The Powermatic 66 cabinet saw has been a byword for a high quality table saw for as long as I have been woodworking (and that is a few decades). Last week at the AWFS [Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers] woodworking show, the folks at Powermatic unveiled a new high-end cabinet saw & and its noble predecessor should be proud to be associated with it.
The PM2000 10″ Cabinet Saw is a Powermatic, top to bottom. From its ultra heavy-duty trunnions, to its nicely finished cast-iron table top and its big polished steel adjustment wheels, this saw would fit into any good quality shop from 1930 until today. But while the saw harkens back to its ’66 roots, this unit is a modern saw through and through.
There are a whole host of great features such as an arbor lock, cast-iron base and a poly-V drive belt, just to tick off three but two features stand out in my mind.
The first is a very sound and easy-to-use blade guard, which they coupled with (hallelujah!) a real riving knife: in my opinion, making this saw safer than 99% of the cabinet saws on the market. I am so pleased that Powermatic chose to include this important safety combination. And it works just like it ought to. The guard is easy to take on and off so there is no excuse for not putting it back on the saw once it is removed — and the riving knife is just as easy to take out and put back in & kudos are well deserved here.
The next feature is an internal caster system built right into the base of the saw. By utilizing a slick pull-out-to-engage system, you can lower the caster and therefore raise the saw with ease & a built-in mobile base. While I don’t know how many professional cabinet shops will need this feature, there are few hobby shops where this will not come in handy.
While I did not get a chance to spend any time on this saw cutting stock, I am looking forward to doing so in the near future. The folks at Powermatic say that saws will be ready to ship in the fourth quarter of this year in a variety of fence configurations. The base price is in the $2,200.00 range, depending on options.
A bit of old and a lot of new & it just may be that the PM2000 will be to the 21st century what the 66 was to the 20th. As to that, only time will tell.
The folks at WMH (the company in which Powermatic and JET Tools reside) look understandably proud of their newest offering.
A true riving knife is a wonderful addition to this table saw.
The switch which allows you to take the riving knife on and off with ease is a great compliment to the easy on and off blade guard.
The arbor lock and poly-V belt drive are modern features on the PM2000 cabinet saw.
