Well…my little benchtop delta 2 speed planer is all in pieces (i’m working on it) and i’ve been thinking that one day soon i’d really like a large stationary planer. A friend told me of a sale on a Jet 5 HP *3 phase* 20 inch planer. Normally sells for around 1800 and they had one left at $850.
i struggled w/the decision…kind of hard to spend that kind of money w/o sleeping on it even if it appears to be a really good deal…but bought it anyway.
Here’s what it is
JET 708584 JWP-208-3 20-Inch 5 Horsepower Planer, 3 Phase, 230/460 volt
So…my next challenge is getting a rotary phase converter. yea, i know they are kind of pricey but i figured i’d own another piece of 3 phase equipment one day…especially with all of the furniture shops going out of business :(.
Is ebay the best place to look for this?
Any thoughts on the purchase…i’m kind of nervous about it actually.
Replies
Evening Bob...
Other than 3 phase... great buy! And I won't comment on it as I am not your man in the case of 3 phase. That's about "2 phases over the line" for me. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Regards and enjoy...
Sarge..jt
Sarge, that didn't "phase" me in least.... still enjoyed the pun though.
Bob,
A rotary converter on the'Bay that's big enough to run your 5 hp is gonna cost you a few hundred bucks at least, unless you get a good deal.
You can get a baldor 5 hp single phase for around $230-$260 on ebay or you can get a 5hp single phase leeson motor on the clear-vue cyclone site for $265 with free shipping.
You may drop a ton of cash on the phase converter and not get another good deal on a 3 phase piece again.
Good luck,
Lee
Bob,
See this (if you have a subscription to the wider FWW site):
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00126.asp
It's from FWW Issue 158 pages 90 - 91, an article all about 3-phase conversion options. It has a link to more info..........
Lataxe
I built my own rotary converter from a used 3 phase motor a relay some motor start capacitors & I am using a used 3 phase circut breaker pnl off the output from the motor to protect/distribute the 3 phase power. It works very well, I got the original plans from the Finewoodworking book -woodworking machinery & other ideas/improvements from plans on the internet. So if you feel up to building one it is not a difficult job.
Hi BobC,
Like Viking wood said you can generate the third leg for three phase using a slave motor. Evidently there is some loss in efficiency but can be done relatively cheap. Sorry I don't know anything more specific but a Google search should help out. I think I read about this in Tauton's Workshop Book. Good luck
Paul
thanks everyone. i've been doing a little reading and it looks like if i can pick up a used 3 phase motor -- 7HP or so, then building the rotory phase converter is pretty straightforward.
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