If it is a DC motor, a heavy rheostat might work.

If it is an AC motor, look at one of the electronic pulse type speeed
controls. make sure it is rated for the motor though.

Or hit the Grainger catalog and replace the motor with one that has multiple
windings for different speeds and use a multi position switch.




"KIMOSABE" wrote in message
...
I had an earlier thread asking about a Jet wood lathe, and one of the
things that people get concerned about is that some lathes do not have
a slow speed that is as slow as they would like it. Turners doing
outboard stuff seem to prefer to be able to get down to speeds in the
300's.

The lathe I'm looking at has a bottom speed of about 550.

Question: If I put a variable resistor in line with the motor to cut
the voltage when I need a low speed, would that do the trick or would
that be bad for the motor?