Table saw maintanence

**captainkirk** · 03-25-2003, 12:02 PM

I bought a used Powermatic 64A contractor type table saw.
It is in great shape and I love using it.

The question is -- I noticed when cleaning / waxing the top that the
two cast iron extention wings seem to not be perfectly flat with the
top of the saw. The wings are flat but they start flush at the saw table and slope downward a little bit. Placing a staight edge across the table reveals that the edge of the wing is 1/16 of a inch or so below the surface of the table.

Is this by design?? or is this just a manufacturing tolerance??

I could try to shim the lower edge of the wing where it mounts to bring it up flush but was wondering if this slight slope was intentional.

Any help/comments would be appreciated

Thanks

Kirk

**Lou_williams** · 03-25-2003, 12:17 PM

You should shim them to be flat. It is better than they be down a bit than up a bit, but flat is the objective.

**Super Ry** · 03-25-2003, 02:37 PM

Boy that sounds BAD - I'd recomend throwing the whole thing away and just getting a new one... If ya want I'll come by and pick it up for ya!! ;)

**Lou_williams** · 03-25-2003, 04:00 PM

You are getting good at this rebuild task and want to start another project hun.

Shim stock to get an extension on straight is not that uncommon. Just one of the things you have to do with stuff that is made off shore. The lower priced tools can be made to work fine. You just need to assume that instead of money you are spending time. The PM64 us a good contractors saw, But, it is more like a Jet than the true Powermatic old line tools like the PM66.

Take your time get it setup right and you will have a very nice saw that will last a long time.

**captainkirk** · 03-26-2003, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the advice,

I figured that flat was what I wanted but thought I would get the opinion of the guru's.

I don't think I will trow this one away just yet.

Kirk

**Bayside Dave** · 03-26-2003, 10:55 PM

I have the same saw and my wings are a bit higher at the outside instead of lower like yours. I don't know exactly how much higher but you can only tell with a straight-edge. Still I have shim material but haven't used it yet. It doesn't affect the cut at all. When I get around to building my TS cabinet for the saw, I'll take it apart and shim it all up. But for now, it works great.

You're gonna love the saw.

Dave