Powermatic vs Jet 15HH

BuzzBate · Mar 1, 2016

With the sale starting March 4th, I've decided to upgrade from my Dewalt 735. I can't make the math work to justify buying a Grizzly, so I've decided on either the Powermatic or Jet 15" planers.

Powermatic 15HH $3,050 - 10% sale ~ $2,750
Jet 15HH $2,750 - 15% sale ~ $2,350

The machines are near identical. I contacted the company directly, and they advise that the cutterhead is the only main difference. While I don't think I can go wrong with either machine, I want to make the best purchase.

If they were same in price I would for sure go with the Powermatic for the sole reason of I have a PM141, PM30, and PM50 already that were older machines but have been restored. Because the Powermatic is more, and I'm told that their sale will be less, I don't know that there is a $400 difference in machines.

Anyone have any experiences that can help?

Tnt141 · Mar 23, 2021

Brian, after 4 years of use later are you happy with the PM15hh? I'm looking into getting one and trying to get sense of any weakness they may have.
T

Thanks

darthford · Mar 23, 2021

Brian, after 4 years of use later are you happy with the PM15hh? I'm looking into getting one and trying to get sense of any weakness they may have.

Thanks
T

- Tnt141

I have an email off to Byrd. Not 100% sure yet but I found it curious that Powermatic no longer advertises the 15HH as having a geniune Byrd Shelix cutterhead, they just say "helical". I'm trying to find out if they have quietly switched to an Asian knock off of the Byrd.

Tnt141 · Mar 23, 2021

Thanks for the heads up Darthford. Keep me posted on what you learn.

Thanks,
T

darthford · Mar 25, 2021

Thanks for the heads up Darthford. Keep me posted on what you learn.

Thanks,
T

- Tnt141

Byrd got back to me, they said it's no longer a Byrd Shelix cutterhead. They said you have to specifically ask PowerMatic to install a Bryd at the time of purchase now instead of the knockoff.

Chrislee · Mar 26, 2021

Did they mention they charge more to use the Byrd?

Thanks for the heads up Darthford. Keep me posted on what you learn.

Thanks,
T

- Tnt141

Byrd got back to me, they said it s no longer a Byrd Shelix cutterhead. They said you have to specifically ask PowerMatic to install a Bryd at the time of purchase now instead of the knockoff.

- darthford

Chrislee · Mar 27, 2021

Did they mention they charge more to use the Byrd?

Thanks for the heads up Darthford. Keep me posted on what you learn.

Thanks,
T

- Tnt141

Byrd got back to me, they said it s no longer a Byrd Shelix cutterhead. They said you have to specifically ask PowerMatic to install a Bryd at the time of purchase now instead of the knockoff.

- darthford

darthford · Mar 30, 2021

Did they mention they charge more to use the Byrd?

Thanks for the heads up Darthford. Keep me posted on what you learn.

Thanks,
T

- Tnt141

Byrd got back to me, they said it s no longer a Byrd Shelix cutterhead. They said you have to specifically ask PowerMatic to install a Bryd at the time of purchase now instead of the knockoff.

- darthford

- Chrislee

Byrd didn't say. I'm not sure it's even possible to custom order the 15HH with a Byrd as they are assembled in Taiwan. Some breaking news though. They had a brand new 15HH on the showroom floor of my local woodworker supply. Claimed they just got it in a week ago. I looked up under and the head looks a lot like a Byrd and uses the Byrd type inserts. Then I looked at a recently Grizzly helical head after someone mentioned that Powermatic was using the Grizzly helical heads now. Compared the Grizzly to the Byrd, they look identical.

With no real alternatives and a cutter head that looks to be pretty much the same as the Byrd I'm going ahead with my 15HH purchase. Woodcraft just extended the ship date another 6 weeks though which bites.

Powermatic vs Jet 15HH

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