used pwermatic 54a

[jessrice]

a local guy is selling powermatic 54a long bed 6" jointer with mobile base for 600.00. It doesnt have the quick change blade option, is 2 years old and in very good condition.

i think powermatic sale flyer has it at 750.00 with the quick change knives, plus another 100 or so for the base. add tax to that and i would be at 900 or so new. the local shop carries them so no shipping.

is there any other jointers in 600 range i should consider before i purchase the used one? The owner is going professional and wants a bigger model, so he know his tools and is set on the 600.00 price. I believe he said he paid over 800 for it without the base 2 years ago.

Do i jump on this, or hold off for something different?

Jesse

[LarryG]

is there any other jointers in 600 range i should consider before i purchase the used one?

Not with the Powermatic name on them.

Today's price from amazon.com is $881.24 less $50 for orders over $300 plus $99 shipping, or $930.24 delivered. As a rule of thumb, I figure used tools in good working order (i.e., well-cared for, used but not abused) are worth one-half to two-thirds of their new cost. The $600 price of this one is right at the top of that range, but since it's only two years old that seems reasonable.

For a tool you can examine firsthand, and with a brand name that means it is unlikely to depreciate much more than it already has ... yeah, I do believe I'd jump on that one.

[wassaw998]

Are you set on a long bed 6" ? Just for grins:

http://www.wilkemachinery.com/defaul...skudatarq=2351

The yorkcraft 8" is only $650....

[gary]

I bought a standard 46" length Powermatic 54 jointer for $385. Not sure what the premium for the longer bed length will be.

[Knottscott]

The 54a is one of the nicer 6" jointers, but at $600 you're painfully close to an 8" jointer with longer beds, more width, more mass, and higher HP.

[Holbren]

I orderd a 54A from Bibb Tool in GA and then decided to go for the 8" 60B as Dustmite mentioned. I wasn't too much more and I didn't want to be kicking myself later.