Planer speed selection question...

tsmccull · Post by **tsmccull** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:39 pm

I'm converting my Shopsmith mounted planer to a standalone planer with its own motor and stand. Given the speed of the motor I'll be using with the planer, I can run the planer knives at either 4250 RPM or 5100 RPM, just by selecting a different diameter motor pulley (5" or 6"). Any particular reason I should pick one speed over the other? Thanks for any suggestions.

tsmccull

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:14 pm

I would go for the higher speed; should yield a smoother cut. Shopsmith uses a 5 in. pulley on the motor (3450 rpm) and a 3 in. pulley on the cutter head to yield 5750 rpm at the cutter.