Woodmaster sent me a flyer saying I could pick up a 25" Model 725 planer
from Wisconsin (about 4 hours away) for $2400. This model can be used as a
drum sander and as a moulder, but I primarily want to use it as a planer.
Every once in a while, a used Powermatic 24" planer comes up for sale in my
area for under $2000. I was wondering if anyone had experience with both
types of machines and could comment on their capabilities. The Powermatic
weighs around 4000 pounds while the Woodmaster weights only 800 pounds. I
have a hard time believing they can both do the same work. Do I have to
take super thin passes with the Woodmaster? Do I have to plane one board
and then let the machine rest? Any comments?
This is what I mean when I say a used Powermatic 24":
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67229&item=7512967546&rd=1
Now the question is: where is the three phase in relation to the
location of the machine in your shop? I have three phase in a panel
three feet away from the machine, but it has taken almost three months
to get the machine hardwired into the system, and the work hasn't even
been done yet (we got the bid yesterday). It's a school shop, so
getting approval is a major PITA.
"Ollie" <Olivili at Hot Mail dot com> writes:
>You are so lucky with your 3 phases and forklift. I could never convince
>Swmbo that I need those. I can still dream =)
It isn't the SWMBO you need to convince to get three phase power. Power
companies generally won't run three phase power to a residence.
If I ever build a seperate shop, I might try to convince the power company
to give me three phase power. I am pretty sure the lines at the street
are three phase.
Brian Elfert
[email protected] (Doug Miller) writes:
>>If I ever build a seperate shop, I might try to convince the power company
>>to give me three phase power. I am pretty sure the lines at the street
>>are three phase.
>Unless you live in an industrial park, that's highly unlikely.
There is a huge public works facility a block or two down the road. I
can't imagine a facility of that size not having three phase power.
I can't imagine I'll ever see three phase power in my lifetime. Power
companies simply don't want to supply it to residential properties.
Brian Elfert
Duane Bozarth <[email protected]> writes:
>> I can't imagine I'll ever see three phase power in my lifetime. Power
>> companies simply don't want to supply it to residential properties.
>Not really...it's driven the other way 'round--few residential customers
>have the need and would be willing to pay the cost.
I asked once. They wouldn't even give me the cost. I don't thing
they even looked up any info on my location and the feasability before
they said no.
Brian Elfert
In article <[email protected]>,
Doug Miller <[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>, Brian Elfert
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>If I ever build a seperate shop, I might try to convince the power company
>>to give me three phase power. I am pretty sure the lines at the street
>>are three phase.
>
>Unless you live in an industrial park, that's highly unlikely.
Actually, it is *widely* variable by locale.
I've forgotten whether it's Philly, or Pittsburgh, but the local electric
utility makes a point of it on their web-site, that some residential areas are
served by single phase, and you get 240/120 "single phase", and that other
areas are served by three-phase, and you get 208/120 ("two-of-three" phase),
_and_ that you do *not* have any choice in the matter, as to the kind of
service that you will get..
I _know_ that the town I grew up in had almost exclusively 3-phase local
distribution in residential areas by the mid 1960s. Twas _really_ easy
to identify -- two feed wires on one side of the cross-arm, and one on
the other. With the 'safety ground' running directly above the top of
the pole. Typical config was three pole 'cans' on each pole, Delta
arrangement, feeding 2 houses on one side of the street, and one on the
other. lots were 'staggered' with a 1/2 offset to the opposite side of
the street.
In fact, the house I grew up in got the street distribution wiring
upgraded. and went from single-phase to three-phase in the process.
The territory was a post-WWII development (not tract developer -- almost
all construction was individual builders).
In the early- to mid-60's, *lots* of people were putting in air-conditioning.
multiple big window units, for those who couldn't afford 'central'.
_and_ forgetting to tell the electric company.
*LOTS* of pole transformers 'let the magic smoke out', on hot summer nights.`
Once, in a _single_evening_, *eight* of them went _in_our_block_ in the space
of about 2 hours. Lots of folks were standing out in the front yards, watching
the "free fireworks". Especially those who had lost their own power. <grin>
(We had completed a major remodel/upgrade of our house a couple of years
previously, *including* having the utility service upgraded appropriately,
so _we_ didn't have any problems. :)
The utility eventually resorted to actual door-to-door *in*person* survey to
establish who all was drawing all the juice; ran new three-phase feeders, put
in bigger transformers, and cut everybody over, house by house. It was all
carefully scheduled and choreographed. *somebody* had to be around, to provide
the utility access to the residence, when the cut-over was done -- they had to
replace the meter head as well as make the pole-based changes. 208V required
a different shunt in the meter, vs the 240V one, to get the 'correct' billing
figures.
Brian Elfert wrote:
>
> [email protected] (Doug Miller) writes:
>
> >>If I ever build a seperate shop, I might try to convince the power company
> >>to give me three phase power. I am pretty sure the lines at the street
> >>are three phase.
>
> >Unless you live in an industrial park, that's highly unlikely.
>
> There is a huge public works facility a block or two down the road. I
> can't imagine a facility of that size not having three phase power.
>
> I can't imagine I'll ever see three phase power in my lifetime. Power
> companies simply don't want to supply it to residential properties.
Not really...it's driven the other way 'round--few residential customers
have the need and would be willing to pay the cost.
Brian Elfert wrote:
>
> Duane Bozarth <[email protected]> writes:
>
> >> I can't imagine I'll ever see three phase power in my lifetime. Power
> >> companies simply don't want to supply it to residential properties.
>
> >Not really...it's driven the other way 'round--few residential customers
> >have the need and would be willing to pay the cost.
>
> I asked once. They wouldn't even give me the cost. I don't thing
> they even looked up any info on my location and the feasability before
> they said no.
I suspect that's a function of them knowing the cost of the transformers
and other requirements and knowing a priori a single user wouldn't find
it cost-effective.
In article <[email protected]>, Brian Elfert <[email protected]> wrote:
>If I ever build a seperate shop, I might try to convince the power company
>to give me three phase power. I am pretty sure the lines at the street
>are three phase.
Unless you live in an industrial park, that's highly unlikely.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)
Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?
"Brian Elfert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Duane Bozarth <[email protected]> writes:
>
> >> I can't imagine I'll ever see three phase power in my lifetime. Power
> >> companies simply don't want to supply it to residential properties.
>
>
> >Not really...it's driven the other way 'round--few residential customers
> >have the need and would be willing to pay the cost.
>
> I asked once. They wouldn't even give me the cost. I don't thing
> they even looked up any info on my location and the feasability before
> they said no.
>
> Brian Elfert
I asked, and the electric Co said "sure, how much you need?" so I told
them 600 amps of 480V:-) It wasn't too bad to have it hooked up I think
about $800 for the wire to my CT box. Then a $42 charge for the
transformers per month (with that I get the first 400kw of juice
"included"), and $23 per month for the "service" charge. With taxes it's
about $72 per month for minimum charge...
William...
Yes I have 3 phase power. I also have access to a forklift so I'm not
worried about the weight either.
"JuanKnighter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The used Powermatic has a 3 phase motor. Do you have 3 phase power?
>
>
Al,
Based on your descriptions, the PM 24" seems to be a better fit for your
needs. It is significantly better machine than the Woodmaster.
You are so lucky with your 3 phases and forklift. I could never convince
Swmbo that I need those. I can still dream =)
Cheers, Ollie
"AL" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes I have 3 phase power. I also have access to a forklift so I'm not
> worried about the weight either.
>
> "JuanKnighter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> The used Powermatic has a 3 phase motor. Do you have 3 phase power?
>>
>>
>
>
"Ollie" <Olivili at Hot Mail dot com> wrote in message
>
> You are so lucky with your 3 phases and forklift. I could never convince
> Swmbo that I need those. I can still dream =)
Heh! Even if you had 3 phase and a forklift, do you have the shop space to
put them to use? I'm thinking of a single car garage/workshop that will hold
the forklift and nothing else. :)