So, I have the most awesome gf in the world. Aside from being gorgeous, she hooked me up with some serious tools. The biggest item is this: Grizzly G1012 18" bandsaw. Not pictured is a smallish radial arm saw (which will probably become a fret-slotting saw), a scroll saw, a belt/disc sander, an 8'x2' work bench, and a cabinet full of planes, chisels, and gouges. Her dad was a hobbyist woodworker for about 30 years, mostly made furniture. He divorced a couple of years ago and moved all his tools to her (my gf's) covered back patio. They have been sitting there since, rusting away. He had been trying to sell the stuff, without success. She showed him some photos of the guitars I've been making, and he said I could have it all. No charge. ! Only real problem is that I don't have a 220v outlet in my work area, and it doesn't seem to be re-wirable for 120v.
he shoots, he scores. gotta love the hand-me-downs. most all of my tools were willed to me by my grandmother after my grandfather passed away a few years back.
Check with an electrician, adding a 220 outlet shouldn't cost too much unless your service box is already maxxed out.
Yeah, that's the plan. I did see one spec sheet for the thing that states it can operate on 120VAC, but I can't find any information on it in the manual, or any instructions on how to rewire it.
Very Cool Mark, now quit dawdling, go to Home Depot, get a roll of 10-4 romex, a 30 amp 220v breaker for your box, and outlet and a wall box with enough conduit to legally do the surface mount, and get to it....LOL I've done that 220v Tango in my shop twice, along with changing the box, going from 200amp to 250 amp...LOL. The box change sucks....trust me on this. Congrats and have fun with them!!!
Is your panel in your work area? Even if the machine could be switched to120v it will operate better at 240v.
Before you invest in rewiring for a 220 outlet, take a closer look at the motor on the saw. Most single phase motors can easily be rewired to run on either 110 or 220. But it may not be described in the saw's operating manual. Look at the motor plate on the side of the motor itself. In the data specs, it will probably say Voltage 110/220. Then, somewhere on the motor plate or inside the connection box cover will be a diagram showing how the internal leads need to be connected for High Voltage (220) and Low Voltage (110). Usually you have to undo 2 or 3 small nuts and swap several wires around right inside the connection box that's right on the motor. Then you change the plug on the end of the cord. On some larger machines, where the motor is operated by a relay or contactor, you may have to make some changes to those parts too. But I think that Grizzly is just a simple pushbutton switch. I have three Grizzly machines about that size, and they are all real simple wiring, and easy to switch between 110 and 220. If you don't want to mess with the wiring yourself, have an Electrician convert the machine. That will be much faster and cheaper than adding a 220 circuit to your shop.
At the higher voltage the motor will run slightly cooler and more efficiently (slightly more horsepower for the same electrical power consumed), but you won't even notice the difference unless you're running the motor near full load, continuously. The bigger concern is the current draw. At 110V the current is twice as high. Depending on the size of the motor, you may have trouble with tripping the 110V circuit breaker, if there are other loads on the same circuit. Grizzly doesn't make that model any longer, but I think it has a 1 1/2 hp motor. On 110v, it'll draw about 15 amps peak. So, that's about all you can run on that circuit at one time. One other option you have is to swap on a smaller motor, like a 1 hp, and wire it up for 110v. Unless you're planning on doing real heavy resawing work, 1 hp will be plenty of power for you. Swapping the motor is a bolt-in job and will be less expensive than having the electrician add the 220 circuit. And you can always swap the original motor back later if you need it.
This the manual? http://cdn0.grizzly.com/manuals/g1012_m.pdf Page 36 shows wiring for 220v and 110v Quite a load, 24amp max, although it wont affect your power bill as the cost of running it will be the same regardless of 220v or 110v, but 110v means you should not use an extension lead or anything, it should really have its own mcb and wall outlet...