Replies

1. 
   mike_b | Jul 15, 2006 03:10pm | #1

   "(as opposed to Evil Martinsky conditions)"

   The nickname is now official! John, I want the first Evil Martinsky signature series router (with a 12" panel raiser as standard equipment -- at least 10 HP -- Briggs and Stratton).

   Philip,

   Interesting question. It could be a marketing thing, but who knows? There are variable speed routers, right? Multiple/variable speed drill presses. I can set the feed rate on my planer. Why not offer variable speed control on a jointer? Or maybe just let the jointer operator control the speed by varying the rate of feed. Perhaps it is a marketing thing after all. Most woodworking equipment is fairly basic stuff and the marketing boys have to work overtime to make their products appear more innovative than the other guy's.

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 18, 2006 03:03pm | #2

   I don't think they are first.  I recall, albeit a bit hazily, a desktop jointer that had two speeds for its universal motor.  Was it "Craftsman"? 

   As to the utility of two speeds--none except making it easier for the ad writers to fill white space.   

1. 
   philip | Jul 19, 2006 01:21pm | #3

   I believe you are correct-but hope sprung eternal me thinking that there could be a hidden something....
   But some good thinking seems to hjave gone into other parts of the machine-like the cutter head lock device and a fence system that looks good at least in the picture.Philip Marcou

1. 
   mike_b | Jul 20, 2006 01:30pm | #4

   I saw this while flipping through the February, '06 Woodshop News. For what it's worth, Rikon's Rod Burrow explains the benefits of two speeds: "If you have wet lumber that you're pre-dimensioning, you want it on low speed because you get a little more torque out of the lower speed. If you want to do finish cuts on drier wood, then you would power up with the high speed."And, the fence adjustment on this machine is of the rack-and-pinion design which incorporates a space-saving short post. As the attached photo illustrates, this is a feature I can really appreciate.

1. 
   PeteBradley | Jul 20, 2006 05:49pm | #5

   That explanation seems pretty silly. If the machine has insufficient torque, perhaps it should have shipped with a bigger motor. Rikon claims the motor gets 1.5HP out of 12 amps, which is questionable, but even if they're getting a more likely 1 true HP, that's reasonable for 6". Top speed is listed at 5500 RPM, which is still below the 6000 that Powermatic uses, for example. Looks like pure marketing to me.Pete

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 20, 2006 06:00pm | #6

   Slowing down the feed rate would have the same effect--reducing the size of the bite, hence making the existing torque more adequate.  Marketing strikes again. 

2. 
   mike_b | Jul 20, 2006 06:14pm | #7

   "That explanation seems pretty silly."
   "Looks like pure marketing to me"You're probably right. I'm just passing on the spin that Rikon is putting on the product feature.

2. 
   joinerswork | Jul 20, 2006 09:26pm | #8

   Mike,

   Who would waste time jointing wet lumber? "Pre-dimensioning" wet stock, for a project a year or more down the road- when the now- dry lumber you predimensioned, is cupped, bowed and twisted, and now too thin to be cleaned up and used!

   Now if that jointer came with the optional Evil Knievel 10" dia cutterhead, for cutting 3" deep rabbets, or 3/4" surfacing cuts, you might need a slower speed for it. Arr, aarr, aaarrrhh!

   Cheers,

   Ray Pine

1. 
   mike_b | Jul 21, 2006 12:57am | #10

   Ray,"Who would waste time jointing wet lumber?"I have no idea -- just passing along the Rikon press release."the optional Evil Knievel 10" dia cutterhead..."That's the Evil Martinsky 10" dia cutter head. Actually, I think John spec'd a 16" cutter head, but marketing knocked it down to 10" to hit the price point. And maybe removable infeed/outfeed tables for freehand jointing. (Just kidding John)

2. 
   JMartinsky | Jul 21, 2006 02:42pm | #12

   OOOOOOOOOO freehand jointing..........HMMMMMM, might be interesting!Oh sure, like I still have hands..............:-)

3. 
   philip | Jul 20, 2006 11:24pm | #9

   Yep- the fence idea is good. But I am cynical about the wet wood idea-first of all it is poor practice to plane wet wood and secondly it sounds as though the motor lacks power /is border line powerful enough.I see the advert does not state the horse power or wattage ....Philip Marcou

1. 
   mike_b | Jul 21, 2006 02:45am | #11

   Yes, the wet wood concept seems a bit lame. But, these guys all work hard and are just trying set their product apart. The market will prove them right or wrong as it almost always does.

3. 
   tinkerer2 | Jul 22, 2006 03:17am | #13

   Here is the real reason.  Some of us old folks just aren't as robust as you young ones.  The real reason is that with the slower speed we don't have to push the work piece through so fast to get the same number cuts per inch and smoothness as obtained at the higher speed.  At the end of the day we still have energy left to eat supper.