15 years ago I purchased at a school auction a used Powermatic 66 saw. My buddy checked it out and said the saw is in fine shape but I would need to replace the 3 phase motor with a single phase motor to use at home.
I never got around to purchasing a replacement motor and so it sat in my shop for 15 years. We recently downsized houses and I had to make room for the saw in my basement shop. To fit the saw in the door I had to remove the tabletop. I took my first peek at the motor's plate in 15 years. The plate said it was not 3 phase but 3 HP single phase.
I'm kicking myself because I had not read the plate myself all those years ago. Maybe I should kick my buddy instead.
Yes, kick your buddy but don't forget to kick yourself! I mean, I mean you've had a Powermatic table saw sittin' in your workshop for 15 years and yet you just sat there and admired it ???
I love my PM 1968 "66" I bought that was in a high school shop all it's life, hardly saw a full day of work in it's life. When I got it home I took it apart to make it light enough to get it off the truck and found the motor to be only a 1.5 HP. It still cuts just fine and the motor is a Baldor nothing finer. She is grey and made in the USA, same as me!
Look at the bright side, at least you didn't buy a phase convertor for it.
If the HS shop your saw came out of was anything like the Jr. High shop clase I took, they instructor didn't let anybody use the TS or BS other than himself. That saw is probably good as new.
Reacting to your story in a different way, I could say, "Wow, I've been doing woodworking for 35 years and only then did I discover the joys of turning items on a lathe"....Or, "wow, I've been doing woodworking for 40 years before I discovered how gratifying it is to rely on handplanes only for a finished surface". Both of those stories are true for me. I'm not sure where this willingness comes from, to go forward all that time with diminished expectations when a better way is waiting for us, if we'd only open our eyes. Congrats on finally taking things up another notch in your workshop!
never mind the kick, a good whack with a 2 by 4 would be in order, for both of you, you just need to make dust double time to make up for all the lost time.. now have at it..
Now that the bruises from kicking myself are healed I decided to put the ol'66 to service. Long story but to get the saw in what will be my shop I had to take it apart. I mean all apart. I put the parts back and I'm just now trying to align the top to the blade. I have found plenty of references to miter to blade alignment which I will follow. My question is about two cap head screws that are in the front sheet-metal on either side of the blade up/down adjustment wheel. I'm stumped as to what they are for. I haven't found a a knuter valve to adjust anywhere on this saw.
Think of it this way. You didn't put those 15 years of use on that saw, so it is that much newer? Does that make sense?
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