Solid Wood Machining

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Which 36" wide belt???

5/30/15       
Joseph Grove Member

Website: http://www.musserfarmwoodworks.com

I have an open end 16" wide belt that has served me well. I have been getting more things to build that are wider than 16". Tired of loading up wide panels and taking to another cabinet shop to get sanded. Looking to get a 36" SINGLE PHASE wide belt. Does anyone have insight on the Extrema or Safety Speed Cut?

6/2/15       #2: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
the google

what about a phase converter? this would open up a lot more options (especially for used machinery).

no personal experience but i've heard safety speed cut is a pretty light-weight machine. you might check the hp. aside from capacity, it probably won't be much of a step up from your open end machine. we have an extrema jointer and it is a pretty good machine. the fence needs constant adjustment but it works without issue everyday. it is 3 phase, though.

good luck.

6/2/15       #4: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Joseph Grove Member

Website: http://www.musserfarmwoodworks.com

I really don't want to add the expense of a phase converter. Although the open ended sander is marketed to sand panels up to 32" wide, it lets a groove in the middle. I will be using the sander as a sander, not as a planer. My sander now is 5 hp and has never tripped the breaker.

6/2/15       #5: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Bruce H

Once you start getting "real" machinery a phase converter will be the simplest and most cost effective thing you will install. three phase motors cost considerably less than an equal horse power single phase motor. a 36" wide belt isn't going to run very well on five horse power as you current 16" one has.

6/4/15       #6: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Kevin Jenness

I have to agree with Bruce. I resisted getting a phase converter for years until I found a deal I couldn't pass up on a 3 phase slider. With less than $600 in a used 10 hp motor, a used subpanel and a converter kit from WNY I got set up. Since then I have replaced my screaming single phase planer with a nice old Powermatic and can take advantage of deals on industrial machines that were out of reach before. I should have done it 30 years ago.

Joseph, you are going to want at least 15 hp on a 36" widebelt, and that means 3 phase. No doubt you can find a 10 hp unit, but you will struggle with its limitations. Sanders are power hogs- get as heavy a unit as your wallet and power service will accommodate.

6/19/15       #7: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Joseph Grove

Found out I need to recable my shop since I only have 100 amp service. Machine dealer says I would need 200 amp service to run phase converter big enough for wide belt.

6/20/15       #8: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Mark V.

Interesting…I’m also researching a widebelt sander. I have a single phase 100amp service, but multiple 3 phase machines. My electrical tech said no problem running a 15hp 3 phase sander, along with the ancillary equipment (lights, small dust collector, radio, etc.), with a variable frequency drive (VFD). I would also have the benefit of a soft start, so no big power surges.

Mark

6/20/15       #9: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Joseph Grove

I was told a 15 HP (compatible with 100 amp service) phase converter will start a 20 HP motor, but that sounds like future failure to me. There is a reason electrical components have capacity ratings. If I were to go to the effort of bringing the service up to 200 amp, and go the route of a phase converter I would then look at machines that start at 20 HP.

6/20/15       #10: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Pete D Member

I agree with the others and just went through this process. I have a 200 amp service but my 20hp phase perfect digital converter runs off a 70 amp circuit. Don't know if the rotary converters draw a higher amp load but they are less expensive. My sander is a 15hp Timesavers 37" and suits my needs as I strictly use it as a sander. When I follow the sanding schedule Adam West recommends with each grit I've had no issues and the machine performs well. I call BS on running a 20hp with a 15hp converter. Will it?...Maybe, but I could also make a living selling crack on the corner, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Go to the source and talk to the folks that know and build converters. Kevin's right, don't skimp on a lightweight, underpowered machine just to get one in the door, they are huge power hogs.

7/31/15       #11: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
henbob Member

I had a 20hp phase converter running a 36" scmi widebelt. It did the job but not very efficiently.. Once that machine was hooked up to 3phase directly it used half the amps at "no Load". It has a 18hp motor. I wouldn't go any less of a motor on a 36" widebelt

8/20/15       #12: Which 36" wide belt??? ...
Brian Member

I have a 37 in Sanya wide belt. I had an American Rotary 20 hp RPC that I ran a slider and DC on. The slider is 9 hp and the DC is 5 hp. Never had a problem. I bought a 37 in Sanya that has an 18 hp motor. When I contacted AMERICAN ROTARYto determine if the RPC would handle the widebelt and DC . The stated that due to the heavy start up current draw with a widebelt that 20 hp may not be strong enough. I bought another 20 hp RPC and it works great. Both RPC are fed by 60 amp breakers on my single phase panel. My single phase panel is only 100 amp. I have been running this set up for 7 yrs. The second is only used when I use the wide belt


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)