony B

[John Schreiber]

The thing weighs over $1500 lbs. It's probably worth at least $200 as scrap metal. You can't go wrong.

[Matt Meiser]

Any machine like this I'd go into with the thought that it is going to need an overhaul. This is industrial duty 18" planer. You aren't going to get anything comparable new for less than a few thousand.

Here's an example from OWWM.com:
http://www.owwm.com/photoindex/images/2321-A.jpg

BTW, he's running it with a 2HP single phase motor. It had a 5HP three phase motor. Surplus Center has new 5HP single phase motors between $280 and $500 but I'd bet you can do better than that.

[William OConnell]

I bought my old powermatic off craigs list. It needed some work but I love it

http://woodworkers.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=594&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=8ee7648e9028a952a763b866351f8b1f

Older USA made machines were very heavy this ones circa 1930s its a beast. The weight and raw mass of the cutterhead is astounding compared to the newer stuff.

http://woodworkers.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=597&g2_serialNumber=1&g2_GALLERYSID=8ee7648e9028a952a763b866351f8b1f
These machines have been around so very long because they were built to last and they do. I made a new bbelt cver and dust hood for mine and she puuurrrrrrrs like a kitten now. So much quieter than my old one wich was a pleasnt suprise
http://woodworkers.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=622&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=8ee7648e9028a952a763b866351f8b1f
I vote buy it and ring it back to life. It will be money well spent. Mine weighs 1200. So you really need to think about help with the move and some super duty steel casters