Powermatic 180 planer

[jar944]

This 1968 powermatic 18" planer showed up within a reasonable driving distance and for a relatively cheap price last month. I ended up making a deal for it and drug it home and started cleaning it up. It was missing the mag starter and start capacitor when I bought it so I wasn't sure the condition of the motor. Fortunately after adding a cap and starter it fired right up.


Video showing the slower speed @15fpm and top speed @ 37fpm

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Nice. Hard to go wrong with vintage Powermatic. I picked up a 180 a year or so back as well. It is also a 1968 model I believe. Bought on the last day of an estate sale for a very good price. Looks like yours is up and running fine. Good solid machines. A pic of mine as found. I'm still getting it situated in the wood shop. Ed.

 

[jar944]

Nice. Hard to go wrong with vintage Powermatic. I picked up a 180 a year or so back as well. It is also a 1968 model I believe. Bought on the last day of an estate sale for a very good price. Looks like yours is up and running fine. Good solid machines. A pic of mine as found. I'm still getting it situated in the wood shop. Ed.

Nice.

Your machine was undoubtedly a better deal (Regardless of the price) since it came with the grinder. Been casually searching for one since I bought this. They are a bit fat but otherwise very simple. I'm planning on relocating the motor inside the base to cut down the overall width.

 

[slowtwitch73]

 

[jar944]

I only seem to stick my fingers into running bandsaws.. The planer is the least likely to lop off any appendage..(knock on wood)

 

[jar944]

Took a month, but I found knife grinder locally.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Nice you were able to find a knife grinder for your planer jar. I haven't looked that hard for one but assumed they would be hard to find seperate from the planer. I did check out the area in the base where you mentioned mounting the motor. There would be room under there but access would be a bear. I'm about to start mounting some casters on mine to get it free of the pallet jack it's currently riding. Ed.

 

[jar944]

Nice you were able to find a knife grinder for your planer jar. I haven't looked that hard for one but assumed they would be hard to find seperate from the planer. I did check out the area in the base where you mentioned mounting the motor. There would be room under there but access would be a bear. I'm about to start mounting some casters on mine to get it free of the pallet jack it's currently riding. Ed.

I picked the grinder up locally from a guy I know. He buys machinery as a hobby and sells off the extras. He actually let me know about a month ago that he had one, took him till now to find all the parts..lol.

The motor in the base takes some work, there are a couple of threads on owwm where it's been done. You are correct there is not much room and the table elevation gearing requires that the motor be installed from underneath.