Picked up a planer. have some questions.

[etroup10]

I recently traded some lumber for an American Sawmill Company 20" pony planer and I have a few questions. I've researched it a little and it seems to be from the 1920s but has a 5 hp single phase motor on it. It seems a little under powered and so it's set up for running on the slower feed rate. I have to double check, but I also think the motor only runs at 1750 rpm. Which leads me to my first question, which is what is the ideal rpm for head to be turning? There is a 1:1 ratio from the motor to the head so it's turning at 1750 which seems a little too slow. I have not had the chance to put sharp knives in it yet but I'm getting tear out around knots and I wasn't sure if that was from dull blades or the head rpm being too slow? It also has babbit bearings with oil reservoirs and I was wondering what is the best type of oil to use is? I've been using chainsaw bar oil so far. The last question I have is has any one here made a jig for setting knives on a square head planner? I have an idea for something that should work but thought I'd ask first. If anyone has any other information on the planer that would be great!

[etroup10]

[Bandmill Bandit]

I am not 100 % sure but I have sent a note for more info to my cousin who owns an 18 inch version of that planer and his has a 10 HP single phase motor on it that is running at bit over  3400rpm and then is close to a 2 to 1 up speed ratio to the head with a pretty heavy fly wheel type pulley on the motor. 12 inch on motor and 7 inch on the head. It works good but he does complain that it could use more power in the wider cuts too. 

[muggs]

My Powermatic planer runs at about 4000 rpm, but it has ball bearings. Be careful with that square head machine, they can be dangerous.  Muggs

[etroup10]

that would be great to hear what he is running on his 18"! I figured the rpm was down, I may convert it over to a gas engine and keep it down at the mill. I have an 18hp wisconsin engine that should have enough power and higher rpm. 

[Bandmill Bandit]

He has a 13.5 OD on the motor and 8 inch OD on the head. Motor is a Baldore 10 HP totally enclosed fan cooled 3250RPM soft start. He changed his feed pulley driver  to an inch smaller and says power is good now. He asked me if I want to buy it from him. I am going to go take a look at it.

He says by the tag info its a 1961 built unit and he got at an auction sale in the early 90s for a saw mill in the north Okanagan in that had shut down in the mid 80s.