Powermatic PWBS14 User Manual
POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw
The versatility of the bandsaw has made it a favorite of woodworkers for
decades. The POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw was designed to be
rugged, accurate and to bring a surprising array of user-friendly features that
make it the most capable machine in its class right out of the box. Because
several of our standard features are aftermarket, additional cost add-ons on
other bandsaws in this class, the POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw is one
of the best bang-for-your-buck values on the market.
Solid Backbone
The POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw is built around a pair of huge iron
castings that provide an extraordinarily rigid backbone. The lower boxshaped iron casting surrounds the drive wheel and provides a super rigid base
on which the rest of the saw is built. The upper casting is equally oversized and designed with
flex-fighting rounded corners and an upswept arm that effectively resists the pressures of
tensioning ¾”-wide blades properly.
The heavy-gauge steel base cabinet adds to the
POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw 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 already long life of the motor and drive
belt. Brackets on the base
cabinet exterior provide onboard storage for the miter
A huge iron casting provides a solid
foundation that keeps the PWBS-14
rigid and vibration free.
gauge, fence and extra
blades.
Dust Collection
Rather than routing dust down through the base cabinet we
form a port for a 4”-diameter dust hose in the lower cast iron
section of the POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw. Placing
A 4”-diameter port is cast into the
lower housing directly below the
blade for super-effective dust
evacuation.
the port where the dust is created greatly improves its
effectiveness and eliminates the leaks found in through-the-cabinet systems. That makes even
marginal dust collectors perform surprisingly well.
To help capture dust from above the table we developed a special
insert plate with a grid of through holes. This creates a vacuum
source surrounding the blade at the table surface to catch much
of the dust other bandsaws leave on the surface.
We also added a dust brush that helps keep the lower drive wheel
tire clean. This simple device limits the amount of dust that
transfers on the blade to the upper wheel tire and cabinet. The
A perforated insert surrounds the
blade with dust collection ports.
result is cleaner, cooler-running blades and less dust
contamination of the drive wheel tires.
To help keep the cut line clearly visible we added an integral air pump that supplies pressurized
air to a nozzle attached to the upper blade guide. The air nozzle can be adjusted to keep dust
from obscuring cut lines to allow you to work more accurately with fewer stops.
Power and Drive
The POWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw is powered by a 1 1/2HP TEFC (totally enclosed fan
cooled) industrial-style motor that comes wired for 115V operation but can be converted to
230V. Because POWERMATIC motors are rated at the continuous duty horsepower they
produce and not a “peak” or “developed” number, blade speed remains stable and effective.
The motor power is delivered through a set of precision-machined multi-groove pulleys, driven
by a Poly-V belt, known for it’s smooth, efficient transmission of power with very little
temperature buildup. These qualities also give Poly V-belts a very long life.
Both wheels ride on powersaving, high-quality ball bearings
that keep them tracking straight
today and for many years to
come.
The substantial motor power of
the POWERMATIC PWBS-14
Bandsaw allows using cast iron
drive wheels rather than
aluminum or cheap pot metals.
The additional weight of cast
iron wheels absorbs bladegenerated vibrations and imparts
The motor (left) is pre-installed in the enclosed base and sends its power
through machined pulleys and an ultra-reliable Poly V-belt. The 9-spoke
cast iron drive wheels (right) are fully machined, painted and fitted with
tires before being dynamically balanced.
a flywheel effect that stabilizes blade speed when the cutting gets tough.
Both cast iron drive wheels are fully machined, painted and fitted with high quality tires and then
dynamically balanced to insure smooth operation. The tires have a special crown shape that helps
stabilize blade tracking. The drive wheels turn on high-quality ball bearings for a long, smooth
running life.
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