Replies

1. 
   THintz | Feb 01, 2008 11:01am | #1

   I had the Powermatic benchtop 701 (until I got a deal on their floor model) and liked it a bunch. Very well built, lots of nice features. I have a review of it at the link below with photos and video that might help on this model.

    

   http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/pm701rvu.html

   Tom Hintz

   Because there is always more to learn!

2. 
   forestgirl | Feb 01, 2008 07:51pm | #2

   When I saw the PM 701 just before Christmas, I thought "Well!  Looks alot like my Steel City!" which I bought 2+ years ago.  Checking out Tom's review, I'd say the took the SC design and upped the ante a bit with the tooless approach and slightly bigger motor.  The Steel City is a nice mortiser, the warantee is unmatched, and the extra stock support built into the table is a plus, but the extra features on the Powermatic might be worth the extra money.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
3. 
   Woodmaster1776 | Feb 02, 2008 02:56am | #3

   I bought the Powermatic last spring when it was on sale at Woodcraft. Been very satisfied with it and it sure makes life easier--and the work more accurate--than doing the mortises with my router. There was a brief review in a Popular Woodworking issue that was enthusiastic about the Powermatic. The other bench top mortiser I considered was the General, which has a tilting head (might be useful for chair work) but I didn't get a chance to see it and couldn't find significant reviews, so I went with the Powermatic. Haven't seen any users dissatisfied with the Powermatic so that's probably a good indication.

   I did have one minor issue with my 701 Powermatic, but an e-mail to tech support brought an immediate response that solved the problem. I couldn't be happier--unless someone would gift me with the floor model Tom mentioned.

   Bob

4. 
   Tinkerer3 | Feb 02, 2008 08:01am | #4

   I have the PM 719 and although I haven't used it much at all, it certainly seems like a substantial machine.  It has the traveling carriages and the stops.  The carriages could work more easily but it is not bad.  I got it when you had the choice of getting the supporting bench and chose to save my shekels.  I have a whole bunch of bed frames and made the base.   

1. 
   dougmeyer | Feb 13, 2008 06:15pm | #5

   I have the general, seams nice, but I have not used it much.  (I had to buy the tools a few years ago to replace what I had, due to insurance issues) At the time i picked it up it seamed like the best available, but that was befor SC came out (alas SC came out with thier line about 4 months to late for me or I would have SC everything sigh...)

   Doug

5. 
   MP72 | Feb 13, 2008 07:33pm | #6

   I bought the General based on the fact that it would be easier to do angled mortises(chair making). I do however like the Powermatic rack and pinion fence.

   Mike