Comparing Power Tool Motors

[Paul Dalton]

Paul,

This thread has some discussion and info on how some manufacturers lie, er, advertise horsepower ratings, in this case specifically for shop vacs:
https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread....otor&styleid=3

I found this on a ShopVac web page:
https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread....92#post2862692

JKJ

John,

Thanks a lot. Those were helpful links.

[Paul Dalton]

In addition, can someone help me understand the pros/cons of a drill press with a "mechanical variable speed" control vs. one on which the user has to open it and move the belt?

If they both have the same motor, should I expect both would generally perform as well or does the "mechanical variable speed" mechanism introduce some inefficiency or other performance issue?

Thanks.

[Rod Sheridan]

They would both perform the same.

The Reeves drive would give you finer speed control, weighed against cost and maintenance....Rod

[Frank Pratt]

The variable speed models are also much more easily changed. My General is such a pain to change that it just gets left in a suboptimal speed most of the time. I'd happily pay the extra for one with a Reeves drive.

[Rollie Meyers]

They used locked rotor HP in a lot of instances, problem is that it is unusable at that point.