| Project by Bradford | posted 178 days ago | 1304 views | 3 times favorited | 8 comments |  |
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I bought a Powermatic 66 at an online auction web site. I paid $350 plus $135 processing. After rental of a truck I drove 158 miles to York PA to pick up the saw. Upon my arrival back, I set up the mobile base, slid the saw onto the lift and moved it into the shop. My friend, Camron & I pulled the old 5HP 3PH Motor, pulled the worm gears, blade, wheels and everything else. I sanded away all the old paint, and repainted it with the closest color I could find. It had a hammered look when dry. A new 3HP 1PH motor from Powermatic was installed and wired into the magnetic switch and mounted to the plate. More cleaning was needed to the inside. The blade had to be cleaned with Bit&blade cleaner. After much cleaning, everything was re-installed, the top was mounted and squared to the blade. We spent a lot of time waiting for a simple 3 prong dryer plug to be delivered. A long drop cord was made and plugs were mounted. We left a 3 foot pigtail from the magnetic switch. I mounted the rails and fence. The Incra 1000SE was installed and calibrated. A test cut showed 90 degree square. A zero clearance insert and a custom push stick were made on the router and scroll saw. Sand paper was mounted to aid the grip on boards. The table is now set for the next project. This restore would have taken a lot longer if it hadn’t have been for my friend and fellow woodworker, Camron. He’s immense knowledge and experience helped beyond the call. Also the people at Powermatic for help ordering (still in stock ) parts for a 33 year old machine.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
8 comments so far
Bearpie
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664 posts in 201 days
#1 posted 178 days ago
Nice buy! Old tools are usually better quality! Good luck with this new toy.
Erwin
559dustdesigns
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375 posts in 350 days
#2 posted 177 days ago
That should be a great saw for years now. Thanks for sharing.
-- The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination. - Tommy Lasorda
randyb
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86 posts in 510 days
#3 posted 177 days ago
Nice job! I’m doing a restore on the same saw, i just finished to motor cover yesterday. I can’t wait to use it. I hope you get many years out of yours
-- I was going for that distressed look
blockhead
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922 posts in 491 days
#4 posted 177 days ago
Nice job! That is a sweet setup you have there. I can’t wait to see the projects rolling off that bad boy.
-- Brad, Oregon- Wood, it's what's for dinner.
HallTree
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3456 posts in 950 days
#5 posted 177 days ago
Great restore. Looking forward to see what your next project will be that comes from it.
-- Ron in Minnesota (Summer) and in Arkansas (Winter)
Routerisstillmyname
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331 posts in 692 days
#6 posted 175 days ago
Awesome.
-- Router รจ ancora il mio nome. http://www.terencehill.com/videoclips/trinityclip2.html
Bradford
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1116 posts in 1005 days
#7 posted 175 days ago
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradfordwoodworks/ here is the link to the pics of the process. It shows the finished results going backward to the original state of the saw. When I first posted this saw, that I bought at auction, it wasn’t to gloat, but to inform the LJ’s that a site exists that many may not know about. With a lot of diligence, any of us can buy and restore a tool. I was just so excited to have found that saw, that I guess it sounded like bragging. The website for the Industrial recovery services is always having auctions all over the USA. So if anyone wants to check it out. Here is the address http://www.irsauctions.com . I am going after a set of Jet 650 dust collectors next. Peace.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
Autumn
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867 posts in 335 days
#8 posted 153 days ago
What a wonderful restoration. Powermatics are made to last your lifetime. I finally chucked out three smaller saws, popped for the new Powermatic, and I couldn’t be happier. Great score.
-- Autumn "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without."
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