Powermatic PM2800 18" Variable Speed Drill Press

The PM2800 18" Drill Press has all of the capacity and features you need in a solid accurate, value-laden package.

The Powermatic 18" Drill Press has been designed from the ground up to exceed the norm in modern drill presses. Everything from our shadow-busting dual LED work lights to the dual laser guide system, one-handle variable speed, expandable work table and class-leading horsepower make the Powermatic PM2800 18" Drill Press exceptionally capable and user friendly.

The extensive use of high-end iron castings and heavy-duty steel components make the Powermatic 18" Drill Press as durable as it is versatile. The 3 1/8" diameter steel column, over-sized quill and cast iron table system provide the rigidity that makes this an exceptionally accurate and repeatable drill press. The all cast iron 11 7/8" by 19 5/8" base contributes to that stability and the vibration-dampening 287-pound overall weight. In addition, the base comes with holes in each corner for securing the Powermatic 18" Drill Press to a suitable floor. It also has a pair of slots in the machined center section for attaching work holding devices.

Capacities

The combination of an 18" swing, the large vertical capacity and the expandable table make working with large pieces easy and safe on the PM2800 Drill Press.

The 68" tall by 31 1/2" deep and 23 1/2" wide overall dimensions are the result of design criteria specifying capacities that make the Powermatic PM2800 18" Drill Press an exceptionally useful and versatile machine. In addition to the full 18” swing, the Powermatic 18" Drill Press has a chuck to base clearance of 46" and a maximum chuck to table capacity of 30"!

The combination of class-leading power, capacities and a unique blend of user friendly features make the Powermatic 18" Drill Press a machine that easily and accurately handles your drilling needs.

The full 1 HP motor (left) and control panel (right) make controlling the PM2800 for your job easy. The green pilot light in the center of the red pull On, push Off button is an indication that the PM2800 is connected to electrical current.

Power Controlled

The Powermatic 18" Drill Press is powered by a heavy-duty 1 HP, 1 Ph, 115/230V, 15/8-amp, TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) motor to be sure you have plenty of power for the tough jobs. The motor, rated using a continuous duty cycle rather than the "peak" or "max developed" formulas, is the most powerful in this class. The motor comes pre-wired for 115V power but can be converted to use 230V.

The variable speed control is operated by moving the lever (when the PM2800 is running) on the side of the head. This placement makes it easy to adjust speed and watch the LED readout at the same time.

To make applying that power user friendly we added an exterior, single handle variable speed control that lets you choose the speed (always set while the drill press is running) you need

without touching a belt! The 400 to 3000 RPM spindle speed range makes the Powermatic 18" Drill Press as flexible as it is powerful.

To make selecting specific spindle speeds easy and accurate, a large LED display is mounted on the front of the Powermatic 18" Drill Press. Also on that panel are the laser and work light buttons as well as the large pull On, push Off switch (with safety key) that operates the Powermatic 18" Drill Press.

Lights and Lasers

A pair of LED work lights (left) illuminate the drilling area while reducing shadows. The dual laser lights (right) are bright, easy to see and fully adjustable by the user. With the laser lines crossing exactly at the point of entry of the drill bit, hitting layout marks is fast and easy ” not to mention accurate.

To make full use of the built-in accuracy of the Powermatic 18" Drill Press seeing the work clearly is crucial. For that reason we added a pair of strategically located LED work lights. These LED lights are bright enough to make seeing layout marks easy but mounted on the underside of the head to prevent glaring in your eyes. Plus, the LED's are spaced to minimize shadows around the drill bit. A simple push-button on/off switch lets you use the LED lights only when needed.

The keyless 5/8" capacity chuck (left) and easy to use depth controls (right) make the PM2800 Drill Press versatile and easy to use.

A second push-button on/off switch controls a pair of lasers, aimed to create an "X" at the drill bit point of entry. The lasers are fully adjustable by the user and mounted to the sides of the head, affording easy access should setup be necessary. The adjustment procedure is fast, easy and fully described in the illustrated instruction manual.

Chuck and Spindle

The Powermatic 18" Drill Press has an oversized 2" diameter quill to insure stability even when using large bits in tough woods. The quill has a #2 Morse taper and comes with a handy knockout drift key for removing the chuck arbor. We also include a high quality, keyless, 5/8" capacity chuck. The quill (spindle) assembly has a full 4 3/8" plunge capacity.

Finger-operated depth stops make it easy to limit drilling depth for repetitive jobs. This stop system also makes it easy to hold the spindle at a specific depth for using accessories such as a sanding drum.

Three large handles make plunging the spindle effortless, even when drilling large holes in tough woods. To make the Powermatic 18" Drill Press more easily used by all woodworkers we include an identical hub for the operating handles on the left side of the head assembly!

Expandable Table

We opened just the right table wing to show the dramatic difference these sliding wings offer. When working with large stock pieces, the PM2800 handles the job with ease.

The table can also be tilted to 90-degrees to the left or right for working with long pieces. While tilted the table can still be moved left, right, up and down.

The table tilts to 90-degrees to the left or right and can be locked at any point. An easy to use spring-loaded pull pin indexes the table surface at 0, 45 and 90-degrees, again to the left or right. The entire table can also swing around the column to help drill in the ends of long work pieces or clear the way when using a work holding device in the Powermatic 18" Drill Press base.

The table tilts to 90-degrees to the left or right and can be locked at any point. An easy to use spring-loaded pull pin indexes the table surface at 0, 45 and 90-degrees, again to the left or right. The entire table can also swing around the column to help drill in the ends of long work pieces or clear the way when using a work holding device in the Powermatic 18" Drill Press base.

Raising and lowering the table is also tool-free thanks to a locking lever at the column. A large, easy to turn crank moves the table up and down as needed.

The Powermatic 18" Drill Press table has a snap-in reducer at the center for drilling through holes. The reducer has an inside diameter of 1 1/2" but when removed access to the full 3 1/2" diameter hole is provided. The large diameter hole in the table allows using many drum sanding attachments without the need for a separate jig.

Fence

With the fence faces opened (left) the built-in dust port is revealed. The one-piece aluminum dust port and fence bracket (right) make aligning the PM2800 fence system easy and very precise.

The Powermatic 18" Drill Press comes with a 2 3/4" tall by 19 3/4" wide fence. The fence has a pair of flat, extruded aluminum faces that can be opened to increase the overall support to 30"! Splitting the fence faces also reveals the inlet for the built-in dust collection that terminates in a 2" diameter ID (2 1/4" OD) port that angles out from the rear of the fence to keep the hose out of the way. We offer a 4" to 2 1/4" OD, - 2" ID reducer (JWL1000) as an accessory to make connecting a dust collector hose easy.

The Powermatic PM2800 18" Drill Press was designed and built with the woodworker and real woodworking tasks in mind. It has the power and durability to make your drilling tasks virtually effortless and to maintain its extraordinary level of accuracy and dependability for many years to come.