PM60 8" Jointer

[tperson]

I hate to be one of the ‘what’s it worth?’ guys because value means different things to different people in different locales,…but there’s a Powermatic 60 jointer on an auction coming up, and I could really use an upgrade from my 6” Ridgid. Nothing wrong with the Ridgid, just outgrown it. What’s a 1968 three phase PM 60 worth in southeast Nebraska? If I can snag it, I’d have to come up with a phase converter/VFD or swap the motor…neither option is free, but the VFD path is pretty reasonable (~$150-200).

 

Oh, and if you’re at the auction: hands off! This baby is mine (hopefully)! 

[Chet]

Maybe go over to Vintage Machinery an put an inquiry in over there.

[wtnhighlander]

Consumer grade machines in good condition often go for about 50% of their current new cost. 3-phase machines can frequently be had for closer to 30% of their current new cost, because the market is narrower.

[tperson]

welp, I did it...it's mine. Purchase price was $525...not bad...a little more than I was hoping, but still within my budget. Spoke with my Uncle Monday night, he claims to have a stack of single to 3 phase VFD's which would make this a pretty easy project.

 

Picking it up tomorrow, I'll let you know what I find. 

[tperson]

The VFD I ordered came in last Thursday fiddled with it Thursday and Friday evening with minimal luck, it just seemed goofy. The motor would run sometimes when the start button was pressed and not other times...sometimes you'd press the stop button and (as long as you were holding it down), it'd stop...then start back up when the stop button was released. Thought I had one of the million parameters set wrong but after quadruple checking everything, I checked the switch...yup, full of sawdust and giving intermittent connection. Got that fixed and it starts/stops as expected. Next step: joint something. Grabbed a chunk of walnut and started to run it through...man, it's taking a big bite. Let's adjust that. That's when I noticed that #14 is broken. Dammit. Also noticed that the blades are in desperate need of sharpening. Blades will be sent out today for cleanup, new ones will be delivered Wednesday along with a new belt and bearings. I think I can weld a nut to #14. I'll loose some max/min adjustment, but I'm good with that. 

[tperson]

What a rabbit-hole last Friday turned into! UPS lost my the belt, I goofed up the threads on the adjustment rod (#15) and broke the lock collar (#16 or 19) and, since I live on the edge of the earth, a solution had to be derived "organically" (i.e. dig through the scrap bin and see what you find). Took some work and a fair amount of cussing, but I used the jointer most of the day Saturday, enough to fill 1/2 a 55gal drum. I'm not sure if the motor doesn't spin as fast as my 6" ridgid, the knives are freshly sharpened, or the heft of the machine makes the difference, but this baby just hums along...far different than the obnoxious roar of the ridgid. 

On a side note, I had Aksarben Saw & Tool sharpen the knives (https://aksarbensaw.com/). These folks are amazingly easy to work with...and reasonably priced too. Less than $25 to sharpen the carbide knives and since they make weekly runs to Beatrice, FREE DELIVERY!

[Mark J]

17 hours ago, tperson said:

Took some work and a fair amount of cussing,

Amazing how much that helps sometimes . 

[tperson]

found this gem on BigIron the other day and, currently, it seems reasonably priced (ends 11/13/24). If anyone is looking for one and happens to be within driving distance of Seward, NE, here's an opportunity. Based on the plug, it's 3ph, but that's an easy fix with a VFD (link to what I used below). 

 

auction: https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/PowermaticModel60JointerPlaner

VFD: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BS2W6H35/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[wtnhighlander]

That seems like a good value. Unfortunately, the 'driving distance' would be an issue for me....

[tperson]

Seward is only an hour up the road from me...if you buy it, I'd be willing to pick it up, store it, and help coordinate LTL freight to you. This is a legitimate offer, not the typical "hey, if you buy it and you can keep it at my house" response we're all guilty of making.

 

I've thought about it for my shop, but can't figure out what I'd use a second one for...

[Tom King]

Maybe it's the picture, but something looks off about the infeed table to me.  It looks like it's drooping.  If anyone goes to look at it, check that out to be sure.  

[tperson]

yeah, I saw that too but didnt study the pictures hard enough to figure out what's going on. Looks like the backside base dovetail for the infeed is broken off completely. I wonder if someone picked it up by the tables and broke the base. Too bad, this would have made someone a nice addition...I love mine.

[Tom King]

Looks like scrap metal.

[tperson]

currently at $285 (+the buyers premium)...if I wanted one i would be awfully temped to risk it and attempt to weld/braze it...the broken part of the dovetail really only guides the infeed and should be minimally loaded.