I'm looking at an older Powermatic 60 someone is offering, but it has a couple of things that I want to be sure I can solve if I pick it up.
The main concern is that it vibrates quite a bit. This is a heavy machine, and the fact that it's visibly vibrating when up to speed makes me wonder about something in the drive train, maybe even the cutter head, being seriously out of balance, maybe from a bent part.
Does anyone have experience with these vibrating, and can tell me if this is normal or if not, fixable?
The only other thing is probably just a simple adjustment - when he demo'ed the machine at a 1/16" cut, the stock was stopped at the leading edge of the outfield table. That feels like the cutter head is a little low and I expect could be remedied by adjusting the outfield table height.
By the time I got this and set up up with a Shelix cutter head, I'd be really close to the price of a new 6" PM helical head machine, and I'm not sure I really need the extra 2", so I'd be happy to hear opinions on which way made most sense to go. I'm not in love with the idea of doing a whole teardown/rebuild before starting to use a machine, I would have a really steep learning curve on that and just want to work some stock.
New 54HH pros:
- Setup and go
New 54Hh cons:
- Really that much better than less expensive brands that might be made in the same factory?
- 6" vs. 8", though I don't really know that 8" will be that important for me.
Used model 60 pros:
- Possibly better qualit beds etc. if it really is US-built vintage
- 8" vs. 6"
- Local, I can load it in my truck and take to my shop
Used model 60 cons:
- Can't verify actual age/mfr location from 7-digit serial number (that format isn't in the PM serial# tables)
- Vibrates a lot
- Will need outfield table adjustment at a minimum
- Would need to install new Shelix cutter head
- Normal mysteries of used gear in terms of possible tuning and repair needed
Thanks for any and all thoughts!
The main concern is that it vibrates quite a bit. This is a heavy machine, and the fact that it's visibly vibrating when up to speed makes me wonder about something in the drive train, maybe even the cutter head, being seriously out of balance, maybe from a bent part.
Does anyone have experience with these vibrating, and can tell me if this is normal or if not, fixable?
The only other thing is probably just a simple adjustment - when he demo'ed the machine at a 1/16" cut, the stock was stopped at the leading edge of the outfield table. That feels like the cutter head is a little low and I expect could be remedied by adjusting the outfield table height.
By the time I got this and set up up with a Shelix cutter head, I'd be really close to the price of a new 6" PM helical head machine, and I'm not sure I really need the extra 2", so I'd be happy to hear opinions on which way made most sense to go. I'm not in love with the idea of doing a whole teardown/rebuild before starting to use a machine, I would have a really steep learning curve on that and just want to work some stock.
New 54HH pros:
- Setup and go
New 54Hh cons:
- Really that much better than less expensive brands that might be made in the same factory?
- 6" vs. 8", though I don't really know that 8" will be that important for me.
Used model 60 pros:
- Possibly better qualit beds etc. if it really is US-built vintage
- 8" vs. 6"
- Local, I can load it in my truck and take to my shop
Used model 60 cons:
- Can't verify actual age/mfr location from 7-digit serial number (that format isn't in the PM serial# tables)
- Vibrates a lot
- Will need outfield table adjustment at a minimum
- Would need to install new Shelix cutter head
- Normal mysteries of used gear in terms of possible tuning and repair needed
Thanks for any and all thoughts!