There is no question that turning the motor on while set at high speed draws more current than doing so with the speed set at a lower speed. However, I do not believe that the difference in life expectancy of the motor is significant provided that you maintain your machine properly.owenbrent wrote:It is very nice to hear this from long time users of the Shopsmith. I have been diligent in slowing the machine down between cuts and quite frankly, I don't like doing it. It would be great to hear it directly from Shopsmith, the exact reasoning behind the practice. It it to save the motor from damage, or is it to save someone or something from damage when switching between accessories, or is it for both. I don't want to burn out my motor prematurely. Perhaps a compromise of tuning it down only part way is in order.
Combine heavy startup currents due to speed along with the effects of poor lubrication and poor cleaning habits and that might not be true.
On the other hand:
I read an awful lot about worn and damaged speed control mechanisms and I can't help but think that some of these are due to turning the speed up and down every time the headstock is turned on and off (in the saw mode). My porkchop shows some sign of wear but not enough to be a warning sign to failure. But then I don't turn my speed control up and down all that much.