Powermatic PJ882 Parallelagram 8" Jointer
June 6, 2004 I reviewed my experiences with the Powermatic Model 60B 8" jointer and it's lack of table flatness and other problems. Since that time the Model 60B was replaced by the Powermatic people with a new PJ882, 8" parallelagram jointer. I have used this jointer for two years now and can report that it is a superb jonter. It does lack a few refinements like replaceable table lips, which the Delta 8" parallelagram jointer has and the knife drum is smaller in diameter than the Delta's which affects cutting quality slightly. However, after performng a complete alignment of both tables and the knives, using Starrett and Mitutoyo .001" dial indicators the jointer has delivered superb results. It will remove up to 1/8" of material in a single pass but I have found that if I remove just 1/64 to 1/32" of material at a time I can consistently flaten a board or square an edge to within a few thousandths. Amazing performance. It has more than enough power, and with it's heavy cast iron base, is very smooth and vibration free in operation. When we checked the tables for flatness and for coplaning we were impressed at how flat they were. Using a long Starrett edge ground straight edge, checked on a granite surface plate for a precise, true and straight edge, the out feed jointer table was absolutely flat in all directions. The infeed table had a slight .002" dip at the mid point that went all the way across the table but extended just 4" along it's length. The fence has a very nice plastic insert on it's bottom edge to protect the table surface and the fence angle adjuster is acurate once it is calibrated. It is also very smooth and precise in it's movement. A joy to use.Tthe only problem was the fence itself. It was not flat. In fact it was curved almost .060" from one end to the other. I called the Indiana distributor and was told to lay it on a flat surface and carefully hammer it with a small hammer and that it would eventually straighten. WHAT? Only an idiot would do that. This is a great way to damage a cast iron fence. Instead I took it to an excellent machine shop with a large surface grinder and had it ground flat while it was fully supported so pressure from the grinding operation did not change it's shape while it was beng ground. Now the fence is within .001" from one end to the other and from top to bottom along it's full length. The only improvment I would make to this jonter is to add replaceable table lips and increase the diameter of the knife holding cylinder to the same diamter as the top of the line Delta 8" parallelagram jointer, the DJ20 XL. When I compared the table flatness of the PJ882 to the DJ20, the Powermatic PJ882 was significantly better in both axial flatness and coplaning. It really is an excellent jointer and I am very pleased with it. I would definitely purchase another one if I needed two.
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