Powermatic · Jointer · 1990s (54) and 2000s (54A)
Powermatic 54 6-Inch Jointer
The 54 is the small Powermatic jointer most home shops actually bought. It came from the Artisan line Powermatic started in 1988, made in Taiwan for hobby woodworkers, and it followed the short-lived Model 53. The 54 has a 6 in three-knife head at 4,500 RPM, cast-iron tables on dovetailed ways and a 3/4 HP motor that plugs into a regular outlet, all on an enclosed stand with a dust chute. The 2000s 54A grew a 66 in bed and a 1 HP motor. The Model 50 is a different jointer, the older and heavier American-built 6 in Powermatic with its own serial numbers. For a first jointer, a 54 with its guard and fence is easy to move, easy to power and easy to find knives for.
Model 53 (the first Artisan 6 in jointer, 1990 to 1991)Model 54 (1990s, about 42 to 45 in table)Model 54A (2000s, 66 in table, 1 HP)
Spec at a glance
- Maker
- Powermatic
- Machine
- Jointer
- Motors sold
- Single-phase
- Made
- 1990s (54) and 2000s (54A)
- Capacity
- 6 in wide, 1/2 in maximum depth of cut
- Bed
- about 42-1/2 to 45 in (Model 54); 66 in (54A)
- Cutterhead
- 3 knives at 4,500 RPM (54); 6,000 RPM (54A)
- Fence
- about 4 x 29 in, tilting both ways to 45° (54); 38 in (54A)
- Motor
- 3/4 HP single-phase, 115/230 V, prewired 115 V (54); 1 HP (54A)
- Weight
- 198 lb (134 lb jointer plus 64 lb stand); 54A 328 lb net
- Also listed as
- PM54, PM54A, Powermatic 54A, Model 54
- Typical eBay ask (Oct 19, 2026)
- $2,200–$2,200
Shop check
Power, iron, fence and freight
- Power and phase
- The Model 54 came with a 3/4 HP single-phase motor wired for 115 V and rewirable to 230 V, and the 54A with a 1 HP single-phase motor. Either runs on house power. Check the motor plate in the photos for how it's wired.
- Motor and bearings
- Ask for a running video. The cutterhead should spin up smoothly and run without a rumble or a slapping belt.
- Table and rust
- The cast-iron tables move on dovetailed ways, and the Model 54's are about 42-1/2 to 45 in long. Ask for a photo with a straightedge across both tables. Light rust cleans up, but a cracked casting doesn't.
- Fence, guards and gauges
- The fence is about 29 in long on the 54 and tilts both ways to 45 degrees. Check that it locks square to the table. The cutterhead guard must be there.
- Trunnions and adjustments
- Ask the seller to raise and lower the infeed table through its range. It should move smoothly and lock without rocking.
- Blades and knives
- It takes three 6 in jointer knives, the most common jointer size there is. Ask whether they're sharp. Push blocks came with it in 1998.
- Dating it
- The 53 and 54 were imported Artisan-line machines, so the Powermatic serial tables don't cover them. A 66 in bed and a 1 HP motor mean a 54A. The American-built 6 in Powermatic is the Model 50, a different machine with its own serials.
- Moving it
- Powermatic listed the Model 54 at 134 lb for the jointer and 64 lb for the stand, so two people can move it in two pieces. The longer 54A is about 328 lb.
- Safety upgrades
- Make sure the cutterhead guard is there and springs back over the head. Use push blocks for every pass.
Should come with it
- Cutterhead guard
- Fence
- Enclosed stand with dust chute
- Push blocks
Hard to find if missing
- Original cutterhead guard
Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing fence, guard or motor should come off the price.
What to check
Short beds make long boards harder to joint, and worn gibs let the tables droop. Check that the guard is there and the fence locks square.
- 01Model plate: Ask for a photo of the model plate. It should say 54 or 54A, not 50 or 53.
- 02Tables: Ask for a photo with a straightedge across both tables. They should be flat and level with each other.
- 03Table movement: Ask the seller to raise and lower the infeed table on video. It should move smoothly and lock firmly.
- 04Guard: Check the photos for the cutterhead guard. It should spring back over the knives.
- 05Fence: Ask for a photo of the fence at 90 degrees. It should sit square to the table and lock.
- 06Running: Ask for a video of it running. It should hum steadily without a rumble.
New to old iron? How to check a used woodworking machine covers runout, the table, bearings and the parts that go missing, and dating old iron by serial number shows how to tell what year a machine was made.
Buying guide
Which one to buy
§ Oct 19, 2026Nobody is selling a used 54 right now, only a dealer's brand-new 54A at $2,199 with freight not quoted. Treat that as the ceiling, since a used one should sit well under it. Both versions run on house power, the 54A with its 1 HP motor and 66 in bed, the older 54 with 3/4 HP wired for 115 V. When one turns up, look for the cutterhead guard and fence, and ask for a straightedge photo across both tables.
- Listed now
- 1
- For parts
- 0
- Typical ask
- $2,200–$2,200
- Full range
- $2,199–$2,199
Snapshot
For sale on eBay
1 of 1 listedChecked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 19, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
NewBRAND NEW POWERMATIC 6" JOINTER , 1HP -MODEL 54A #PM9-1791279DXK
$2,199.00+ shipping
$2,199.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$2,199.00
Our take
Brand new 54A, 1 HP, from a dealer. Stock photo.
Seller: nevinstoolsinc
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 19, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchCompare with
Powermatic
JointerPowermatic 60 8-Inch Jointer
- Capacity
- 8 in jointer
- Made
- 1957 to the late 1990s
- Motor
- Single or 3-phase · 300 lb+
What to check before you buy →
Delta
JointerDelta 37-315 8-Inch Jointer
- Capacity
- 8 in jointer
- Made
- about 1952 to the mid-1980s
- Motor
- Single or 3-phase · 300 lb+
$500–$1,500 typical ask
Craftsman
JointerCraftsman 113 Jointer
- Capacity
- 6-1/8 in jointer
- Made
- 1960s to the mid-1980s
- Motor
- Single-phase
$160–$160 typical ask