Originally Posted by
Joe Jensen
There is a thread on the Felder Owners Group and several members have the Powermatic 2800 and are unhappy with the vibration and runout. I would make sure you buy a 2820 off the floor so you know you are getting a good one. The Nova seems to have favorable but I have not ever touched one.
The 2800's have been a black eye for PM. Different makers have different strengths and the 2800B certainly addressed a lot of the problems with the 2800. PM still was unable to address the quality inconsistencies and the low speed issues at the time I stopped looking at them. The low end was never really low enough for large cutters but, the fact that I was not able to find one that actually even went as low as rated was disheartening. Not trying to beat a dead horse but, I guess I just lost faith in PM as a DP maker.
As recommended, if you go this way be sure to try and buy the floor model that you actually put your hands on. Watch for table adjustment issues, vibration and run out as these seem to go from "no problem" all the way to "I'm returning it". I truly hope the 2820 is PM's redemption for their past attempts. A great company that just hasn't been so good at drill presses IMHO. At $2K the thing should be near perfect. Drill presses just aren't that complicated that a decent one should command such prices . . . . OK, now I'm just whining. Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the drill press .
"A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".
– Samuel Butler