Tool Review - Powermatic 64A Tablesaw

Back to the Rolling "M" Workshop

In my opinion, the tablesaw is the heart of the workshop. In most cases, its largest tool in the shop and it gets used for almost every project. The tablesaw is used for ripping, cross-cutting, and even shaping. Being one of the most important (and expensive) tools in your arsenal, you'll want to think long and hard on this purchase. There are three major types of tablesaws to choose from: benchtop, contractor-style, and cabinet-style. The bench-top models are generally very inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. They are also generally underpowered, inaccurate, and cheaply made. The contractor-style models are definitely a step up in accuracy, quality, and price from the bench-top saws. Contractor saws almost always sit on an open stamped steel base. They come with a motor capable of handling most cutting jobs and a table capable of handling most materials. The idea is to have a full size tablesaw that is portable to and from the job site. The cabinet-style models are the big boys of the tablesaw world. They are definitely the best choice for a standalone "permanent" tablesaw. They come with a heavy fully enclosed cabinet base, a large powerful motor, and a large heavy top. But, as I said before, you get what you pay for. Cabinet saws are generally very expensive. So, if you are like most of us and can't afford to take out a second mortgage to buy a cabinet saw, you'll probably be looking at a contractor's saw. This is the class that Paul and I fit into.

When I first setup shop in my garage, I purchased a small Delta benchtop saw. I quickly discovered that if I was going to do any serious woodworking, I would need something bigger and better. When Paul started working with me in the shop, he came to the same conclusion. So, he called his father, a class A scrounge if there every was one, and asked for some help. Paul's dad has been collecting tools for over forty years, so it was no suprise that he an extra tablesaw "just laying around." We arranged to bring his "spare" tablesaw to my garage to get us by until we could find what we were looking for. It was a DeWalt contractor's saw from the late seventies. It was definitely a step up from my benchtop saw, but it was lightweight (plastic body on a open steel stand with an aluminum top) and a little inaccurate. There is a lesson to be learned here about aluminum tablesaw tops. Aluminum comes and goes with changes in temperature so much that the table would be flat one day and cupped the next. There were times when the miter gauge wouldn't even fit in the slots, much less make accurate cross cuts. Paul asked his dad to keep his eye out for a good used tablesaw for him to purchase. A few weeks later, he came through with flying colors. Paul called me one evening and said that his dad had just picked up a tablesaw for us at his local ReTool store. If you're not familiar with ReTool, I suggest that you look into it. ReTool is a chain of stores that specialize in buying, selling, and trading used and remanufactured tools. Anyway, the tablesaw that Paul's dad found was a Powermatic Model 64A. the A stands for Artisan which is Powermatic's version of a contractor's saw.

Paul and I jumped into my pickup and met his father half-way between our homes (4 hours away) to trade the DeWalt for the Powermatic. Paul paid a little over half of new price for the saw that appears to be about five years old. The saw was very well cared for. It has had all of its shots and has had yearly dental check-ups. Needless to say, we were happy. In exchange for his time and trouble, we sent Paul's dad home with the table extensions that we built for the Dewalt and a freshly painted stand as well.

The first order of business was to setup the saw and tune it. This didn't take long because the old owner was so nice to the saw. The blade was already straight with the table, so we just had to mount the saw on its stand, install the motor, attach the extensions and fence, and start cutting. Right away, we saw a vast improvement over our other saws. The 64A was stable, powerful, and the Accu-Fence (Biesemeyer knockoff) was very accurate. We used a the saw "as is" for a few days, then the updates began. First, Paul purchased a Freud 80-tooth blade and an Incra TS-III fence. When the fence arrived, we built new table extension wings and got back to work. We now had the table space to cut full sheets of plywood with the safety and the accuracy that we were looking for. This combination served us very well. After moving the 64A to the new workshop with a conventionally framed wooden floor, we noticed a very strong vibration in the saw. It turns out that the old drive belt had become oval shaped from sitting around the old owner's shop for a few years. The vibration had always been there, we were just used to it. So, with a new Kevlar belt, the 64A purrs like a kitten. I'm not sure if it would pass the nickel test (setting a nickel on its edge on the table top with the motor running), but its pretty smooth.

If you've got the money to spend, go ahead and buy a cabinet saw. You won't regret the investment. But, if you're just starting out and can't afford the big guns just yet, look around for a good contractor's saw. New, the Powermatic 64A sells for around $900, but you if you can find one, you can pick one up used for significantly less.

PowerMatic 64A Tablesaw