Finally found me a planer!

[LocoWoodWork]

To date I have been using an Arrow 2030 (Makita 2030 under Arrow brand). The Arrow is a combination planer/jointer I p/u for free which had the cast motor mount broken off and missing. I mounted a motor underneath it and fabricated a pulley to match the 8 V head pulley and 7000 rpm specs. It has "worked" better than no planer but I truly needed wanted another.
Kept waiting and waiting but finally found a Powermatic 221. Made in USA, 1966, little use, good shape. 5HP, 3 phase, 20". Finally be able to plane some of the big RO boards I've been air drying for three years.

 

[McRabbet]

sweet! That baby will hold some floor boards down for sure! (I know you have a concrete floor!)

 

[toolman]

Nice find!

 

[sawman101]

Oh you suck! What a great piece of machinery! Congratulations!

 

[Raymond]

Wow! You could almost stick a whole tree inside that monster. Bruce is right - you do suck!

 

[MarkE]

WOW! Big piece of machinery there.

 

[gmakra]

Very nice

 

[DSWalker]

Purdy!

 

[LocoWoodWork]

Oh you suck! What a great piece of machinery! Congratulations!

Wow! You could almost stick a whole tree inside that monster. Bruce is right - you do suck!

I feel the love GENTLEMEN (and I use the word loosely)

 

[redknife]

Sweet

 

[Herdfan2005]

Very nice, I just treated myself to the Dewalt DW734 as my first planer. Pretty happy with it but already nicked a blade.

 

[Jeremy Scuteri]

Nice!

 

[Gofor]

Very nice, I just treated myself to the Dewalt DW734 as my first planer. Pretty happy with it but already nicked a blade.

I have the 734. The first time you change the blades, you will probably have great difficulty in breaking the screws loose. I suggest a new or very good condition bit, and an impact gun. I ended up rounding some off when doing it by hand, and had to use a chisel on the edge to get them loosened. Still looking for a source for replacement screws.

By the way, the blades are reversible, so you only need to flip the nicked one to get back to a smooth cut.

 

[LocoWoodWork]

I have the 734. The first time you change the blades, you will probably have great difficulty in breaking the screws loose. I suggest a new or very good condition bit, and an impact gun. I ended up rounding some off when doing it by hand, and had to use a chisel on the edge to get them loosened. Still looking for a source for replacement screws.

By the way, the blades are reversible, so you only need to flip the nicked one to get back to a smooth cut.

Thanks for the advice, I'll try and not "caveman" it!

 

[bob vaughan]

Is that 221 a three knife or a four knife head? A four knife head was an option for a while.
That's a brutally strong machine that would easily cost 20K if sold today.
You're going to like the powered bed rollers.

 

[LocoWoodWork]

Is that 221 a three knife or a four knife head? A four knife head was an option for a while.
That's a brutally strong machine that would easily cost 20K if sold today.
You're going to like the powered bed rollers.

Not sure, got a good deal, bought it sight unseen. When I first joined this sight I had a circular saw, chainsaw and a few hammers... now I've become a tool hoarder. On a tractor trailer headed my way.... I'm like a kid on Christmas eve! I've read a lot about the 221s (saw the name Bob V quite often) and everything is +++ with the exception of the quiet heads that have 20+ blades which are reportedly a pain to sharpen/adjust.

 

[LocoWoodWork]

It arrived yesterday! Had my shop helper so no problems or issues (our forklift engine blew a few days before arrival) but I was so excited it didn't even matter.

A friend with a business a few miles away so we loaded up on the trailer and slowly drove home to unload.

Unwrap

Original paperwork

Bought a three phase breaker box off Lejeune Yard Sales today for $20 including 20 breakers. Almost have my RPC ready so hopefully I'll be planing next week. This thing is a beast and appears to have little use.

 

[bob vaughan]

Not everybody gets the heavy duty dust hood with their planer.
Congratulations. That would easily be a $20k machine if available today.

 

[LocoWoodWork]

Not everybody gets the heavy duty dust hood with their planer.
Congratulations. That would easily be a $20k machine if available today.

20k? I need to sit down! I've watched your instructions on YT regarding proper planer set up. Hopefully I'll be able to get this one tuned in after a good cleaning/preventative maintenance. Still not sure on it's age, this one is serial # 82289. PM serial on other website would make this an 82?
Model 221 (20 inch)
N-nnnn 1955—64 "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number, beginning with 5525.
6N-nnnn 1965—67 "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N22-nnnn 1968—77 "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN22-nnnn 1978—?? "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Am I missing something? First digit a factory typo? Either way, it's staying!

 

[Herdfan2005]

I think a shop tour / visit is in order was this beauty is up and running. Congrats!