It was 1921 when the U.S. formally ended World War I by declaring peace with Germany. White Castle hamburger restaurant opens in Wichita, Kansas, the foundation of the world’s first fast food chain. In 1921, in a crosstown rivalry the New York Giants beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Also, in 1921, in McMinnville, TN, lumber yard manager Leonard F. Smith Sr., Powermatic’s founder, designed and built in his garage what would become the first Powermatic® planer.
Smith believed that the planer was the solution to providing the lumber yard with an edge by offering a better product. Once he saw how quickly customers were impressed by the results, he left the lumber yard business to concentrate on designing and building planers. And, as they say, the rest was history.
To commemorate Powermatic’s 100-year celebration, the following stationary tools will have a black and gold stripe paint scheme. Additionally, there will be premiums bundled with every Powermatic commemorative purchase.
The first wave of product will be launching in the spring of 2021 and include:
Powermatic’s 54H Jointer’s helical cutterhead features 40 four-sided indexable carbide knife inserts. Oversized infeed/outfeed tables are mounted on dovetail ways. The PM jointer’s 38” fence has positive stops at 45 and 90º right/ left. The infeed table’s fine adjustment lever provides quick setups. The jointer’s 1 hp motor features a non-slip, v-belt drive system for maximum performance. A 4” dust port easily connects to a shop’s dust collection system.
The Centennial Powermatic 15HH Planer is a testament to Smith’s legacy. This innovative Powermatic planer’s helical cutting head features 74 razor sharp four-sided, indexable carbide knife inserts that once installed, require no adjustments. They bear an exceptional finish when compared to conventional knives. Three V-belts provide maximum power to the 3-hp motor. The planer is equipped with a precision ground cast iron table and two large extension wings.
Powermatic’s 100 years wouldn’t be complete without the quintessential bandsaw.
The PWBS-14CS Bandsaw features a balanced 9-spoke cast iron wheel for seamless blade travel. A Carter™ quill tension release lever makes blade changes quick and easy. The bandsaw’s extra-large two-piece cast iron table — including a tilting 15” x 5” section and fixed 15” x 5” section — combine for an impressive 15” x 20” work surface area.
Dust collection in the shop environment has come a long way in the past 100 years. Powermatic’s cutting edge PM1300XT dust collector with the exclusive TurboCone™ technology improves chip separation to help prevent filter clogs. This dust collector has a capture rate of 98 percent of 2-micron particles. The dust collector also is equipped with a digital timer, which can be set for up to 99 minutes.
The second wave of product will be launching in the fall of 2021 and includes:
Leonard F. Smith would marvel at the new Powermatic EVS Drill Press. The PM2820EVS Drill Press is engineered for superior torque and productivity with a gear drive system and electronic variable speed (EVS) motor. The 20” stationary drill press also features a removable center table with a 45º rotation. Laser crosshairs pinpoint workpiece positioning, patented depth stop and premium fence with adjustable stop round out features. The PM2820EVS Drill Press is intended for multi-material use.
The PM1000 evolves from the superior line of PM2000 and PM3000 table saws. It offers many of the same features and benefits of a full-size cabinet saw yet operates at 115V. Therefore, the shop or garage doesn’t have to be wired for 230V service. The 10” PM1000 (#1791000KG) features a cast iron tabletop and a 30” maximum rip capacity to the right of the blade. The table saw has heavy-duty front and rear trunnions for stability and rigidity to minimize vibration.
The Gold Standard in wood turning excellence celebrates Powermatic’s 100 years with the 3520C Wood Lathe. A stalwart in the industry, the 3520C provides the most requested lathe features, such as a sliding headstock, electronic variable speed with low/high speed ranges, digital rpm readout, and a self-ejecting laser etched quill. Other premium features include a movable magnetic control box, adjustable riser blocks for 6” plus height adjustment, and formidable cast iron construction to dampen vibration.
At Powermatic, we’re proud of our 100-year track record as a premier builder of woodworking machines, and we’re diligent about applying that experience and expertise to every new product we develop. Product quality, innovation and durability will remain paramount. Woodworking professionals and hobbyists across America depend on Powermatic, and it’s that level of reliability and support they expect from ‘The Gold Standard.’
Be on the lookout for more details as Powermatic rolls-out its 100-year Anniversary. Thank you from the team at Powermatic.
