Shopsmith Forums

Got a chance to buy a Powermatic 2800 thats about a year old for $850. I like the idea of the stand alone aspect and I have "just" enough room for one. Have read great and not so great about the 2800 and since I have to move a few things around to get to my SS and it is inconvenient and time consuming. I wondered what you fellas think.
I know the SS is excellent.

Amazon has about 14 customer reviews on this drill, not all 5-star, average about 3 star.

Many here have touted the 10er wall mounted making a good drill press.

I guess it may make a difference whether your drilling primarily wood or metal.
Even at the discounted price, still a hefty sum.

For that $, I see no advantage.

I would seek a used SS of any vintage for that purpose at less $.

JPG wrote:For that $, I see no advantage.

I would seek a used SS of any vintage for that purpose at less $.

Powermatic makes nice stuff but I have to concur with JPG, just about any shopsmith would give you full time drill press and still be a back up to your other shopsmith for when you might need or want it.

If you have spt's then you can store them on the back side of the up-righted drill press on the shopsmith. Or the shopsmith can be shortened or wall mounted as we have seen many times here on the forum.

Ed

My dilemma is that to get to the drill press I have to move a couple of tools (on wheels)and then set up for drill press mode. I'm out of room in my garage and I have the SS set for Band saw mode so it's a pain to have to go through all the moving to just do a simple task. I'm still working full time so time is important and I don't get as many hours in the shop as I'd like. I don't have room for a dedicated SS but I have one corner that could suffice for a drill press. what are "spt's"?

putttn wrote:My dilemma is that to get to the drill press I have to move a couple of tools (on wheels)and then set up for drill press mode. I'm out of room in my garage and I have the SS set for Band saw mode so it's a pain to have to go through all the moving to just do a simple task. I'm still working full time so time is important and I don't get as many hours in the shop as I'd like. I don't have room for a dedicated SS but I have one corner that could suffice for a drill press. what are "spt's"?

The bandsaw is an example.


I doubt the powermatic will be mobile.

Neither is a wall mounted SS.

No, the Powermatic is not mobile. The one corner I have would allow me just enough room to place the unit there and be able to use without setting it up. I'm wondering if the SS is actually a better unit than the PM?

putttn wrote:No, the Powermatic is not mobile. The one corner I have would allow me just enough room to place the unit there and be able to use without setting it up. I'm wondering if the SS is actually a better unit than the PM?

That would depend upon thy criteria.



i.e. only you can decide that.

I can't speak to the quality or value of the Powermatic, but I will say that I prefer to use my floor standing (~"15 I think) Craftsman DP far more than the SS for vertical drilling simply because it is always set up and ready for drilling versus needing to raise the SS to vertical, change the table from flat to vertical, put everything back to horizontal, etc. Also, it was simple to add a cross slide vice to the DP table, where it stays most of the time.

I do wish my DP was bench mount vs floor standing so that I could put it on a small cabinet. But when I bought it a couple decades ago, the bench mount models weren't readily findable.

I really prefer the SS as a drill press. The ability to create jigs and also the ability to make very precise adjustments in the setups is a big advantage for me. Not having variable speed on a drill press without changing belt position is such a time saver. Buying one and setting up as a free standing drill press works best for me.
Paul