Thread: Band saw

So i have started mapping out the workshop. I want to know what the thoughts are on a 110 vs 220 band saw. I’m trying to figure out power routing is all. Thanks again

Ive understood that a 100 amp curcuit is standard in most shops, unless you plan on going big. But thats not from experiance. I did try a cheap band saw once. It sucked. Couldnt cut straight for anything. So i will say get a good one if you plan on using one. I took mine back. And i believe that if you get a 120v or 240v you will be using about the same amps. Just that with a unit that runs on 240v will have less heat and work easier.
Again, this is not experiance talking. Just a guy that plays with minimal dc voltage.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Ive understood that a 100 amp curcuit is standard in most shops, unless you plan on going big. But thats not from experiance. I did try a cheap band saw once. It sucked. Couldnt cut straight for anything. So i will say get a good one if you plan on using one. I took mine back. And i believe that if you get a 120v or 240v you will be using about the same amps. Just that with a unit that runs on 240v will have less heat and work easier.
Again, this is not experiance talking. Just a guy that plays with minimal dc voltage.

When electricity comes into your residence, it comes in as 240V with a neutral and +120V and -120V legs. Of course, since this is AC, the + and the - are referring to the phase and not to the voltage. All 120V devices will connect either to the + side or the - phase. A 240V device will connect to both phases.

I have a old Craftsman radial arm saw, that can be wired for either 240V or 120V. I used to have a dedicated 240 V circuit, but currently have it wired for 120 V. This afternoon, I was trying to rip a short length of 2" pressure treated lumber from 6" width to 4" width. At 120V, the motor overloaded and tripped the protector built into the motor. Had I been using 240V, that would never have happened. The motor pulls the same amperage in either case, but the power output is approximately double with a 240V circuit.

Ok maybe another question should be asked. I have looked at band saw and seen that there are 220 and 120. The 220 have a bigger motor. With this in mind the bigger motor take 220. As I have used a band saw for wood and never had an issue would using a 3hp band saw be better or let’s say a 1.75. The thing that I worry about I guess is not weather the 220 motor can handle it is the blade on the 220 going to slip off before the motor Boggs down. I’m not worried about amps I will most likely get a 200 amp service as it will be for my pool filter also. So with that in mind I’m not sure how big to go and the first issue I guess was deciding on 220 vs 110

If you can afford it, a 3 phase 208V with automatic lubrication and cooling.
You are going to want a 220 line for a MIG welder too probably.

3 phase is not an option. But I was looking to most likely do a 200 amp service with a good chunk of 220

So as I do more research as you guys tell me, my next question is wood only, metal/wood, or metal. There are many different motor options in each

What are you going to do with this saw?

How big do you need it?

Basically higher voltage equals smaller wires for the same power.

ooops missed your last post.

It will be used for cutting blanks out of metal and also cutting small pieces of wood. The reason why I ask is because the wood/metal option come with a 1.5 hp motor and the wood one come with a 3hp motor. I’m wondering if the speed of it maybe different.

I see much research is going to need to be done