Stephen88 Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Can anyone help identify this 16 inch Powermatic planer? No model number or identification of any kind except the Powermatic label. It’s got a 5hp motor in the bottom of the stand as well as a smaller motor for the rollers. 3 phase. Just bought it and would like to find a manual. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Welcome to the forum. This page has LOTS of historic manuals and one might be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen88 Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen88 Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Could it be a non commercial model not for sale to the general public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 10 hours ago, Stephen88 said: Could it be a non commercial model not for sale to the general public? That is unlikely. My initial pass through that site did not locate a complete match. That site has documents posted by people like me working to provide a useful perpetual repository for others. It may be the desired document exists but has not be properly identified in the opening page. It may be that the exact document has not been posted, but that a document for a similar model has been posted that will provide utility. As an example the document for the 18" planer may have utility for your 16" planer. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 As an example this 1972 Powermatic Catalog D shows your Model 160 planer on page 38. As expected it appears very visually similar to the Model 180 18" planer on page 40. Look through the site. It may provide leads that help. Here is an example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen88 Posted December 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Thanks. The model I have has the motor located in the base under the table. Not mounted on the side. I found a similar machine listed in Vintage Machinery but it was an older model from the 1930s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altan Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 I would not use an old machine like this at all, I would not feel safe tbh, where did you get it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen88 Posted January 2 Author Report Share Posted January 2 New Jersey. I use a 1938 jointer. Very safe. I have no problem using old machines. In fact I prefer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 2 hours ago, Altan said: I would not use an old machine like this at all, I would not feel safe tbh, where did you get it?! What is the safety concern w/ this machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altan Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, wingless said: What is the safety concern w/ this machine? I don't think at the time it was made the brands were considering safety issues as the do now. This looks like from 1950s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altan Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 4 hours ago, Stephen88 said: New Jersey. I use a 1938 jointer. Very safe. I have no problem using old machines. In fact I prefer them. I prefer also old machines that are made between 1990 to 2005, or in rare cases some from 1980s. but I would not go further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingless Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 3 hours ago, Altan said: I don't think at the time it was made the brands were considering safety issues as the do now. This looks like from 1950s. Thanks for the clarification. A check / comparison to this new Grizzly planer shows the expected electrical control deficiencies on the old versus new. That includes the easy access big red mushroom off switch and logic to prevent automatic restart when interrupted power is restored. Nothing else jumped out to me. Anything else that should be identified? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altan Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 7 hours ago, wingless said: Thanks for the clarification. A check / comparison to this new Grizzly planer shows the expected electrical control deficiencies on the old versus new. That includes the easy access big red mushroom off switch and logic to prevent automatic restart when interrupted power is restored. Nothing else jumped out to me. Anything else that should be identified? What I mean in general I would not look for a tool at this age. I would feel what I do is waste of time mainly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen88 Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 I went to carpentry and woodworking school in the 80s. All the machines we used were from the 50s or 60s. Some in the furniture department were even older. Super solid reliable well built machines. Not much has changed in woodworking machines at this level. I’m not talking automation or CNC. It’s the same mechanism be it jointer planer table saw bandsaw etc. This planer has steel rollers that hold the plank in place and move it forward into the cutting head. The knives in the cutting head are secured by multiple screws in a chip breaker. They run in bearings. Everything is driven by belts from electric motors. The table moves up and down with a screw mechanism and is locked in place at the desired height. Exactly like modern machines. But most likely built to higher standards. They are completely safe to use if you know how to operate machinery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.