Replies

1. 
   Woodmaster1776 | Aug 22, 2008 06:50pm | #1

   I bought mine about a year and a half ago when Woodcraft had a sale and Powermatic had a rebate. Still cost more than mortisers from Delta and Steel City but it looked to be worth it. I just completed the 48 mortise and tenon joints when making Michael Dunbar's Pie Safe from FWW #182. I frankly wonder how I ever got along without this tool. Combined with a Delta Tenon jig life has become so much easier.

   Since this is the only mortiser I've used, I can't speak to how it compares to others, but Pop Wood had a very enthusiastic review of the Powermatic a couple of years ago.

   My impression is that short of a big floor-mounted model like Sarge acquired, the Powermatic 701 was the most mortiser for the least dollars for my purposes.

   Good luck with your decision.

   Bob

2. 
   alanplanesaw | Aug 22, 2008 07:23pm | #2

   I have the pm701 and love it.  Quiet, smooth, works great.

   Alan - planesaw

3. 
   RW | Aug 23, 2008 04:47am | #3

   News from the PM world - third trimester pricing and promos came out yesterday and once again we're seeing the impact of a variety of forces on costs. Sept 1 is going to be a substantial increase across the board on all of their tools. The PM2000 saw is going to have risen in cost over $600 since January.

   For whatever its worth. Theres another element to consider for anyone looking to buy something Powermatic in the near future.

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

4. 
   Hastings | Aug 23, 2008 05:08pm | #4

   Cool:

   Were I in the market for a mortiser, I would seriously consider the Laguna bench top. It looks well made and is very reasonable at <$350.

   See it here:

   http://www.lagunatools.com/platinummortiser1.htm

   And watch the video here:

   http://www.lagunatools.com/videos/mortiser.platinum2.htm

   Laguna get a bad rap for service, but I have their bandsaw and have only experienced very good service, even replacing a bandsaw blade, which they did recently.

   Hastings

5. 
   THintz | Aug 23, 2008 05:45pm | #5

   I did a full review of the 701, with photos and video (link below) a while ago and loved the 701. I put it on an open leg stand to best fit my shop and doing the review but it certainly can be put on a good bench or shop-made table/stand.

   Lots of nice features, very strong motor and lots of that famous Powermatic cast iron!

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

    

   Tom Hintz

   Because there is always more to learn!

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Aug 24, 2008 05:43pm | #7

   I have a feeling what RW said about PM raising prices may not be contained to just PM. The price of cast iron has risen sharply (and I'm not kidding about sharply) over the last year.  The price for getting a Conex container has risen almost $2000 per container during the same period and the Taiwanese and Chinese have raised labor prices.

   So if you have some change jingling in your pocket and are considering a purchase... might not be a bad idea to give yourself a green light as IMO.... the change in your pocket now might not jingle as loud a few months down the road. :<) Just my opinion of course.....

   Sarge..

6. 
   ThreePuttJoe | Aug 24, 2008 05:33pm | #6

   I have this mortiser, and it is fantastic. It has more features than I actually need at this stage, but I would always rather grow into a tool that out of a tool. It is smooth, powerful, and quiet. BTW, it fits almost exactly on the Jet 14" bandsaw mobile base.

7. 
   JerryPacMan | Aug 24, 2008 05:51pm | #8

   A PM701 is for sale at SMC.

   http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=90748

    

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .

   "Life is not a success only journey."  Dr. Phil

1. 
   bcool | Sep 05, 2008 03:00pm | #9

   Too late , I ordered it from Amazon last week and just got it in the other day.  Tried it out on some cherry, Seems to work pretty good, although the action is a little stiff. It made typical machine mortises fairly easily. Now my partner can't complain about having to mortise the 30 or so doors we're doing for a kitchen we're building. I was using a shopmade router jig to clean up the mortises after drilling them out. apparently that was too much for him. Although I must admit it was a slower process, the mortises made with the router are a lot cleaner and more precise.Thanks to all for the reviews on this machine, I think it is a valuable addition to my woodworking arsenal and durable enough, to hopefully give years of reliable service.