Augie, I think this is a full 1 HP motor, been a long time since I looked at the plate. It took some doing to find a motor this heavy that ran on single phase. I remember i started out with a 1/3 HP and kept stalling it. Speed unknown......nothing fancy.
Lowell: The abrasive is 80 grit, comes in a big roll, one inch wide and a mile long from HARBOR FREIGHT
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2118 yes, it is cloth backed, but not emery.
The strip is not glued on, just tacked with plain olt carpet tacks at the ends. After running for a bit, the strip stretches, and you need to pull the tack at one end and take up the slack, then put in a couple of tacks.
If you take care, don't use it on gummy woods and don't scorch it, use a rubber belt eraser often.......well, you won't need to change abrasive often. Part of ruining abrasive comes from heat. Work easy, feed in different spots.
Add on to your shop? Hey, here's an idea. Bring a big bucket of money and buy mine!
Badger; i can get the speed off the motor plate and give you the sheave sizes.....and diameter of the drum, and if you are a good engineer you can figure it out. Will that be OK? Surface speed of the drum is the key, regardless of the diameter. Just that the larger diameter has more heat absorbing characteristics.
I feed from the top side, i.e.. AGAINST the rotation of the drum, so it never pulls the work away from me. I never take more than 1/32 or so ff at a pass, or less.
If you build one of these that will take up to 1 1/2 or so stock you will find a million uses for facing scrap, or thicknessing board bows, or making honey-do projects and school homework......and for WAY LESS than $700.
I have a hood made from flashing tin to put over mine, with old bluejeans material hanging down, front and back, with a vacuum hook up, i just didn't photograph it. Otherwise, you really want to take it outdoors as it makes BUSHELS of really fine dust.
piper
