Hi,
If you've got 3 phase laid on then Wadkin kit can't be beaten; it's made to last generations; Brooks I used to work for supplied the motors but on the old machines the 3 phase motors where usually fixed at 415V on "Star" The star connection buried in the windings; modern motors have a terminal block with the six wires so these can very easily be connected "Star" or "Delta". Over the years I've converted Wadkin machines (and others) from 3 phase to single phase using second hand motors with a new DOL starter but it's much too dangerous to do for a novice so I don't recommend it.
The saw bench I currently have I made myself and it's not a toy to play with; up to full speed at the press of the button; double belt drive and on 4 hp it won't take prisoners. It's just rise and fall with fine adjustment and it's definitely always fitted with a riving knife; the riving knife arranged to rise and fall so any trenching or rebates aren't a problem. I seldom need angled cuts but for these I have a Skilsaw and the bandsaw.
Kind regards, Colin.
A pair of new SKF bearings and it's good as new. Bearings are cheap and not usually difficult to change.
My home made saw bench; 4" depth of cut; 4hp on 240V single phase. Riving knife permanently fitted; the fence has been upgraded now it's 2" steel box section; it's accurate with bags of power.
If you've got 3 phase laid on then Wadkin kit can't be beaten; it's made to last generations; Brooks I used to work for supplied the motors but on the old machines the 3 phase motors where usually fixed at 415V on "Star" The star connection buried in the windings; modern motors have a terminal block with the six wires so these can very easily be connected "Star" or "Delta". Over the years I've converted Wadkin machines (and others) from 3 phase to single phase using second hand motors with a new DOL starter but it's much too dangerous to do for a novice so I don't recommend it.
The saw bench I currently have I made myself and it's not a toy to play with; up to full speed at the press of the button; double belt drive and on 4 hp it won't take prisoners. It's just rise and fall with fine adjustment and it's definitely always fitted with a riving knife; the riving knife arranged to rise and fall so any trenching or rebates aren't a problem. I seldom need angled cuts but for these I have a Skilsaw and the bandsaw.
Kind regards, Colin.
A pair of new SKF bearings and it's good as new. Bearings are cheap and not usually difficult to change.
My home made saw bench; 4" depth of cut; 4hp on 240V single phase. Riving knife permanently fitted; the fence has been upgraded now it's 2" steel box section; it's accurate with bags of power.
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