Vintage Powermatic lathes

[Jim Wilson]

What are the differences between the Powermatic 45 and Powermatic 90 lathes? Here's what I've gleaned so far from the net. Much of the '45 info came from a pdf manual I found at oldwwmachines.com or.net. Is any of it wrong? If you have a manual or can otherwise can help me fill in the blanks, I'd be grateful.

Thanks,

Jim

Powermatic 45

----------------- swing: 12" over bed; 16" over gap; 8" over tool rest (Some folks claimed only 10" over bed; The 1969 manual says 12", but it contains other inconsistencies, also. E.g. dwg says 17" over gap, and gap width is different in different places) bed: 60", 39" c-c, 4-7/8" gap (3-1/4" from faceplate) OALxWxH: 63" x 16" x 46-1/2" motor: 3/4 HP; 1800 RPM speeds: variable speed: (5) 330-2100 step: 600, 1100, 1800, 3000 headstock: taper: MT2 threads: 1"-8 (?) bore: ? indexes: 60 x 6 degrees (?) (is that right??) spindle height from floor: 42-1/4" tailstock: taper: MT2 quill travel: 4-3/8" approx wt: 400 lbs

Powermatic 90

----------------- (I'd like to do an item-by-item comparison with the '45, but couldn't find as much info on the '90. Much of this is guesswork.)

swing: 12" over bed; 17" over gap bed: (?)" L, 38" c-c, (5-1/4"?) gap OALxWxH: 67" x 16" x 46-1/2" motor: 1 HP; 1800 RPM speeds: variable speed: (5) 330-2100 step: (available?) headstock: taper: MT2 threads: (1-1/4"-8?) bore: ? indexes: 60 x 6 (?) degrees spindle height from floor: (42-1/4") tailstock: taper: MT2 quill travel: (?) approx wt: 600 lbs

[MGirolami]

Jim, the threading on the PM90 was 1-1/2 x 8. The other info seems about right. It was a much heavier machine than the PM45. If you can find the first book by Dale Nish, you will see illustrations of both models.

Roy Girolami Apex, NC

[My Old Tools]

Both of the factory manuals are available from my website.

[PM6564]

And you're charging 10.00 for a scanned copy? What a stand up guy you are.

[Lawrence A. Ramsey]

[George]

I take it you're not a "bend over" guy?

[Jim Wilson]

Thanks, Roy. Do you happen to have access to a PM90? If so, could you confirm the bed and gap lengths?

I'm also a bit curious about the indexing plate. If the holes (or teeth) are spaced evenly every 6 degrees, then you couldn't index at 22-1/2 degrees, or even at 45 degrees, and this seems odd to me.

Thanks again!

Jim

Powermatic 90

----------------- (I'd like to do an item-by-item comparison with the '45, but couldn't find as much info on the '90. Much of this is guesswork.)

swing: 12" over bed; 17" over gap bed: (?)" L, 38" c-c, (5-1/4"?) gap OALxWxH: 67" x 16" x 46-1/2" motor: 1 HP; 1800 RPM speeds: variable speed: (5) 330-2100 step: (available?) headstock: taper: MT2 threads: 1-1/2"-8 bore: ? indexes: 60 x 6 (?) degrees spindle height from floor: (42-1/4") tailstock: taper: MT2 quill travel: (?) approx wt: 600 lbs

[hex]

Mostly different in weight and with different threads on the spindles. Some 45's came with stepped pulleys giving discrete speeds, others had variable speed. I think the 90's were only variable speed -- but I could be wrong on that. I also believe the banjo's are interchangable; certainly the tool rests interchange. Not sure about the tailstocks, but they might interchange since swing over bed is the same (I think).

The fine folks at PM will send you manuals if you want/need them -- I called them a few months back and the wait was short, the conversation pleasant and the (free) manuals appeared in my mailbox a few days later. If you happen to have model and serial numbers they will even send you manuals of the appropriate vintage and options.

hex

-30-

[My Old Tools]

Yep. The manual set cost me over $300. I pay $6.00 per month for hosting and $10 per month for ISP, not to mention phone line. The scanner wasn't free either and neither is my time. You can get some of the manuals from PM, but many of the older machines are no longer available from them. Try asking for a #10 mortiser or the single end tennoner. I can't afford the space for all of them on-line, so when someone needs one, I send it. If you don't need it, or if PM can send it, great. If you need it on Saturday night for a Sunday auction, its available.

[Unisaw A100]

When the man makes a point the man makes a point.

UA100, who thinks Ross forgot to mention the inordinate amount of room that dirty 'chinery paper takes up...

[PM6564]

Why don't you just send the scanned copies to http://www.owwm and let them host it. Then you won't have this huge 16.00 outlay of cash to worry about every month.

[My Old Tools]

They will probably end up there eventually. Feel free to forward any copies you have.