Powermatic 6 inch Woodworking Jointer Model 54HH, Review, Unboxing, First Use

[@Jeremy_810]

"The gold standard." Watching woodworking on television a good portion of my life, Powermatic was always the brand that I aspired to own one day. Powermatic is to woodworking tools, what Colt is to 1911's. It's an old, trusted name, renowned for high quality.

[@topsaw]

I've bought quite a few tools over the years for the woodshop. I have never regretted buying a good tool and always regretted a cheap tool.

[@JDDupuy]

Since 1977 I felt the same way. However JPW(the Powermatic distributor) does not know how to properly package and ship anything. All 3 pieces I purchased over the past month have arrived busted up. 15" planer, poorly crated, no top heavy stickers (It weighs over 520 pounds and it's all at the top). Pallet not constructed correctly to prevent tip over and yes, when transferred locally for delivery, a not too smart loader put that pallet on top of a USA sized truck pallet. No strapping, tie downs etc.. First turn 500 pound is unleashed to fly sideways in the truck. Again no top heavy stickers or warnings. The pallet on my 54HH jointer arrived busted in two due to a pallet built with large knot wood. The fence assembly lays on top the the jointer bed with no rub protection.. The two ground each other to a nice flat spot. Paint missing etc. The jointer stand (powermatic) arrived tonight. In a box torn all the shreds. Box 10 inches bigger than the assembled unit. No packing like Styrofoam etc. The two brake knobs busted off. Worst equipment I have ever purchased. A 2nd class supplier who could care less about how your hard earned money is shipped. The Gold Standard, nope, not in my book!

[@Jeremy_810]

@@JDDupuy that's a bummer. I got the 54HH jointer not long ago when Rockler was running 15% off. It seemed well packaged but was on a broken pallet on top of another pallet (obvious carelessness in shipping) Fortunately, no damage. I don't move my fence much to minimize the rubbing. I thought that design was very poorly thought out too. It is my first jointer and has enabled a whole new world for me, so I am happy with it. It gets me a perfect 90 and runs super smooth & quiet. It would've been nice to know beforehand that I wouldn't have the rabbet feature with the helical head but there just wasn't much info out there. I thought about going with a Grizzly but it seemed much more of a gamble and the Jet 6" has a shorter table length. I figure the Powermatic should resell fairly well if I ever feel the need for an 8"

[@JGumaJ]

Pronouced "he lick ul" very nice jointer, just ordered one today.

[@lenpiazza8493]

heliarchal is a form of government that makes cleaner, smoother, quieter budget cuts at a slightly higher price.

[@JGumaJ]

@@lenpiazza8493 LMAO, love it!

[@topsaw]

Good to know

[@swp466]

I took a shot every time he mispronounced "helical", and now I'm drunk!

[@topsaw]

Glad to hear my mistake provided so much entertainment for you

[@swp466]

@@topsaw Wasn't just me, but thanks!

[@markkulyas2418]

That's what is so great about KZbin, we can learn and have fun and also laugh at one another. That's what makes it real. Can't tell you how much I've learned from other peoples mistakes.

[@kleptoonthemic]

I watched this video because I just ordered the same jointer, and wanted to see the unboxing and initial impressions. The fence on this jointer is longer than the entire bed of my old Craftsman, so it should be a huge upgrade! This video made me nostalgic for my middle school woodshop class. Even though I admit to chuckling every time you said “heliarcal”, I found it endearing. Thank you for sharing!

[@topsaw]

Thank you, I love this jointer, big step up for us.

[@jeffa847]

@Dan - how many people did you need to lift t!e bed into place on the base? Am just about to set mine up!

[@kleptoonthemic]

@@jeffa847 It wasn’t too bad, I got it on there with the help of one friend! Congratulations on the new jointer!

[@jeffa847]

@@kleptoonthemic Great to know. I am super excited

[@paulmanhart4481]

How do you adjust the tilt of the fence? Thanks.

[@topsaw]

There is a release on the back and a lever

[@divchief07ut]

Are the cutter blades angled for a shear cut? It is hard to tell on the video.

[@topsaw]

Yes they are

[@garyclark846]

I have the very same jointer , and your outfeed bed needs to be aligned with the fence

[@topsaw]

Yes. It is hard to keep things alligned in a high school woodshop. The term ends at Christmas and I usually spend part of the break getting things back in order. Thank you

[@zachdana7680]

Great video! I am thinking about purchasing one and this is very helpful. Keep up the great work!

[@topsaw]

Thank you, I'm still loving the jointer

[@jeffa847]

How many people are needed in order to lift and position the bed onto the base? Not to gripe but I do wish you had included some footage of that part of the setup.

[@topsaw]

Good question, I had a student help lift it on. Two people can easily move the fully assembled jointer around.

[@StargaardArt]

New tools are so fun!

[@bernardofernandez6138]

I have an older model with the blades and it's a pain to calibrate the blades, can I replace the cutter head with one like yours?

[@topsaw]

Yes, I have seen spiral replacement heads. I know they are expensive

[@acousticmikeb8119]

Appreciate the review. However, please note it’s a helical cutter. You keep calling it heliarchical, which was derived from the old work for TIG welding - help-arc. Helical comes from the work helix. Take it from an exam-TIG welder.

[@topsaw]

Thank you, sorry about that

[@acousticmikeb8119]

Hey at least you have woodworking skills! Guess I’m the word police. Thank you for posting!

[@kennethholmes9315]

Own one myself. Love it.

[@topsaw]

How do you like it?

[@jeremymcclanahan2389]

Do you still like your planer? Any regrets for not going bigger?

[@topsaw]

Yes, still love this planer. I would like a larger one for face joining, but this was the largest 110 volt planer available, larger ones are usually 220 which was not possible.

[@bernardoorellana540]

Hooked it up to the saw dust vaccum and still blows a bunch of saw dust.

[@topsaw]

Maybe it's jammed up inside above the dust port

[@PaganWizard]

You should look into getting a wireless remote mic for your camera so we don't have to blast our speakers or headsets to be able to hear you. Once the speakers are blasting so we can hear you, you changed scenes and suddenly we get blasted by the new volume without notice.

[@topsaw]

Great feedback, sorry about that. I have one that doesn't work well. I'll get a new one. Thank you

[@thepinkdiamonds8370]

Is anything made in America?

[@topsaw]

There is but you have to pay. I love Woodpecker's tools made in Cleveland, but they are expensive.

[@markkulyas2418]

If all these brands of woodworking equipment are made in Taiwan and China, how are we the consumer to make an educated choice, am I to assume one factory produces the same machines and just puts different badges and paint on them. Why don't we get to see the facilities were these are made.

[@topsaw]

Part of the brand name is the quality control they do. Usually US engineers on site where they are getting manufactured

[@chrislass5526]

Awesome thanks. Me buy one now. Can you sell my wife on me needing this lol

[@topsaw]

Try the safety angle

[@MB-ye4el]

"Healy-arcal"??? What??

[@topsaw]

Sorry I got that wrong, got my welding and woodwork mixed up

[@rogereyre6933]

The only bad thing there is is you're taking off way too much a 16th is way too heavy of a cut man

[@topsaw]

Yes you are right