Powermatic 20-Inch Planer, Helical Cutterhead, 5 HP, 230V 1Ph (Model 209HH)

Would run delivered off the pallet but would not feed. Tried for several days to get it to work and it never did work and would not feed. Consulted the manual and unable to figure out what to do. Seems to be a very, very complicated and troublesome adjustment process I should not have to do. Obviously right out of the factory the planer was not set up properly. To top it all off as frustration with very expensive item steadily grew I threw my back out trying to get it feed 4x4 oak posts. At that point I gave up and requested a return and refund. I am done with Powermatic manufacturer for life.

So far have run white oak, red oak, walnut and cherry thru this machine and it flat eats it. Cut quality is very impressive, I haven't noticed the longitudinal ridges mentioned in other reviews, there are still cross-grain scallops like any planer will leave but they are very easily removed. I would guess slowing down feed rate might make them even less noticeable, but I run the boards through a drum sander so it doesn't bother me. In "figured" grains it doesn't completely eliminate tearout but it is less so than my straight blade lunchbox planer does on similar material. I purchased the Jet 22-44 oscillating drum sander and a couple passes through it eliminates the defects usually. The smaller chip sizes generated off the segmented cutterhead also helps keep the dust collection running smoothly. I haven't been able to completely eliminate snipe on lead and trailing boards, but it seems to be pretty minimal. Being used to my old DeWalt 12" lunchbox planer, I was very pleasantly surprised at the sound level from this machine... much quieter even under load, but especially when in a no-load running state, I'm not diving for the "off" button to make the noise stop.

Upon uncrating the machine on Aug. 6, 2019, we found the transmission that powers the feed rollers is leaking oil. Powermatic is attempting to replace the transmission, but is so far unable to obtain all the parts needed to do that. It is now Oct. 7, 2019.

Very quiet and smooth cutting. Well worth the money!!! You can talk at normal levels while using this planer. Requires a 230v 40 amp circuit.

My name is Nick and I own a Powermatic PM2000 Tablesaw, Powermatic 511 panel saw, Powermatic SLR12 Rip Saw, Powermatic 1800 Bandsaw, Powermatic 1285 Jointer, Powermatic 209 HH Planer, Powermatic Model 29 Shaper, and a Powermatic DT65 Dovetailer. Needless to say Im a great customer of theirs. How many shops only have one brand of tools? My planer is almost new and has less than 30 hrs on it. On Jan 2 2012 I was planing with my 209hh when a huge banging was heard chunks of tooth shot everywhere: I found some peices of tooth imbedded 3/16 in. into steel. Upon further inspection my chipbreaker on my planer had hit my helical cutterhead, smashing teeth and shooting thousands of chunks of metal all over my shop. Basically it exploded when the contact was made. I have checked other companies (Delta, Oliver) and there is no way this could happen on their machines.I contacted Powermatic and have been given the run around for almost seven weeks. They said replace the cutterhead and if that doesnt work we will do whatever it takes to make you happy Then they said replace the chipbreaker and if that doesnt work we will do whatever it takes to make you happy. When that didnt work they sent me more parts and said if that doesnt work we will do whatever it takes to make you happy. Six weeks later nothing has been done other than lip service. My worker and I could have been killed and Powermatic, in my opinion, doesnt seem to care. At Powermatic chipbreakers hitting cutterheads are becoming commonplace, as one tech worker told me "This isnt the first time we have had this happen, its happened a few times before. Why would Powermatic, Owned by Walter Meier Inc., ignore a possible fatal design flaw. According to them it "it doesnt happen that often enough" to warrant a design change. I am shying from their products from now on and will probably eventually sell off all my Powermatic ToolsI would also like to thank Dave, Barry, and all others at Powermatic customer service that took forever to call me back, wouldnt follow through with what they said, made me wait weeks for a callback, or never returned my calls. Thanks, your customer service is second to nothing, literally nothing.

I have been using Powermatic planers since 1985. I bought this planer new. I also own a Powermatic 66 table saw, a Powermatic 72 table saw and a Powermatic 27 shaper.This planer has terrible dust collection. For the sake of two rollers on top, the dust and chips come off the head, bang against the hood, go horizontal, then out a 4" duct. With dust collection, the idea is to catch the chips and dust in an air flow as they come off the cutter. The results from this planer are a lot of chip dent and dust coming out the infeed side.For dust collection, I am running a 10 HP blower with an 11" inlet. The line drops to 6" at the planer.Powermatic suggested I vent the duct by opening a gap in the hood where it connects to the machine. This did nothing. Instead, I cut the hood over the cutter, and installed a hood made in the shape of the exiting chip and dust stream, angled 45 degrees to the outfeed end. I put a 6" hose on top of that hood.The dust collection is fine now. The rollers went to the metal recycling pile at the dump. Never stack wood on a planer. It falls off. If you did that in a shop, you would get written up. Use a cart. Build a cart 24" wide by 48" long, 32" high, including the swivel wheels.Powermatic, what were you thinking? You're better than this.

great planner. I set it up and tested it but haven't used it yet.

Top notch quality just like always from powermatic.