Popular Woodworking 2008-12 № 173, страница 37

COLT

■ Available this fall from specialty stores

POWERMATIC 18" Band Saw

l fyou've ever been to an automotive show, you know that those carscome fully loaded and tricked out with every option and good idea the manufacturer has to offer. And that's exactly what it felt like when Power-matic unveiled its new 18" monster band saw at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta.

The saw is overbuilt in every way you can imagine. The only plastic on the saw is the switch's cover. The cast wheels are beefy enough for a car. The saw's independently adjusted guides are planted on a rock-solid post. And the whole thing is powered by a 5-horsepower motor.

In addition to the cast iron, Powermatic added some sweet amenities: An intuitive blade-release mechanism, a clever way to tilt the saw's table both ways quickly, and a T-square fence that works like a Biese-meyer. The whole package is extremely well thought out with every thing that you both want and need in a saw.

Priced at about $4,000, it'sat the upper end of the market, but it will be the last band saw you ever buy.

COLT

MaxiCut Forstner Bits

It's taken more than 125 years, but it looks like the Germans have perfected the Forstner bit. The new Colt MaxiCut bits arc virtually uncloggable and cut rapidly and cleanly through tough materials, even exotic woods. What more could you want?

The genius in these bits is that the cutting lip is designed to bust up the chips as they are severed. So you don't get big disc-shaped chips, which clog the works. Instead you get ribbon-like shavings, which eject easily, even from deep holes.

We tried looverfeed this bit, and we failed. Bravo to Colt. These bits cost a little more, but we think they're worth it.

DELTA MACHINERY U.S.-made Unisaw

POWERMATIC

■ 800-274-6848 ■ powermatic.com

The biggest news in woodworking machinery this year was the redesigned Delta Unisaw. With a new look, new features and a new factory (in the United States), skeptical but excited woodworkers were clamoring for a first look at the saw.

After looking over the saw, we think Delta is delivering on its promise to build a new and better Unisaw in the United States. Here's what we saw:

■ Better controls. Delta has put both the bevel and the blade-height mechanisms in the front ofthe machine, where they belong.

■ Bcttersafety equipment. Delta added a riving knife and removable blade cover, which everyone is adding these days. Delta also made it as simple as possible to add and remove the guard. Now there's little reason to leave the guard off your saw.

■ Smart improvements. The throat plate is bigger so you can get your hand in t here. The

arbor locks so you can remove t he blade with one wrench. The arbor nut is one piece instead of two (and t here's a convenient front door on the saw in case you drop it). And there's more cast iron table in front of the blade.

■ Better dust collection. Now there are two

ports to keep your saw cleared of debris.

As long-time Unisaw users, we cannot wait to get our hands on the new model, which will be assembled in Tennessee from parts from all over the country (more details on this later). Welcome home Unisaw!

DELTA MACHINERY ■ 800-223-7278 ■ deltaportercable.com

56 ■ Popul ar Woodworking December 2008