[TheForge] Variable Speed Motors and Beaumont Metalworks

[Steve Bloom]

Greetings all --
     A conversation with another FABA member finally got me off
dead center.  We're kicking around knife grinder designs and the
advantages/costs of DC motors - and I volunteered to tap the
collective wisdom of TheForge. Both of us work on the older model
Bader units (with multiple speeds produced by swapping drive wheels)
but haven't used a variable speed model.

Do the advantage of  a continuous variable speed system justify the
price over a multiple pulley/AC motor system?

What's a good source for a 1.5 to 2 HP variable speed unit (motor
and controller) -

Does anyone have any comments on the Beaumont grinder components?

I'll compile the comments and eventually let you folks know how the
projects turn out.  Thanks in advance for any info provided.

Steve
Steve Bloom, IronFlower Forge. Archer, FL
     Webmaster for the FABA web site:
	www.blacksmithing.org