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Finally able to play with my 220v tools:)

3K views 20 replies 8 participants last post by  shelly_b 
#1 ·
Finally able to play with my 220v tools:)

I finally got a 220 wired to run my jointer and my new bandsaw! I got my grizzly bandsaw a few days ago, and just finished tuning it up and putting it together lastnight. I got tired of waiting on someone to wire a 220 for me, so I looked online and learned how to do it from youtube. My bandsaw will pull 15amp at 220volt. We had an empty double 30 pole breaker. The outlet I got was a 50amp outlet. I thought since the amps were decreasing as you got further from the box it would be ok, but wanted to make sure so I called my dad. I explained everything to him and asked him if that was ok….he didn't even give me an answer! He just said he would be over. It was like 8:30 lastnight lol. Now, I have no doubt I could've done it, but he obviously didn't want my hands in the box. He did everything I was going to do, only he did it hot. I was planning on turning the main off. And when I wire another 220 outlet, I will turn it off lol. I'm not that confident that I won't touch the wrong thing on accident. I did wire the outlet, and the extension cord I made, but he did the breaker. I went to hook up the bandsaw(which didn't come with a plug) and realized the plugs I got weren't going to fit it. I plan on going to lowes tonight to get one. I did have a plug to fit my jointer though. The cord on the jointer wouldn't reach the outlet, so I took some of the leftover 10awg wire we used to wire the outlet and mad an extension cord for my jointer. My dad wanted me to wait and go to lowes and get the braided wire in a lower guage….but I didn't want to wait! It was a little difficult to get that thick wire into the openings, but It worked! I held my breath, plugged in my jointer, turned on the breaker, and walked to my jointer and pressed the on button…nothing. Oh no, it's used and I have never seen it in action except on a video. So I follow the cord starting at the machine to see if I can find the problem. I get to the outlet and realize the plug is not in all the way. Whew!! Imagine that, I wire everything, and the only the thing I mess up on is pushing the plug all the way into the outlet lol. Works like a dream! I can't beleive how clean it cuts!! I don't think I will have to do any sanding before a glue-up. I thought I would be wanting to put a helical head on it, but I really don't see the point right now. And it is soo quiet compared to my planer, makes a better cut too. So, here is my jointer in action. This is some really hard oak. Sorry about the bad shots, it was hard to hold my phone with one hand and joint the board with the other…

Ok, so I guess the video will come later b/c I can't figure out how to upload it right now and need to go to lowes…
 
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#6 ·
Way to go girl! Who needs electricians when you got dad? I never quite got used to that "working hot" business as I HATE gettin shocked! My big bandsaw has a dryer plug on it cause that's what I had.
 
#7 ·
:) Yup, you can tell I wasn't on the computer all night lol. I was out playing with all my new toys! The bandsaw is AMAZING! It is so quiet, I you can barely hear it run. I am used to the old 9in skill that would screech so loud it hurt your ears. I have a 3/8in blade on right now, and did my first resaw on a about 7in peice of red oak without a problem. I have a 1/2in blade, but had just put the 3/8 on so didn't feel like changing it. And the cut is 100x better on this one. You can still see lines, but I'm sure I have some more adjustments I need to do once I get used to it. I also resawed and jointed some firewood. I was planning on making my first bandsaw box but it was midnight before I knew it and I had to be at work at 7 this morning. I took a few pics I will post of some of my cuts. Thanks everyone:)
 
#10 ·
Those are some of my test cuts. The first is the resaw and the second was a half log of poplar I milled down a little:) Too bad so much of the log was starting to rot, b/c the grain is beautiful! As you can tell, I am one very happy lady:) Joe, I didn't plan on it taking this long lol. There were a few times I thought "I wish I could use my jointer"! But, not so bad that I wanted to take the time to wire it lol. Now after using it, I wish I would have done it a lonnnggg time ago!
 
#12 ·
I don't know how much the coupon saved you, nor do I care about the $'s; just that I am so very proud I could do for such a deserving woodworker. " The three great attributes of life are Faith, Hope,( Not Obama's) and Charity; but the greatest of these is Charity."
 
#16 ·
lol maybe I could put both joe;) handtooler, it was a great help! Just b/c I'm a nurse does not mean I am rich. I work in our small town ER, and the pay is definately not comparible to that of large hospitals. I like being close to home though and not spending hours driving. Everything I buy, unless it's like a screwdriver, I have to sacrafice something for. I just have to decide what I want/need the most at the time and cut back in other areas. Like pretty much everyone else on here, I have many other bills so I do the best I can in finding good deals on my woodworking tools, and trying not to get anything that I don't feel I really need. So, that coupon saved me over $100, which was a huge help! Thankyou:)
 
#17 ·
Aha! A nurse? Bless you my dear, your disipline in the medical field is one of the most important in correctly treating and curing what ails us. Are you a Cretified Critical Care provider, by chance; or a Nurse Practichner?

Be sure to blog us you early work with your new toys that use the 220v. We are all in the wings waiting.
 
#18 ·
Shelly,

There are very few things in life which are more gratifying than completing a project and stepping back to admire it.
A couple of these, for me as a father, Grandfather, and now a Great-Grandfather, are the birth of our children,
the first full week that your child successfully applies months of Potty Training :)
and teaching them to ride a bike.
Then it seems for years, a daughter seeks answers from her mother or her bff's and we fathers become ATMs, visited just prior to the trip to the Mall, which we enjoy but not quite as satisfying.
Turn around twice and they are full grown with children of their own.

...then comes that phone call and catches us with the 'deer in the headlights stare'.
You say, "Dad, I'm wiring up a couple of 220 volt circuits in my shop…"

...and we hear…

" Dad, today I'm going to electricute myself and burn the house down with your grandchildren in it" , sorry but we instantly regress back to an image of you falling off your bicycle.
"Don't Move" ..."I'll be right there".

Never forget how much we fathers need to be needed, and we're just a phone call away. :)

Work Safely, in your 220 v. powered shop, and have Fun. - Grandpa Len.
 
#19 ·
Handtooler-nope, just an RN. I would like to do life flight some day which would require me to become certified in critical care, or maybe just have a few yrs experience in critical care. But, I would like to stay close to home until my daughter gets a little older. What I would REALLY like to do though is start a cabinet/furniure shop and do woodworking for a living, and nursing on the side:) I do really like nursing, but I LOVE woodworking.
GrandpaLen- I have never thought of it that way…but those are some really good points! Makes me want to call my dad more often and ask for his help:) And " Dad, today I'm going to electricute myself and burn the house down with your grandchildren in it"- lol I am sure that is what he heard. I know he would drop everything if I asked, but I feel like he has enough to do. My brother(30), has gotten into rentals(which are all rehabs) and has about 10 now, so he has had my dad help him with pretty much all of them. Between that and a full time job, I don't like taking what little free time he does have…but I never really looked at it as quality time. Thankyou GrandpaLen for helping me see that:)
 
#21 ·
I will post some vids of my new tools…but right now I am concentrating on my baileigh video. I have put everything in my shop on hold until I get it posted! This is the first big contest I have ever entered where I feel like I may have a shot. Usually the odds of winning are so horrible that you might as well play the lottery. So…I plan on finishing it tonight at work(as long as we're not busy), then going home and enjoying all my new toys! And I should know how to post a video after this since I am going to have to learn lol.
 
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