Powermatic Model 86 Bandsaw

[purplezr2]

Anyone know much about them, seems like a somewhat rare model compared to the model 87.

Seems to have similar features, three speed transmission/variable speed, tilting table, blade welder with grinder. The controls for speed seem to be moved 90 degrees and are on the side of the machine vs the front where you stand. Appears the internal are rotated as well due to this.

Was listed as a woodworking saw, has a miter slot, but the 87 we have at work also has a miter slot.

I was questioning if it was in fact it was model 87. None of the pictures have model number tag, there is an envelope taped to inside of the upper cover that listed a parts manual for a #86 bandsaw.

Thoughts? Asking price is 500, appears to have been repowered at some point. Owner states 3 phase, cord has a single phase welder end on it, three prong, will 3 phase work if it is ungrounded? If it is truly three phase it will get a VFD which isn't to spendy.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I do have an older '63 model #87 with miter slot in table and blade welder but all the controls are on the left side column where they are supposed to be. I see there is a bing video showing a model #86 with the controls under the table on the right side of the saw but can't make out the tag. Sure looks like a #87 otherwise. I didn't know Powermatic made an #86 either. Looks like you would get your knees some exercise getting at those controls. Ed.

 

[Firebrick43]

Anyone know much about them, seems like a somewhat rare model compared to the model 87.

Seems to have similar features, three speed transmission/variable speed, tilting table, blade welder with grinder. The controls for speed seem to be moved 90 degrees and are on the side of the machine vs the front where you stand. Appears the internal are rotated as well due to this.

Was listed as a woodworking saw, has a miter slot, but the 87 we have at work also has a miter slot.

I was questioning if it was in fact it was model 87. None of the pictures have model number tag, there is an envelope taped to inside of the upper cover that listed a parts manual for a #86 bandsaw.

Thoughts? Asking price is 500, appears to have been repowered at some point. Owner states 3 phase, cord has a single phase welder end on it, three prong, will 3 phase work if it is ungrounded? If it is truly three phase it will get a VFD which isn't to spendy.

If you have three hot leads and no ground it will work but it’s a really bad idea safety wise as a winding fault could energize the frame.

It won’t work on direct single phase however??? Did they make the ground prong a hot?

 

[pcmeiners]

Paid $1200 for my 87. Be aware most of the bearing are dried up, good many will need replacement. On my unit I replaced 22 bearing. Mine is 3 ph, so I got an Inverter from Ebay , a Lenze America unit, this model commonly used on 3ph powermatics

Pardon Our Interruption...

Also be aware this is a dangerous machine to move, top heavy, vertically off center balance, no less roughly 1200lbs. That said it will cut up battleship parts and dead bodies, without changing the blade. If the pharaohs of Egypt were GJ members, one of these would have been in their tombs.

 

[Firebrick43]

Note to self

Self, don't piss off PCmeiners, he has the tools to easily dispose of you!

 

[purplezr2]

End up buying it. Appears to be repowered, which I learned after I posted. Wish I had seen the post about moving it. Loading it was great fun!

Bought the unit with out being able to power it up. End up giving 400 for it. Plugged it in when I got home and it seems to run and functions fine, including the blade grinder and welder.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks like a nice score!

 

[W-Cummins]

Can you take a picture of the other side? Is that where the variable speed control is?/?

Thanks
William...

 

[Renegade1LI]

That's a great deal and machine for 400$.

 

[tool_scrounge]

If you have the chance, could you please post a Photo or two of the inside of the saw (motor, reaves drive, gear reduction )? At my last company I rebuilt a model 87 but the pulleys and reaves drive matched no manuals for the model 87. I wonder if it was a transitional model from the model 86? Thanks

 

[purplezr2]

I will post some pictures tonight, I forgot to grab some when I unloaded it in the shop.

It has a paper manual taped to the inside of the upper door, I can post some pictures of that as well.

 

[pcmeiners]

Wish I paid $400.

"Wish I had seen the post about moving it. Loading it was great fun!"

Mine was loaded with a Hilo. Getting off my Tacoma bed was my fun. Had (6) 2x6s off the back of my truck. Got the 87 onto the bed of 2x6s, half way down, then (2) of them broke on the way down. 1200 lbs went side-wards, a couple scratch on the 87, but that was it. Took me 4 hours to get it upright and into garage, as my truck moved with a come-along, but the beast refused to move an inch.
IF you need bearings, I can dig up a list, a few were difficult to figure out. These units were built to last a few thousand years of use.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here's a few pics of my 87 including drive components for comparison. It was a little tippy but the low mounted drive components are damn heavy plus the weight for the optional "power feed" adds to the low mounted mass. I need to paint it back to the original pea green and start using. I thought I got a good deal at $800. With the Reeves vari-drive they are very nice saws for wood and metal. Ed.

 

[purplezr2]

Here's a few pics of my 87 including drive components for comparison. It was a little tippy but the low mounted drive components are damn heavy plus the weight for the optional "power feed" adds to the low mounted mass. I need to paint it back to the original pea green and start using. I thought I got a good deal at $800. With the Reeves vari-drive they are very nice saws for wood and metal. Ed.

Is the optional power feed the extra components blocking the rear motor access plate.

Anyone know the color code for the original green?

 

[purplezr2]

Wish I paid $400.

"Wish I had seen the post about moving it. Loading it was great fun!"

Mine was loaded with a Hilo. Getting off my Tacoma bed was my fun. Had (6) 2x6s off the back of my truck. Got the 87 onto the bed of 2x6s, half way down, then (2) of them broke on the way down. 1200 lbs went side-wards, a couple scratch on the 87, but that was it. Took me 4 hours to get it upright and into garage, as my truck moved with a come-along, but the beast refused to move an inch.
IF you need bearings, I can dig up a list, a few were difficult to figure out. These units were built to last a few thousand years of use.

Loading almost killed the deal. Guy was not a good skidsteer operator, and I almost walked from the deal. Unloading was a breeze with a couple guys and a skidsteer

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Is the optional power feed the extra components blocking the rear motor access plate.

Anyone know the color code for the original green?

That's it. There were a couple of pulleys attached to the crossbar that is semi blocking the rear access door. That door isn't hinged and will pull out with the cross bar in place. The pull cables ran through pulleys from the bar up and over the table and attached to the work. Moving the weight further out on the bar increased feed tension. You would raise the bar and latch it into the foot released catch. Likely works best for production work making multiple consecutive cuts. I hear vista green is a pretty good match for the early Powermatic pea green and I plan to try it. Not sure about the later darker green. Ed

 

[purplezr2]

Here are a few more pictures of the drive, as I mentioned earlier it has been repowered. I need to pull the motor and see what size it is, guessing 1 or 1.5 hp by the size. It is a 220 motor.

It will need some clean up.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Thanks for the photos. The reeves drive on mine at work is definitely different. But it was painted matching Powermatic colors so I presume it was factory. It had previously been unsuccessfully repaired. But the resulting damage was too much to fix. So I ended up using the motor + VFD with the existing 2 speed gearbox and it worked well enough for our purposes.