looks like a work horse

https://denver.craigslist.org/tls/5948572202.html


has a gap bed too

On 2017-01-30 7:42 PM, Electric Comet wrote:

looks like a work horse

https://denver.craigslist.org/tls/5948572202.html


has a gap bed too

Those were the days when General still had an operating foundry in
Quebec. Their table saws were superb as were all the other woodworking
machines they made. They were the same quality as Powermatic when they
still had an operating foundry in the US.
Note that that lathe has riser blocks to increase the swing from 12" to 20".

I remember the original, real, General lathes. The Woodsmith Store in my town carried the 260 and 160 lathes about 25 years ago. They also had the table saw. All Made In Canada. Can't remember if they came with Leeson or Baldor motors. Think the 160 had Reeves drive to get variable speed.

On 2017-01-31 12:50 PM, wrote:
I remember the original, real, General lathes. The Woodsmith Store in my town carried the 260 and 160 lathes about 25 years ago. They also had the table saw. All Made In Canada. Can't remember if they came with Leeson or Baldor motors. Think the 160 had Reeves drive to get variable speed.

I have the very basic 160, i.e., just the cast iron lathe, 4 speed, that
I mounted on a base made to suit my height. The model that came on a
base with a motor used a pinching pulley variable speed system (is that
a Reeves drive?).

On Tue, 31 Jan 2017 10:13:57 -0700
graham wrote:

Those were the days when General still had an operating foundry in
Quebec. Their table saws were superb as were all the other
woodworking machines they made. They were the same quality as
Powermatic when they still had an operating foundry in the US.
Note that that lathe has riser blocks to increase the swing from 12"
to 20".

an interesting idea

it is funny you mention it because when i first looked i wondered why
the headstock was so tall

For Bowls and vases. Some platters.
Not a pen machine. But most everything else. Might do pens.

Martin :-)

On 1/31/2017 5:26 PM, Electric Comet wrote:
On Tue, 31 Jan 2017 10:13:57 -0700
graham wrote:

Those were the days when General still had an operating foundry in
Quebec. Their table saws were superb as were all the other
woodworking machines they made. They were the same quality as
Powermatic when they still had an operating foundry in the US.
Note that that lathe has riser blocks to increase the swing from 12"
to 20".

an interesting idea

it is funny you mention it because when i first looked i wondered why
the headstock was so tall

On Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 2:01:13 PM UTC-6, graham wrote:
On 2017-01-31 12:50 PM, wrote:
I remember the original, real, General lathes. The Woodsmith Store in my town carried the 260 and 160 lathes about 25 years ago. They also had the table saw. All Made In Canada. Can't remember if they came with Leeson or Baldor motors. Think the 160 had Reeves drive to get variable speed.

I have the very basic 160, i.e., just the cast iron lathe, 4 speed, that
I mounted on a base made to suit my height. The model that came on a
base with a motor used a pinching pulley variable speed system (is that
a Reeves drive?).

Yes. The pulley halves move in and out so the belt goes up and down. Increases or decreases the size of the pulley. Reeves drive is what that thing is.

On Wed, 1 Feb 2017 12:47:59 -0800 (PST)
" wrote:

Yes. The pulley halves move in and out so the belt goes up and
down. Increases or decreases the size of the pulley. Reeves drive
is what that thing is.

i think i have seen these in delta lathes

did not know they were called reeves drive

interesting approach

does it require adjustment from time to time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ExzaUq5GI

Here is a YouTube of a Reeves Drive in action. The two pulleys on the motor and spindle change in diameter. Thus changing the speed of the spindle. Looks like the guy moves a lever to change the pulley size. And get variable speed. Reeves Drive are a "cheap" way to get variable speed on a lathe or other machines. Cheaper than electronic variable speed. Electronic requires a VFD (variable frequency drive) and a 3 phase motor. Think the VFD takes single phase electricity on the input side and changes it to 3 phase to power the motor. The VFD must be able to change the amount of electricity that goes through and thus change how fast the 3 phase motor runs. I'm no expert on electricity and how 3 phase motors operate. Have no knowledge of Reeves Drive other than what it is and how it operates basically.

On Wed, 1 Feb 2017 22:43:19 -0800 (PST)
" wrote:

Here is a YouTube of a Reeves Drive in action. The two pulleys on
the motor and spindle change in diameter. Thus changing the speed of
the spindle. Looks like the guy moves a lever to change the pulley
size. And get variable speed. Reeves Drive are a "cheap" way to get
variable speed on a lathe or other machines. Cheaper than electronic

it is an interesting solution

variable speed. Electronic requires a VFD (variable frequency drive)
and a 3 phase motor. Think the VFD takes single phase electricity on
the input side and changes it to 3 phase to power the motor. The VFD
must be able to change the amount of electricity that goes through
and thus change how fast the 3 phase motor runs. I'm no expert on
electricity and how 3 phase motors operate. Have no knowledge of

this is what i learned recently

the vfd opens up some possibilities for using 3 phase equipment

On Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 1:58:04 PM UTC-6, Electric Comet wrote:

the vfd opens up some possibilities for using 3 phase equipment

3 phase motors can be powered in homes a couple ways. Homes with 220 volt single phase electricity only. As opposed to industrial/commercial space which often has 3 phase electricity into the building from the main electrical system.

You can get 3 phase electricity for motors by using a phase convertor. Rotary or static I think. Rotary is superior. You put 220 volt single phase in and the rotary convertor makes the third leg of the three legs/phases needed to power a 3 phase motor. The other two legs for the 3 phase motor come from the breaker box 220 volt feed. End up with three legs/phases for the 3 phase motor.

The other way to get three phase power is to use a VFD Variable Frequency Drive. Common on lathes that need variable speed from the motor. VFD takes the two legs of the 220 single electricity in and creates the third leg to power the 3 phase lathe motor. Assume the VFD can change the amount of electricity going out to make the motor variable speed. VFD are relatively cheap compared to phase convertors. VFD make three phase power electronically instead of rotary phase convertor which makes the three phase by actually having an additional motor making the third phase. Cheap electronics compared to expensive copper wound motor.

On Fri, 3 Feb 2017 14:36:16 -0800 (PST)
" wrote:

an additional motor making the third phase. Cheap electronics
compared to expensive copper wound motor.

i see used phase converters for sale once in a while and they all were
expensive


vfd has other benefits too iirc it improves efficiency

On 2017-02-03 3:36 PM, wrote:
On Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 1:58:04 PM UTC-6, Electric Comet wrote:

the vfd opens up some possibilities for using 3 phase equipment

3 phase motors can be powered in homes a couple ways. Homes with 220 volt single phase electricity only. As opposed to industrial/commercial space which often has 3 phase electricity into the building from the main electrical system.

You can get 3 phase electricity for motors by using a phase convertor. Rotary or static I think. Rotary is superior. You put 220 volt single phase in and the rotary convertor makes the third leg of the three legs/phases needed to power a 3 phase motor. The other two legs for the 3 phase motor come from the breaker box 220 volt feed. End up with three legs/phases for the 3 phase motor.

The other way to get three phase power is to use a VFD Variable Frequency Drive. Common on lathes that need variable speed from the motor. VFD takes the two legs of the 220 single electricity in and creates the third leg to power the 3 phase lathe motor. Assume the VFD can change the amount of electricity going out to make the motor variable speed. VFD are relatively cheap compared to phase convertors. VFD make three phase power electronically instead of rotary phase convertor which makes the three phase by actually having an additional motor making the third phase. Cheap electronics compared to expensive copper wound motor.

But you don't need a 220v source if you stick to 1-1.5hp motors. I've
been quoted Can$750 for a 1HP vfd motor with vfd and 110v input.
Graham

On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 10:59:01 PM UTC-6, Electric Comet wrote:

i see used phase converters for sale once in a while and they all were
expensive


Probably makes sense. Phase convertors are only used by small shops who do not have access to real 3 phase power from the utility company. Big shops and commercial operations get 3 phase power for their machinery direct. No need for a phase convertor. Its only the little guy who needs them. So small demand and small supply. And if a little guy gets a 3 phase machine, he HAS to have a phase convertor. There is no other option. Otherwise his bargain basement cheaply bought magnificent 3 phase Martin or Altendorf table saw is just a big paper weight. He has to buy a phase convertor at any cost or his $10,000 Martin is worthless. And his $12,000 SCMI shaper is worthless too.

On Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 9:26:36 AM UTC-6, graham wrote:

But you don't need a 220v source if you stick to 1-1.5hp motors. I've
been quoted Can$750 for a 1HP vfd motor with vfd and 110v input.


I follow the Euro, Pound, and Yen every day. But do not keep track of the Canadian dollar exchange rate. So I don't know if $750 Canadian is pocket change or real money. Several companies make mini lathes with variable speed. These use 1/2 or maybe 3/4 hp motors and get the variable speed from a VFD using 110 volt electricity. I believe they are all $500-1000 USA dollars in cost. Not sure though. I know Jet makes a bigger lathe with VFD of about 1.5hp. It uses 110 volt. Think it is around $1500-2000 USA dollars..

On 2017-02-03 at 18:36 AST, wrote:
On Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 1:58:04 PM UTC-6, Electric Comet wrote:

the vfd opens up some possibilities for using 3 phase equipment

The other way to get three phase power is to use a VFD Variable
Frequency Drive. Common on lathes that need variable speed from the
motor. VFD takes the two legs of the 220 single electricity in and
creates the third leg to power the 3 phase lathe motor. Assume the
VFD can change the amount of electricity going out to make the motor
variable speed.

That's not how it works. The variable frequency drive varies the
frequency (as its name says) to vary the motor speed, which works
since the speed of an induction motor is a function of the frequency
of the supply voltage (and, to a lesser amount, the amount of load on
the motor).

Cheers.
Jim