Recently bit the bullet and completely rearranged my shop layout, electrical, and ductwork with new flooring and slatwall. While moving things around, it also made it easier to get over the hump of upgrading certain tools. For example, if you are about to move a 12" jointer anyways, why not just move it out of your house completely and move in a 20"? Im having similar thoughts with my unisaw. Several years ago i bought a few of these at auction and converted them to single phase and flipped for a profit. I kept one, and it was my upgrade from a delta contractor saw. I say this, because on one hand i essentially have a new unisaw(bearings, belts, starter, baldor motor), but on the other hand its starting to feel insufficient. The table is pretty small, 3hp doesnt scream through 8/4+ like marketing materials would have you believe, and recently handling an old PM72 made me realize I may be missing out on something. For the added footprint(somewhat inconsequential), the PM was almost twice the saw. I have since sold the PM to make a quick buck, but it has left a lasting impression on me. In the last month, i missed out on another 72, and recently a Wadkin PKF(kudos to the man that got that from me in the last day or two for a song). The wadkin is most of the reason im starting this thread, actually. It is a saw i would have never considered purchasing a few months ago.
What im looking for is something bigger with a 5-7.5hp motor used primarily for ripping with a rare need for a dado stack. In the future, i will most likely add a feeder to it. My limitations are it needs to fit through a 33" mandoor. Other than that, i am open to suggestions. I dont mind working on machines, but i wouldnt say im particularly skilled--im not remaking parts etc like Brian. While this saw will be used in my part time hustle making some income, i wouldnt mind something slightly out of the ordinary. I was drawn to the PKF for 1) price 2)5hp and perfect size for my basement 3)aesthetics and somewhat rare. Similar reasons for why i wont consider a rockwell 12/14, those saws look like unimaginative turds to me.