Powermatic 1791228 Model 64 Artisan 10-Inch Left Tilt 1-1/2 Horsepower Contractor Saw with 50-Inch Accu-Fence, 2 Cast Iron Extension Wings, Table Board, and Legs, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase

List Price: $1,044.00

Features:

• Rugged construction
• Precision-ground cast-iron table
• Two cast-iron wings
• Left-tilting saw
• Belt driven

Accessories:
DEWALT D6053 17-Inch Bag with Drilling and Screwdriving Sets	Empire Manufacturing TSS-8D The Complete TopSaver System	DEWALT D6100 Heavy Duty Ballistic Nylon Tool Bag	DEWALT D5101SM Heavy Duty Top Grain Leather Tool Belt, Waist 28-Inch to 38-Inch	DEWALT D5101LG Heavy Duty Top Grain Leather Tool Belt, Waist 36-Inch to 48-Inch

Customer Reviews:

Powermatic Artisan Saw [Posted on 2001-04-06]
I'll review the saw in two pieces: setup and performance.

1. Setup. The saw comes in three boxes. Setup is not that easy - I don't see how some people got it done in two hours. It took me about eight hours one night to assemble, and about three the next to set it up. Instructions for the assembly of the saw are good enough that the average handyman with some horse sense shouldn't have much trouble. Table extensions mounted easily and are flat without needing shims. The problems I had were with the fence and the blade guard. The fence is a trick to install with just one person, and the switch, which is supposed to mount to the fence rail, doesn't fit anywhere. to boot, none of the instructions tell where/how to mount it. I ended up bending the flange down and buying another bolt to get it to attach to the fence. The blade guard is nice, but a PAIN to align. First, when you tighten the bolts after adjusting the fence, it wanders out of alignment. Also, the front attachment point for my guard isn't straight, so when the splitter is aligned with the blade, it has a pronounced front-to-back bow. Plan on building a table extension for the 52" rails - it's quite necessary and quite easy to build. If you need ideas, visit a Powermatic dealer and look at theirs - particle board and birch plywood is all it is.

Performance. There is some vibration, though not as much as the toy saw that I used to have. Can't use a link belt with this saw because the pulleys are the wrong type (apparently a new development). It barely passes the nickel test. Table top is quite smooth, and the fence is excellent. There's enough power to cut just about anything - my latest project used 2" thick red oak. Replace the blade and the inserts - they are all stamped 'Fisher Price' somewhere.

Overall: not a perfect saw, but a great compromise for those of us who are serious about the hobby but don't have the money or spousal permission to buy a 66.

Good Saw, Good Price [Posted on 2001-06-23]
After extensive research, I purchased this saw for $... with a $.. rebate. Dollar for dollar it cannot be beat.

It took me less than 2 hours to have the saw up and running and adjusted. I agree that the blade the saw is shipped with is marginal at best. I quickly replaced it with a Freud Premier combo blade and added Freud blade stabilizers. The finish quality of the cuts is now superb. Just a dress up with 220 and I'm ready to finish.

I got the 50" fence so I could rip 4x8's of plywood to any width. I also built an extension table and welded up a set of legs for it. With my router tucked in the extension table, I am able to use the Accufence for both tools. I replaced the plastic on the right side of the fence with a custom fence for my router setup. The Accufence was easy to set up and is dead on every time for both tools!

Although the inserts are merely acceptable, with my blade and oak I have no problem with tearout. I will probably replace them with zero clearance ones soon.

The table is flat and true, and my extension wings were easy to line up. The beveled edge is only on the table itself though, not on the extension wings. This is one area where I feel Powermatic dropped the ball. Why not bevel all the pieces? That way, wider stock would glide onto the table as easily as narrower pieces.

That not withstanding, the saw was realitively inexpensive, has the safety of a left tilt, was easy to setup, and produces quality cuts with ease everytime. I would recommend it to anyone. However, whats up with the new price?

Powermatic 64. Great Saw. [Posted on 2001-06-23]
I just bought the saw after weeks of comparison shopping and found that the Powermatic had everything that I was looking for. I was looking at the Jet, Delta and DeWalt brands, and feel that the Powermatic was the best buy for the money, and the quality is number one.

Pros: The table's table finish is fantastic. Very smooth and true. The saw feels very study and strong. High quality. T he motor is quiet and it has a clutch that stops the blade nicely when you shut the saw off. The accu-fence is accurate and a breeze to work with. Very high quality.

Cons: There are two bolts that hold the the belt cover on, but I could only put one on because the second one rubs the belt. If the belt was shorter, the guard would fit better. The table is beveled, but the extension wings are not. The motor was a little tricky to align on the back of the saw. The directions could have been a little easier to understand. I do not like the way that the blade gaurd mounts on the saw. There is two bolts that hold the gaurd in the rear, and one that is located right behing the blade that makes removal of the guard difficult.

The saw took me about 4 hours to assemble, and about another hour to make some final adjustments. Make sure that you get a mobile base for this saw, if you plan on moving it around. I am very happy with the saw, and glad that I went with the Powermatic brand. It is a well built table saw, and high quality. I would have this a 5 star rating if it was not for those minor issues. I puchased this saw from Amazon...Very fast delivery.

Great saw, company and price [Posted on 2001-07-06]

The Bottom Line with only a few minor issues, the saw stands out as a great saw. The price and service solidify my choice of this saw.

Excellent Saw and worth every penney [Posted on 2001-11-14]
I bought this saw after reading all of the reviews and they are mostly correct.
The saw is the smoothest running contractor grade saw on the market and the construction is excellent. Out of the box the fence was slightly out of adjustment but I aligned it in two minutes using the procedure in the manual and it has held true. I've aligned other fences and this was the easiest and most accurate I have ever encountered. I especially like the solid feel and positive locking mechanism which sets the fence true every time.

I agree that the assembly is involved and the instructions lacking. The belt guard will rub if the motor isn't attach correctly, but this is easy to fix by sliding the mounting plate away from the belt. The best advice I can give is take your time on the assembly and think about how all the pieces will fit together because once you are finished you will love this saw.

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