A Favor for Powermatic

One Response to “A Favor for Powermatic”

1. Zac on June 17th, 2007 2:20 am

   I can’t believe the timing for this Powermatic old machine photo post!!! It just so happens that I had a little problem with the way I set up a multi-station bench for a miter saw and a drill press in my shop (formerly garage). I worked hard to find a great solution to setting up my shop. I finally came across an idea that incorporates great use of space with multifuncionality in a small shop. The bench surfaces of this bench are parallel to the miter saw with an extended fence system for long stock.

   My problem was the drill press station. I bought a little bench top Delta press, which worked just fine for my applications. Unfortunately, I made a giant blunder in my bench design. It works great for the miter saw. I have a fencse system set up for it, and it should be able to handle any length of stock to chop. I thought that I had killed two birds with one stone having a large table area which could be set up with T-track and fences for the drill press as well. I was wrong! The problem is that you adjust the table on the drill press pole to the drill, not the drill press motor and head to the table. So, I used to have to physically move the drill press up and down to allow for higher or shorter stock by elevating the base of the drill press with make-shift extension bases.

   My dad is a machine shop genius, and he saved the day as usual. Last Christmas, he ended up buying an old drill press machine which has four drill presses mounted to a steel table. The great thing about it is the drill press heads (motor, chuck, etc.) area adjustable and move up and down to the table. So, he popped one drill press off this table, and we just mounted it in my shop this weekend. A little father - son project for Father’s Day. He still uses the three drill table for his machine shop, and I get the one press for my shop.

   This weekend before installing the drill press, I saw this post, and realized that I think the machine we were installing is the Powermatic Green!!! I will admit that this thing is an industrial size drill press, which does more than I even knew a drill press could do. It is a bad boy, and I can’t wait to use it. The beauty of this machine, although the adjustable head is outstanding, is that you can adjust speeds with the turn of a handle without fussy changing of the belt on a different ratio of pulleys. Most (if not all) drill presses I have seen on the market utilize a pulley system which requires opening the head up and physically changing the belt to a different set of pulleys. This machine uses an awesome system that changes the ratio using a pulley system that actually adjusts itself. The two pulley wheels actually spread open or closed with the turn of the handle creating different ratios, subsequently changing the drill speed. I can’t even describe how it works, so you will probably have to wait until I send in my photos to get a better idea how this machine works. Oh, and the other great thing about it is it uses a keyless chuck. I just give it a good twist, and the bit is held fast. no clunky keys to torque the chuck with and probably lose one day.

   Thanks again for replying to my question about the Las Vegas woodworking convention, and thanks for giving newbies to woodworking a great reference to better woodworking and a great way to have fun while learning new skills. See you in Vegas.

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