The PM66 Is Getting There

[crokett]

I finally finished the stand to raise it up to the same height as the BT. Aligned the table to the blade as best I could but before I put the rails back on I want to run some test cuts. I can't do that because the cord isn't long enough for where I want to put it, so have to get a new cord tomorrow. Also need shims to shim the wings to flat. That also has to be done before I put the rails on.

Where can I get shim stock locally? A machine shop? Looking online, HF doesn't carry any, Autozone has some limited stuff. The Borgs don't either.

[thrytis]

I used a soda can as shims for my wings. If you need something more precise and can't find any shim stock locally, take apart a cheap feeler gauge and use the blades as shims.

[jussi]

Someone posted a link of commercial shims a while back.

[Hoover]

Most machine shops carry shim stock, either brass or ss. In a pinch you can cut up a pop can into strips.

[cabinetman]

If you don't have soda cans, beer cans work well too. They snip easily. Of the saws I've had that had cast iron wings, they were flat to the saw table. I usually just built a table around the main saw table, eliminating the wings altogether.
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[JimD]

McMaster Carr is probably where I would go first on line. I think Lee Valley also has shim stock (and many other tempting things).

Jim

[cgallery]

Many hardware stores carry shim stock.

Also, I think some manufacturers suggest masking tape. You have to remove the wing to get the tape in place, but the tape would stay in place if you remove the wing, and give you nice long, even contact between the table and extension.

But I've never had to do this, so...

[pelligrini]

Where can I get shim stock locally? A machine shop? Looking online, HF doesn't carry any, Autozone has some limited stuff. The Borgs don't either.

There was some recent discussion on shims in Loring's box joint bit thread: http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=49891

I'll use some cheap HF feeler guages for small shims.

[Rich P]

Are you sure you need to shim the wings? My PM66 went back together just fine.

[crokett]

Rich, pretty sure. When I brought it home I know the wings were not co-planar to the main table. I put them back on and am not able to get them in plane. I may try a wire brush and see if that improves things before shimming.

[Rich P]

David, not sure what style fence you have (mine is a Biesemeyer made for Powermatic) but you may be able to fiddle the wings into plane using the fence and then tighten things down. My Biesemeyer has a heavy duty front and (IIRC) a somewhat lighter rear angle iron base. If you loosen the wing bolts, attach the fence angle iron parts, bring everything into plane, and re-tighten, that might work.

I can't imagine Powermatic allowing a machine to leave the factory without the table being in alignment, so something must have happened to it along the way. I've read elsewhere that cast iron can bend and warp of not properly handled.

Of course you can also go the shim route too!

[cgallery]

I can't imagine Powermatic allowing a machine to leave the factory without the table being in alignment, so something must have happened to it along the way.

I don't think this is too unusual for Powermatic or any other manufacturer. Maybe you just got lucky.

If you think about it, if the edge of the table or extension wing isn't EXACTLY 90-degrees to the top, you are going to have a sag over the width of the wing.

Add the fact that cast iron has some flex to it, and it can get downright wonky.

[crokett]

Rich, I hadn't thought about using the rails to get the wings into plane. I might try that. I do need to rewire with a longer cord first though. I want to run some test cuts and make sure the table is aligned to the blade properly. Considering this saw left the factory 30 years ago, I won't hold it against PM that the wings aren't quite in plane any more.

[LarryG]

David, the current issue (May 2010) of WOOD Magazine has an article about cabinet saw assembly and setup that you might find useful, including a couple neat tricks for getting the extension wings in place and aligned.

[cabinetman]

The rails can be used to align the wings.
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