HP required for 12" jointer

[Joe Jensen]

I won an auction for a used 12" SCM jointer last week. It's a three phase machine and I am trying to decide between a phase converter solution, and replacing the motor. I'm not sure of the motor size. One part of the ad said it was 3.6HP, and another said 4.8HP.

I have a 1.5HP Baldor motor in my Powermatic jointer and I've never felt it was underpowered. How much HP does one need for a 12" jointer? I can't imagine ever taking more than 1/16" off at a time. I see 14" slider saws with 10HP or more. How fast would one have to throw material through a saw to need 10HP? I can see planers needing lots of HP, but I saw a 30" planer with a 30HP motor !

If I replace the motor, is 3HP enough, or do I need 5HP?

[Rafael Carias]

I remember seeing a thread in which respected forum member Dev Emch suggested that 3 or 4 HP was adequate power for a 12" jointer.

[Mark Rios]

12" jointer? Go with 12 hp and 9000 rpm for glass like smooth cuts. :D




I think I remember the thread that Raphael mentions and IIRC it was 1hp for every 3" or 4" of cutterhead length minimum.

[Shawn Walker]

I would put a 3hp. Baldor motor in it.

[John Thompson]

If you keep the cut to below 1/8" passes (which you should) 3 HP will work fine as mentioned. I have my jointer dialed on 1/16" and never change the height.

Sarge..

[Frank Drew]

3-5 h.p.; I never had any trouble with a 3 phase/3 h.p. belt drive motor and I'd occasionally take a heavy cut.

[Richard McComas]

I had a factory original General 12" jointer and it had a 3 hp motor.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

If you go larger than a 3hp, you may need a dedicated 30amp circuit with 10 guage wiring.

Something to consider.

-Jeff :)

[Peter Quinn]

I use an older PM 12" jointer at work, it has a 3HP in it, no problems with depth of cut. Once you get that huge head spinning on those bearings there is a lot of inertia involved to keep it spinning. I would avoid anything smaller than 3HP and can't see the need for anything above 5 on a 12".

[Mark Singer]

I have a 3 phase MiniMax Techno Max Elite 16" combo. I would not replace the motor. It is designed for the machine and the power it has is correct . I have a phase converter and it works well with the combo machine.

[Brad Shipton]

I have a 4hp on my 12" and when jointing 12" stock with deep passes you can tell the motor knows it is working. Personally I would put a phase converter on since there seems to be a lot of great deals on used 3ph equip and maybe you can find one that will serve future machines too. The 1.5hp sounds pretty small unless you are going to replace the cutter with a shellix.

congrats on the purchase.

[J.R. Rutter]

My 12" has a 3 HP and a Shelix head. I use a power feeder on it and it handles 1/16" full width passes on the hardest woods - but you can tell it is working hard.

[Joe Jensen]

I have a 3 phase MiniMax Techno Max Elite 16" combo. I would not replace the motor. It is designed for the machine and the power it has is correct . I have a phase converter and it works well with the combo machine.

Mark, what kind of converter are you using? Do you need to start the converter, and then start the jointer?

[Rollie Meyers]

If this is going to be your only 3Ø machine, a VFD would be just the ticket, variable frequency drives are quite economical these days.

[Joe Jensen]

Any recommendations for a commercial VFD? I'd like one that I can use the tools momenary contact buttons to start and stop. I think the motor is a 3.6HP 220V 3Ph...joe

[Rick Fisher]

Does anyone make a 4hp single phase motor? I looked on the Baldor site and didnt find anything.

[Joe Jensen]

Current single phase motors seem to jump from 3HP to 5HP. Not sure why.