Powermatic 1791216K Model PWBS-14CS Deluxe 14-Inch 1-3/4-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw with Bearing Guides, Lamp, and Chip Blower, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase

by Powermatic

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With an extra large, two-piece cast-iron table and balanced nine-spoke cast-iron wheel, the Powermatic PWBS-14CS 14-Inch Woodworking Band Saw is a capable, user-friendly machine ideal for professional woodworkers and hobbyists. Its rugged design offers uncompromising accuracy and durability; while a host of innovative features let users tackle a range of heavy-duty jobs with precision and control.

The PWBS-14CS 14-Inch Woodworking Band Saw At a Glance: Features Carter quick-tension lever for speedy blade changes Easy to read tensioning gauge settings indicated in blade width increments Precision balanced, nine-spoke cast-iron wheels reduce vibration 60-watt adjustable lamp built into the body (bulb not included) Rigid, one-piece welded stand that requires no assembly.

The rugged cast-iron table effectively handles both large and small projects. View larger.

The table easily tilts to help you get the right angle for the job. View larger.

Solid, Sturdy Backbone for Vibration-Free Operation
A huge iron casting provides a solid foundation that keeps the PWBS-14CS rigid and vibration free.The heavy-gauge, steel base cabinet adds to the unit's overall stability and provides a solid,vibration-absorbing base for the motor. Because dust collection does not pass through the base cabinet,its interior remains virtually dust free, reducing routine maintenance while enhancing the long life of the motor and drive belt.

To help improve visibility and the air quality of your shop, the PWBS-14CS features a four-inch diameterport cast into the lower housing, directly below the blade, for effective dust evacuation. And tokeep the cut line clearly visible, an integral air pump supplies pressurized air to an adjustable nozzleattached to the upper blade guide, resulting in a chip blower that provides a clear line.

Extra-Large Work Table
To effectively handle projects both big and small, the PWBS-14CS features an extra-large,two piece cast iron table with a tilting section measuring 15.0 x 15.0 inches and a fixedextension measuring 15.0 x 5.0 inches for a total working surface area of 15.0 x 20.0 inches.

Optimum Power and Drive
The PWBS-14CS is powered by a one and one-half-horsepower TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled)industrial-style motor that comes wired for 115-volt operation, but can be converted to 230 volts.The motor power is delivered through a set of precision-machined multi-groove pulleys that aredriven by a poly-V drive belt system, known for its smooth, efficient transmission of power withvery little temperature buildup.

For their part, the cast-iron drive wheels are fully machined,painted, and fitted with high quality tires and then dynamically balanced to ensure smooth operation.

Easy Adjustments
With the PWBS-14CS, adjustments are never a problem, due to the blade width markings on thetensioning block for blade widths from one-eighth- to three-quarter-inch. The infiniteadjusting system also lets users dial in the correct tension for specialty blades that mayrequire non-standard tension settings.

This model comes with the legendary, Carter quick-release handle assembly that features three positions:full tension, relaxed tension, and full release. Users can move the Carter between all three positionswithout losing the tension setting, potentially lengthening the life of the blade.

User-Friendly Features
The PWBS-14CS also includes an exclusive design, quick-release, precision T-square-style rip fence withfour-inch re-saw attachment; 60-watt adjustable lamp (bulb not included) built into the body to providedirect light on blade and work piece while cutting; and a full six-inch under-guide capacity with 13-1/2-inch width capacity.

Dimensions and Warranty Information
The PWBS-14CS measures 34.0 x 68.0 x 20.0 inches (W x H x D), weighs 250 pounds, and is backed by a five-year warranty.

What's in the Box
One PWBS-14CS saw body; one poly-V drive belt; one trunnion support; one main table; one extension table; two table lock knobs; one table pin; one work light; one blade hook; two fence hooks; two miter gauge hooks; one bag of fasteners; one rip fence and rail assembly; one blade tension handle; one stand with motor; one miter gauge; one pulley cover; one fence body; manual; and warranty card.

Product Description

60 watt halogen lamp built into the body, providing direct light on blade and workpiece while cutting. Chip blower ensures a clean, visible cut line. Extra-large, two-piece cast iron table consists of a 15 x 15 tilting. (45 degrees right, 10 degrees left) section and a fixed 15 x 5 extension for a total working surface area of 15x20. Balanced, nine-spoke cast iron wheels run smoothly. Easy-to-read tensioning gauge settings indicated in blade width increments. CARTER quick tension release lever speeds blade changes. Features durable micro-adjustable dual bearing blade guide system above and below the table. Full 6 under-guide capacity with 13-1/2 frame-to-blade clearance. Built in 4 dust port. Poly V-belt maximizes power transmission while minimizing noise and vibration. Frame mounted push-button switch. Rigid one-piece welded stand requires no assembly. Includes: 1791216K 14-inch band saw, adjustable rnitre gauge, rip fence with resaw assembly, 1/4-inch band saw blade, and gooseneck work light and chip blower, and stand.

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Product Details

Product Manual [3.02mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 20 x 34 x 68 inches ; 221 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 221 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00020BNOA
• Item model number: 1791216K
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,015 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #51 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Saws > Band Saws

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding saw - the top 14" choice under $1000, October 11, 2004

By 

R. Napoli Jr. "Woodshop Fanatic" (Fairfield County, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Powermatic 1791216K Model PWBS-14CS Deluxe 14-Inch 1-3/4-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw with Bearing Guides, Lamp, and Chip Blower, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is an outstanding piece of woodworking machinery. Other than a few unclear illustrations, I had no assembly issues & was able to get it set up, rewired for 220V, and dialed-in by myself in a few hours. It's heavy, but it was not very hard getting the saw onto the stand alone. I also installed the riser block to increase resaw capacity which I highly recommend. The upper arm of the saw is heavy & hard to get a good place to get a grip, so it took a little muscling to get the riser block installed. "Goof-Off" (available in local home centers & hardware stores) worked well to remove the anti-rust shipping coating on the tables. As you might expect, the "included" blade is junk.

I seriously considered the Laguna 14SE but could not justify the additional $400-500. I admit that I probably over research before buying machines for my shop. Check out the Delta, Grizzly, Jet, Bridgewood, and others. On the Powermatic, the fit & finish is way above the competition. Power, weight of castings, weight/design of flywheels... the list goes on and the Powermatic gets the points - this is a top choice among 14" bandsaws.

Power is NOT an issue. The Baldor motor is a tank. It runs very quietly - the sound makes you realize that you're about to operate a real piece of equipment. Roller blade guides take a little setting up when you change blades, guard height, etc. but they work very well. Dust collection is also very good. Fence is dead on accurate and tables are machined to near perfection. Carter quick tension release is fantastic! Chip blower works as it should.

As mentioned by another reviewer, if you rewire the motor to 220V you will need a 220V bulb... Philips 50A RS 250V available at mscdirect.com

The delivery/setup/operation of this machine has been a five star experience! THANKS to Amazon/ToolCrib, ABF Freight Systems & The WMH group for fine service and a fine product!

After having just pattern cut 10/4 white oak like it was 3/4" pine, a simple blade change/rentensioning for a Woodslicer resaw blade means it's time to go and make more 10" wide cherry into 1/32" veneer slices!

Go for the "gold standard." Buy it, you'll be happy you did.

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Newest Big Tool in My Shop!, March 20, 2006

By 

Matthew Schenker (Western Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Powermatic 1791216K Model PWBS-14CS Deluxe 14-Inch 1-3/4-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw with Bearing Guides, Lamp, and Chip Blower, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have now been using this bandsaw for about one year. It replaced a Jet 14" bandsaw I had used for about three years. So far, this saw has been terrific. It is accurate and easy to set up. It provides solid and reliable performance.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
As I said, I previously owned a Jet 14" (circa 2002). The Jet and the Powermatic have several similarities, including the basic body design. But the Powermatic is much heavier-duty. One way I knew this is when I picked up the upper body of the saw. It weighs a lot more than the Jet 14"! The base is larger and more substantial than the jet, and more solid than other bandsaws I reviewed.

The power switch is the same one used in the Jet 14", which is good since I always liked it. The blade guard, which I also liked very much, is also the same. The fence, which I liked a great deal, is the same, except it is now gold instead of white.

The big differences between this saw and others? The Powermatic has the Carter tension lever. It also has a set of bandrollers, a built-in work lamp, and a dust blower. It also has a cast-iron table extension.

DEEPER IMPRESSIONS:
Putting the saw together starts to reveal several important details about its design and integrity. One thing I noticed right away was that the new saw has much heavier wheels, with more spokes. There is a brush on the lower wheel that keeps debris from collecting on the tires, a nice improvement. The knobs on the doors and other areas are rubberized. The door catches open and close smoothly, another welcome improvement.

The cast-iron table is 15x15, an inch bigger all around than the old Jet 14". I tested the table with a straightedge, and it was flat in all directions. I detected a fine sliver of light beneath the straightedge on the outer part of the table, but not even enough to slip a piece of paper through. The table pin is a new design, with a handle, making it easy to put in and out. As with all cast-iron surfaces shipped from overseas, the table is covered with a protective substance. Once clean, the surface was a bit rougher than my Jet 14", with some visible machining. I burnished the table with #0000 steel wool, and then coated it twice with Topcoat. That got it nice and smooth.

The trunnion on the Powermatic is cast iron. I'm happy about this. The Jet 14" had a steel trunnion, and felt light. The Powermatic trunnion is quite heavy. This is a welcome improvement!

It's easy to set the table square. Just loosen the knobs under the table and tilt it until the indicator reads 0 degrees, then lock the knobs again. The reading is accurate. The knobs are rubber coated for comfort. The same procedure would be followed for any other table angle.

All steel parts are well made. Inspecting the inside of the housing, all solderings were clean, and the paint covers all areas. I saw no rust or dents anywhere on the machine.

The fence goes together nicely, and it locks down securely. This fence also has a very intuitive system for adjusting squareness to the blade.

The miter gauge is light duty. The saw comes with hooks that hold the miter gauge, but I chose not to install these, since I will not be using the miter gauge.

It has a 4" dust port out of the back of the machine, which is much bigger than the little 1 3/8" port on the old Jet. Bandsaws create quite a bit of dust, especially when resawing. Although the dust port is not very effective, you might want to use it whenever you can, so you at least reduce the amount of dust.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL:
In a word -- terrible!!

I was disappointed with the instructions. WMH should have improved the manual for this new saw, but it is actually WORSE than it was when I bought my Jet 14". The instructions leave out steps, they assume certain things are already done, and they refer to the wrong parts several times. For example, they refer to screws using the wrong terminology and the wrong sizes. The pictures in the manual are often of the wrong machine, showing the old Jet 14" model at times. Someone at WMH needs to spend the time to fix this. As it is now, if you have any experience with bandsaws, you're almost better off using your intuition to put things together.

MISSING PARTS:
There were some issues here. The package was missing several screws that were needed at various points, and some of the screws were the wrong size. For example, the pan-head screws included for the power-cord plate were too large. I'll have to go to a hardware store to get the right ones.

TRACKING SYSTEM:
The tracking system is essentially the same as the Jet 14". Loosen a wing nut. Then, while spinning the upper wheel with your hand, turn the tracking knob one way or the other until you see the blade staying in the center of the wheel. This is intuitive and easy to use. The knob on the new Powermatic is smaller, which is necessary so it doesn't conflict with the Carter tension lever.

TABLE EXTENSION:
Included with the saw is a 5x15 table extension, which brings the total table surface to 20x15. It's kind of difficult to describe, but it is inconvenient to install (and the instructions don't explain it very well at all). From what I can tell, you need to take apart some of the lower assemblies to install the extension table. I just had to ask myself, "Do I really need the extension?" The answer, for me, was "maybe not." So I did not install it. A year later, the extension is still sitting on a shelf, unused, and I have never felt that I need it.

DUST BLOWER:
It seems to be that the amount of air forced through the dust blower is not enough to be of real value. With certain cuts, it does move the dust out of the cut line, but with some woods, the dust still collects in your line of sight. Sometimes, I find that the blower hose gets in my way. I guess my feelings on this feature are mixed. Sometimes helpful, sometimes not.

WORK LIGHT:
The work light is a very good idea. It has a long neck, allowing for good adjustments. It swivels out of the way when necessary. It is mounted firmly to the cast-iron frame. I like this feature, and use it every time I run the bandsaw.

BANDROLLERS:
For years, people have been purchasing bandrollers to as upgrades to their 14" saws, often spending $125 or more. Well, I was accustomed to Cool Blocks in my old Jet 14", and I always liked them. At first, the bandrollers felt awkward to me. I found it a pain to get them set just right (they need to be 1/64" from the blade). It's an extra step to loosen the set screws then adjust the rollers with an Alan wrench. With Cool Blocks, it is easier -- you just press them lightly up against the blade and tighten a thumb screw. But after using the rollers more extensively over the past year, I have come to like them. You get used to the adjustments procedure after a few tries. My main problem is that they don't work very well with narrow blades. Also, blade changes with this system are a bit more time-consuming and more difficult.

CARTER TENSION LEVER:
Now here's the best upgrade! I love having this on my saw. You just tension the blade once. Then all you need to do is lift the lever up to tension and back down to de-tension. The Carter system works smoothly, with a nice big knob to grab while making the adjustment. It locks securely into place. It has three positions: fully tensioned, lightly tensioned, and fully de-tensioned. It's not just a lever: the whole tension assembly is better. For example, the tension rod rests on a steel plate, not on the cast-iron frame. Nice system!

MAKING CUTS:
I use a 1/2" blade most often. The Carter lever brings the blade to 1/2" tension very nicely. I can easily adjust the work light. The blade goes into place easily. The fence is easy to move into position and lock down securely.

With this machine, pressing the "Start" button gives an immediate sense of a more powerful motor. There is a short pause, then the motor kicks into high RPMs. It runs very smoothly. I've seen absolutely no vibration on the table -- it passes the nickle test no problem.

Throughout cuts, the rollers hold the blade steady. The cuts are perfect and consistent at whatever angle I choose. I have resawn numerous pieces of softwood and hardwood, including maple and oak. Even when resawing full 6"-wide stock, the blade maintains consistent and straight cuts.

You will want to immediately upgrade to a better blade. The stock blade that comes with this saw is not very good.

CONCLUSIONS:
The Powermatic Deluxe 14" is a well-made saw. The instructions are useless, and a couple of the upgrades (blower and table extension) are questionable. But it has several wonderful upgrades, including a cast-iron trunnion, heavier wheels, a Carter tension lever, bandrollers, generally heavier-duty body, and a built-in worklight.

I look forward to using it with almost every project in my shop!

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great 14" bandsaw for the price, June 11, 2004

By 

IRDOC (Bucks County, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Powermatic 1791216K Model PWBS-14CS Deluxe 14-Inch 1-3/4-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw with Bearing Guides, Lamp, and Chip Blower, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a wonderful bandsaw I recently received as a gift and is a perfect addition to my shop. I had my eyes set on the Delta X5 model, but saw this relative newcomer and was glad I did. It comes standard with a Carter quick-tension lever, integral worklamp, blower to keep kerf clean, and roller bearing guides (rather than block guides). It also comes with a good fence and miter gauge. It is built well and fairly easy to assemble (about two hours for me), although the instructions could have been better. For example, there is no parts list with which to reconcile all of the hardware. Also, adjustments to level the table come before setting the table square to the blade, which should come first. The online manual (at powermatic.com) should be revised, as my manual addresses how to adjust the roller bearing guides closer to the blade to better support it (see comments by other user below), which is actually easily done. I run all of my tools at 220 V, and this model allows you to easily rewire the motor taps for the appropriate windings. However, if you do this, note that the manual doesn't warn you that you need a 220V light bulb, not easily found. Philips makes one, though, 50A/RS 250V, which I bought through mscdirect.com. The miter gauge was missing from my shipment (seems like they forgot to pack the sub-box into the box containing the base unit), but WMH shipped out a replacement in 5 days. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this unit (despite made in Taiwan) and am thinking about getting the riser block to extend my resaw capacity.