Jointer motor question

[Art_LH]

I inherited a three knife 4" Homecraft jointer (Delta) from my Dad. What size motor should I get for this unit and how fast should the jointer rotate?

Someday I want to get a 6" or even an 8" unit, but for now my budget will not allow that.

Thanks for any feedback.

Art

[Sonny Edmonds]

3/4 or 1 HP.
I would probably feel good about a 3/4 HP being plenty.
3600 RPM (sycronis speed) rated motor.
And probably a 1:1 ratio on the pulleys or maybe a scosh higher, but not over 4000 RPM at the head.

Ratio isn't hard to figure. two - 2" pulleys, (for example) = 1:1 ratio.
If the motor pulley gets bigger, the speed at the cutterhead goes up.
Smaller at the motor, speed goes down.
Note also that overgearing a drive (higher ratio at the motor) tends to cause overloading and starting trouble.
Kinda like driving a stick shift in 2nd or 3rd all the time. :7

:D

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