Help! assembling PM2000/extension table
Hello Folks, Need some help with getting the extension table on my Powermatic PM2000 TS level with the table top.
If you are not familiar with it I have attached some photos.
My problem is that I can get the front and back corners absolutely flush with the TS top but the center portion remains about 1/16″ above the table top. As you can see from the pic, the extension table fits between the front and rear rails. It fits really nicely on it’s own and is not being bent or bowed by the rails in any way. I checked the table from front to back with a reliable straightedge and sure enough it’s got about a 32nd of an inch convex bow.
What I would like to do before returning the extension for a new one (weeks to do I’m sure and I want to get going!) is try and figure out how to correct the bow.
There are three wood screws that run parellel to that edge of the ext. table and I tried tightening the center one with no decrease in bow.
Anyone have any ideas? I know I should just go ahead and get the thing returned and installed but like I said, I want to cut some wood!
This thing is a beauty in all other aspects. Did some cross cuts and I gotta tell you, the diffference between this guy and my old Craftsman contractors saw is like a Flintstones car and a Porshe. I didn’t know what I was missing!
Thx, and sorry for writing a book and also the poor quality photos but I think you will get the idea.
Brian
Replies
Can you remove the bottom piece of wood with the three screws in order align the two surface.
Glued and screwed. Dealer ordered a new one. Only take a week and I get to keep this one. It will come in handy for something.
Thx for the reply.
Brian
Brian,
I am not personally familiar with the PM TS. But I made my own table and had a similar, though opposite problem. I had some extra bolt holes in my Delta, so I could adjust the table and bolt it off sucure.
Sounds like the plywood member supporting the top is bowed also. Check it on the bottom for flatness. If it is bowed you can back it up to the side with an additional support member that is bowed the opposite diretion. It will require you to clamp the top surface using a board spaning the top. Use a wedge under the center so as to level the surface plus a bit more, it will spring back some. Then you can clamp and screw off the new member. Remove the clamps and use a straight guage to check for flatness. If it is correct, reinstall the clamps and then glue the new member in place with the screws.
Happy Cutting.
AZMO
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Hey thanks for the reply. Checked with my dealer and he ordered an ew one. Get to keep this one too. If I get it flat it will make a great outfeed table. If not, a work bench top or something.
Thx! Brian
Brian,
Just a thought, but you could send that table back, but before ya do, use the time to build an improved table on the right side that contains your router lift and miter track. When the new table comes back from powermatic, you could use that awesome baltic birch plywood for jigs and fixtures or a table top for a small assembly bench.
I have the same saw, i agree with you on it's capabilities. Perhaps picking up some 9 ply baltic birch ply and having at it to make the new table perfectly flat and the way you want it is an opportunity to get that saw tuned the way you want it. (scales set, miter gauge tweeked in etc.
Should ya have to do that?...absolutely not, but having been in manufacturing all my life, i have gotten numb to some of it, and just adapt.
Jeff
Hi Jeff, Thanks. My dealer ordered a new one and it will only take a week. He is also going to let me keep this one so if I get it flat, maybe a outfeed table or some kind of top for something. Best of both worlds!
Thx again, Brian
Have you tried swapping ends? Maybe the other end is flat (flatter).
Might work but the "PowerMatic" insignia is on the other side and looks really really cool...soooo. Checked with my dealer and they ordered a new one and are going to let me keep this one too. It'll make a good bench top of some kind or if I can get it flat maybe an outfeed table. Thanks!
brian
If nothing else you could cut it down and have color matching zero clearance inserts. I prefer yellow and orange for mine though.
You can remedy that, and I bet a nickle even if you go thru the hassle of getting another table, theres no guarantee . .
Couple of things to try. On the underside of the extension you have ribs with screws in them. Loosen screws and shim between the rib and the top to remove the bow.
Another thing you could pull off pretty easy would be to attach a small wood block in the middle with a lip on it, and cut it such that the lip goes under the casting and holds the bow down, much like a table top cleat works.
I have one of these at work and liked it enough when PM started their sale thing this year I bought one for here. Great saw. Unfortunately, I also got to be the guy who gets to try out their warranty process, but I came through that still thinking pretty well of them.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
Hi and thanks for the reply. I like the cleat idea but dont understand placing a shim between the wooden table rib and the top. The bow goes up and the table , in the center area, is proud about a 16th of an inch. Wouldn't the shim just increase that?
At the moment I have the original table installed with a block of wood against the rib and clamped to the wing. Not helping much but I'm thinking if I keep working with it, it will get into place eventually. The fence rides over with no problem at the moment. Knowing me I will just leave it alone unless it becomes a bigger problem.
Good to hear about the customer service experience. That was one of the big reasons I went with PM, their 5 year warranty.
Yep, great saw. I may even be keeping the guard system in place! Easy to work with.
The miter gauge is great too. My Excalibur/Osborne may gather a bit of dust!
Thx again, Brian
The shim idea is to make the top flat. Your bolts have some adjustment to them, with which you could move that edge of the top back down a shade.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
K..think I see what you're saying. Thanks, I'll take a look at it. Brian
Brian,
I purchased a PM2000 in November 2007 and ran into the same bowed extension table problem. When I returned the first extension for a replacement I asked to open it before taking it home - it had the same problem. Fortunately they had another one is stock and it was not perfect, but close enough that I decided I could live with it. Something must be wrong with the parts they are building these extension tables with.
Jerry
Thanks, I pick it up Saturday and I will be sure to take a look. Brian
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