machine atlas logo

Type of machine

Jointer

Manufacturer

Powermatic

Designed in

United States

Production status

New

Prices from

$7299.99

Specifications
Jointing width: 298 mm Power: 2237 W
Max jointing depth: 19 mm Tables length: 2133 mm
Type of Cutters: 3 Standard Blades Fence Tilt: -45 to 45 °
Fence length: 1200 mm
See detailed specs

Machine overview

When you sign up, you can:

By

The Powermatic 1285 jointer is the standard model of the 12-inch jointer range by Powermatic. It is nearly identical to the 1285 with helical cutter heads, which (as expected) has helical head cutters instead of the standard straight blades found on the normal 1285.

Parallelogram Base

The 1285 jointers have a parallelogram base, which makes changing the height easy and not as prone to wear as wedge-bed jointers. The basic design of the 1285 is very similar to that of Powermatic’s 8-inch parallelogram jointers (the PJ882 series).

Sturdy Rack and Pinion Fence

The main difference between the smaller PJ882 and 1285 jointers, besides the size, is the design of the fence. The 1285 has a rack and pinion design that makes the fence very stable and sturdy. However, it lacks the handwheel to set accurate angles, making it a lot more finicky to set a precise angle than on the PJ882 models.

The main downside of the Powermatic 1285 is the use of straight blades rather than helical head cutters. Straight blades are much more time-consuming to set up, last less long (helical head cutters have 4 useable sides), and make more noise.

Replacement Blades: Because the 1285 jointer uses standard blades, you can choose yourself whether you want to use authentic Powermatic blades (found here on Amazon) or other brand blades, that are quite a bit cheaper. For example, these blades found on Amazon are more than 50% cheaper.

Machine Atlas Verdict

Great build quality and sturdy fence, but at this price point most people will prefer helical head cutters.

Value for money

B

Quality

AA

What we don't like

  • Fence angle adjustment not as easy as on smaller on Powermatic jointers
  • Standard blades (take longer to set up and replace)

What we like

  • Jointing width big enough for most tasks
  • Long cast iron tables
  • Sturdy and heavy base
  • Quite powerful

Prices

Find the lowest prices for the Powermatic 1285 Jointer, updated daily

StorePrice
$7299.99
United States

Prices last updated: 2 year(s) ago

Discussion

Be the first to share your experiences with the Powermatic 1285 Jointer

There are no comments yet, be the first to leave one!

Every comment on MachineAtlas is read and answered. And if you know some useful info or tips, please share them. You could really help out some fellow woodworkers!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Detailed Specifications

All the specs and options for the Powermatic 1285 Jointer

General
Weight (standard configuration)345 kg
Total height1117 mm
Total width965 mm
Motor
Motor Voltage3x 230V 1x 230V 3x 460V
Extra Features and Options
Rabbeting ledgeIncluded
Jointer
Jointing width298 mm
Max depth of cut19 mm
Tables length2133 mm
Type of cutters3 Standard Blades
Fence length1200 mm
Fence tilt-45 to 45°

Did you find an error in our data? Send me a message, and I'll update the page with your info.