Thread: Bandsaw motor upgrade ...or not

Originally Posted by tdrumnut

Ok so the trusty old carbatec 1401 decided it wasn't that into resawing some red gum the other day and spat the dummy(capacitor is kaput).
I should be able to replace the capacitor and get it back up and running for around $30 - $40 but is there a better option?
I have recently spent about $100 already on it (replaced blade tension adjuster, guide bearings, table trunion whodacky) and was thinking maybe beefing up the motor with a 1.5 hp (current one is 3/4hp) would be the way to go. That way it may handle the resawing a bit better and given that this could be done for around $250 it sounds reasonble. I should then have a reasonable band saw to carry on with until I can afford a decent upgrade.
I have been thinking recently about buying a new one (maybe the Laguna or a Harvey) but given the price of these that may be some ways off.
Any thoughts people?

Something like this is a prime candidate for a used 3phase motor powered with a single to 3 phase VFD, all of which which will cost less that the price of a new single phase motor. The main difficulty will be finding a face plate mounted 3 phase motor. Of course it requires some comfort level with installing a VFD (or knowing someone who can do this) because the cost of using a sparky will be a lot more than the price of a new single phase motor.

Originally Posted by BobL

Something like this is a prime candidate for a used 3phase motor powered with a single to 3 phase VFD, all of which which will cost less that the price of a new single phase motor. The main difficulty will be finding a face plate mounted 3 phase motor. Of course it requires some comfort level with installing a VFD (or knowing someone who can do this) because the cost of using a sparky will be a lot more than the price of a new single phase motor.

Certainly another option Bob but as I no nothing about 3 phase or the single to 3 phase VFD I would need an electrician to set it all up. I will investgate it though & thanks for the imput.

RunNut,
One thing to consider is the blade you are driving, remembering, power in, vs power out. So if you double the input power to cut the wood, you double the strain on the blade and drive rubbers. On my big saw, I have a 5KW 3 phase motor and run a 32MM blade and recently jammed it in a huge block of Euro Olive, and luckily or unluckily the blade did not break, but spun and damaged the tyres and then came off, got brown pants now.
rgds,
Crocy

Originally Posted by Old Croc

RunNut,
One thing to consider is the blade you are driving, remembering, power in, vs power out. So if you double the input power to cut the wood, you double the strain on the blade and drive rubbers. On my big saw, I have a 5KW 3 phase motor and run a 32MM blade and recently jammed it in a huge block of Euro Olive, and luckily or unluckily the blade did not break, but spun and damaged the tyres and then came off, got brown pants now.
rgds,
Crocy

Yeah Crocky I hear what your are saying. I have decided against beefing up the motor and in fact have replaced the start capacitor on the old one and shes now steaming like a train again. I am now thinking that I will (when time and cash allows) get a second bigger bandsaw and keep this one for small stuff. Thanks for the imput.

Hi Rumnut,

Could you tell me where you got your Tension Crank from as mine also needs replacing.

Thanks,

Peter.

Carbatec has all the replacement parts for these older bandsaws and their prices are fairly resonable.

Great, thanks for that, I'll give them a call this week.

Cheers