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Thread: Quality of AO Smith motors?

  1. #1

    Quality of AO Smith motors?

    I'm still shopping around for a jointer motor. My local repair shop suggested AO Smith for a better value, since I am a weekend warrior and not running the jointer all day every day.

    Anyone have these motors and completely disappointed with them? Or are they truly a good value?

    I'd love to get a Leeson motor, found a great price online, but shipping is a burden. My local guy said straight out that he wouldn't be able to compete with the online prices.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Snowflake, AZ
    Posts
    791
    Check out Baldor motors. I get mine from Grainger but I think most motor dealers carry the brand.
    Regarding the price the local guy quoted, How does it compare with the internet price including shipping?

    Ooops...just noted your location. Grainger may not be an option for you.
    Gene
    Life is too short for cheap tools
    GH

  3. #3
    AO Smith is a well known motor manufacturer. I primarily deal with pump, and fan motors but by AO Smith. I wouldn't have any reservations about using an AO Smith motor

  4. #4

    ao smith

    They are good motors. I have several of them on a grain drying setup. Jared

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Springfield MO
    Posts
    64
    Just an FYI when buying a motor:

    I've been reading again, one of the books talking about dust collector motors mentioned motor wiring classes. You want to check on this and get at least a "B" class, "F" class is the best, "A" is the lowest. If the motor isn't rated, don't waste your money.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    2,285
    I just bought a new Grizzly TEFC motor on Amazon.com for my bandsaw. Seems to be of decent quality and the price was certainly right. For light to moderate home-shop use, you probably can't beat it.

    Jason

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Hallam View Post
    I'm still shopping around for a jointer motor. My local repair shop suggested AO Smith for a better value, since I am a weekend warrior and not running the jointer all day every day.

    Anyone have these motors and completely disappointed with them? Or are they truly a good value?

    I'd love to get a Leeson motor, found a great price online, but shipping is a burden. My local guy said straight out that he wouldn't be able to compete with the online prices.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Boston
    Posts
    1,740
    How bout CList? You could probably by a good motor for short money.

    I've had pretty good luck at flea markets also.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Beautiful Northern California
    Posts
    40
    A O Smith are good motors.

  9. #9
    Thanks guys, sounds like it might be worth it. Still doing some cost comparisons. Amazon.com is a no go for me. They don't sell the good stuff to Canadians

    Craigslist is barely used in my area. People seem to favor Kijiji which I have been checking routinely.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Evansville, IN
    Posts
    1,188
    just a thought, sometimes it is easier to buy a used tool with the motor in it that you need and then take the motor out and put it in your jointer.

    As I stated, just a thought.

    I have a 2hp leeson on my dust collector and i most definitely would hate to pay for shipping on that thing...
    "To me, there's nothing freer than a bird, you know, just flying wherever he wants to go. And, I don't know, that's what this country is all about, being free. I think everyone wants to be a free bird." - Ronnie Van Zant

  11. #11
    Haha... Karl are you trying to get me divorced?

    "See honey, its simple, see in order to finish rebuilding this jointer, I have to buy a planer/lathe/..."

    That would get me the 'snake eyes' for sure.

    On the up side, I have a good lead on two Leeson motors. There is a $50 difference between the general purpose motor and the "farm duty" motor (which has insulation class H) and a higher efficiency (79% vs. 72%).

    What are the real differences between "farm duty" and general purpose?????

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