Powermatic Model 30 Restoration

[Matt Meiser]

I picked up this Powermatic Model 30 sander off Detroit Craigslist a few months ago. It looked pretty rough but was in good mechanical condition. I did replace bearings and had to replace 1 missing knob and a spring. The worst part was the belt guard which had been cut apart by a mistracked belt, bent to heck, then welded back together with some giant weld beads. I cut out the bad part, cut a replacement and welded it in. After applying some body filler and paint it looks like new. I still need to remake the angle scale on the table and set up dust collection on the belt. After the pictures were taken I added a 4" dust port over the rectangular port on the side of the cabinet for the disc sander with some 3M foam tape.

[Matt Meiser]

And here is the completed sander...

[Matt Meiser]

And a closeup of the repaired belt guard.

[Alex Shanku]

awesome job matt.

Since I left detroit for tennessee, I have yet to find any of the great old tools on craigslist like I did up north.

What ever became of that lathe you restored?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Great restoration Matt!

[Matt Meiser]

Since I left detroit for tennessee, I have yet to find any of the great old tools on craigslist like I did up north.

Unfortunately there are getting to be more and more good deals on Detroit Craigslist. Stuff goes at firesale prices when people lose their jobs. There's a continual stream of contractors selling out. The vast majority are auto-related tools but a fair amount of woodworking tools show up too.


What ever became of that lathe you restored?

I sold it. Turned out that I liked restoring the lathe but hated turning.

[Bruce Page]

Great restore Matt. I haven't seen that model of PM before, it looks very stout.

[Chris Rosenberger]

Great job Matt. It looks like new.

[Paul Keller]

Great Restoration - does the 30 have any dust collection ports?

[Chris Hachet]

Fabulous restoration! I love old Powermatic tools.

[Larry Frank]

Great job...a miracle done on the guard

[Ron Brese]

Well done Matt. I love a Powermatic restoration.

Ron

[Van Huskey]

355544


Wow, only 8 1/2 years old.. but still fresh as the peas crushed to make the early Powermatic paint.

[Rod Sheridan]

Nice restoration Matt, I have a Powermatic Model 81 that I need to tackle............Rod.