Thread: Powermatic PM2000 tablesaw?

If you are considering a Powermatic you should also consider a Sawstop machine from Gabbett machinery. The quality is as good as a Powermatic but it also has the advantage of the safety brake system.

Hi Simon,

I think you will find most hobbyists wouldn't pay that much for a table saw when they will be able to get perfectly accurate cuts from heavy duty saws for half that price. Having said that, the Powermatic is an excellent and most desirable machine. I think it will easily last the distance but it also has some excellent features.

I like the way the blade is enclosed in the cabinet so that dust extraction is far easier and it doesn't do what most other do - just let the sawdust drop in the cabinet and you need a hurricane strength dust extractor to budge the stuff . Even then it gets all over the internal fittings, cams rollers, gears etc

I understand that they also have a quick release blade system and a proper riving knife - what's not to like?

Originally Posted by TP1

I like the way the blade is enclosed in the cabinet so that dust extraction is far easier and it doesn't do what most other do - just let the sawdust drop in the cabinet and you need a hurricane strength dust extractor to budge the stuff . Even then it gets all over the internal fittings, cams rollers, gears etc

I understand that they also have a quick release blade system and a proper riving knife - what's not to like?

Hmmmm..............sounds very much like my TL10S

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Hmmmm..............sounds very much like my TL10S

Wow, I didn't realise that - I have never seen a ts10L before (i think that's what you mean?) and just did a search on this forum, as I came on to the woodworking scene after they were discontinued by Carbatec.

I tell you what! they look very much like the Powermatic 2000. I wouldn't be surprised if they were based upon the same machine. They were expensive a few years ago so the current Powermatic price would seem about right. Powermatic I would expect, should finish their machines to a higher degree than Carbatec did.

I am a little bit envious Big Shed because my 10HB is missing a proper dust collection setup - it just has a 4" hole in the cabinet where the dust drops - not to mention the riving knife

Sorry, yes TS10L it is, bit of dyslexia mixed with old age

They are reputed to be almost the same machine as the Powermatic, with the exception of the built in roller base. I paid $1995 delivered at the time and it has been a good investment. Several forumites have bought the same saw, Stuart of Stu's Shed fame has one and describes it on his site.

I purchased a Powermatic 2000 a few years ago and have found it to be a very good machine. The only direct comparison I can make is with a Triton setup and the PM 2000 is, of course, vastly superior to that.
When I purchased the PM2000 I made a few comments which may be of some help in your decision making.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f153/value-money-69635/
.

In the intervening years the saw has functioned very well but dust collection (with the standard guards and dust collection system) could only be described as modest to poor.
I have cobbled up an additional dust collection and blade guard system (polycarbonate) which functions quite well and I only use the factory supplied riving knife when ripping timber significantly thicker than the height of the small aluminium splitter I have attached to a zero clearance insert.The dust collection system together with the feather boards attaches to the top of the fence with two mag switches so everything can be removed ( or replaced) in a couple of seconds.

I think it is a good saw but the Carbatec clone (if you can get it) may well be just as good.
Cheers, Jeff