Behrens Quality machine - Table saw and Planer

**Tony Lee** · 7th February 2012, 10:02 PM

Probably one of the more unusual reasons to post, but hope someone can help me out.

I'm 2 hours north of Mt hagen in the PNG Western Highlands on an annual working holiday helping sort out some infrastructure problems at a remote hospital.

One thing they would like me to do is get this machine operational. It looks in pretty good condition mechanically, rust-free etc etc. Saw blade is 9 1/4" diameter ripping blade and the planer is a three-blade approx 3" diameter, 4 1/2" wide.
Both saw blade and planer blades are steel, not carbide tipped.

Just needs a motor with appropriate size pulley - and a switch/overload to get it going.

Would anyone have any idea of what power rating and rpm motor (has to be single phase) might have been fitted originally. Alternatively, what some of you might have fitted to a similar sized machine. Some idea of a range of blade speeds that work would also allow me to calculate motor pulley sizes.

There is no rating plate on the base anywhere apart from the one giving the manufacturers name and SA address.

Thanks

Tony Lee

**Stewie D** · 8th February 2012, 04:06 PM

With HP for anything to do with wood the answer is more is better. My Scheppach tablesaw has a 10" blade and I think from memory it spins at 4500RPM but only a 3/4 HP motor and it is underpowered. 1.5 or 2HP would be so much better and seeing as you will probably be cutting some great PNG hardwood , I'd suggest this power for you too.
This site here has a good guide
http://justsawblades.com/systimatic/terminology.htm

Stewie

**Tony Lee** · 10th February 2012, 10:59 PM

Thanks Stewie,

That will give me enough to get something sorted out

Tony

**gerhard** · 13th February 2012, 11:38 PM

Hi all,

2 hp is a good idea. A 2800 rpm motor (two pole) has higher efficiency than a 1400 rpm (four pole) one, meaning that a 2 hp two pole motor needs less Amps input than a 2 hp four pole one. My guess is that the original motor has been two pole also. For determining the right pulley size on the motor, you need to know what the original rpm-count of the sawblade (or planer drum) are. By measuring up the machine's pulley circumference and multiplying it by the blade rpm and dividing it again by the motor's rpm, you will end up with the proper motor pulley circumference, and thus its diameter.

good luck

gerhard

**Tony Lee** · 14th February 2012, 09:35 PM

Yes, decided a 1.5kW 2 pole motor would fit the bill so now need to wait while the maintenance supervisor gets the obligatory three quotes and then gets the specifications for the chosen motor so I can make sure it will fit.
Guess that will take about 12 months so I suspect it will be waiting for me when I return next year - just like the water pump I left last year in pieces with a complete list of parts required and full instructions for reassembly was still sitting in exactly the same place when I returned this year.
And the 100,000Litre tank with the hole in it last year, still has the same hole in it this year despite water being a very critically scarce commodity here
etc etc

Sigh!!!!

**mañana** · 21st February 2012, 08:48 PM

The Behrens machine you describe is almost certainly a Habco "Homeshop", made by HA Behrens of South Australia. There are numerous posts re this machine on this Forum. Do a Search for them and they may help with your questions. Best of luck with it.
Mick C

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