I got this at the flea market for ten bucks after a 30 min conversation with the seller. Assuming that it works (guy promised it did), what should I do with it? It already has the chuck on one side so I don't know what to do with the side with the pulley. What would you do with it? The motor is an old 1 1/2 HP GE. I also already had this 2 1/4 HP treadmill motor that I know works. So what would you do/make?

On the top motor I would be hesitant using it as is. That is a lot of overhang for that small shaft. I had a 5/8" bar sticking 18" or so out the back of the lathe at work that bent from centrifugal force when I sped the lathe up. I was new on that lathe, and it is very quiet , even at 4,200 rpm. I was doing an operation on the end by the collet, and just eased the speed control up a bit. The next thing I know the lathe is hopping, and making a racket. The bar had bent into a 45° or so angle, and had whacked the electrical cabinet before I got it shut off. That happened at somewhere around 2,000- 2,500 rpm from my best guess.

A belt sander form the treadmill motor. Did you get the variable speed controller too? If so, definitely a sander.

Is there a name on the drill chuck?

 

On the top motor I would be hesitant using it as is. That is a lot of overhang for that small shaft. I had a 5/8" bar sticking 18" or so out the back of the lathe at work that bent from centrifugal force when I sped the lathe up. I was new on that lathe, and it is very quiet , even at 4,200 rpm. I was doing an operation on the end by the collet, and just eased the speed control up a bit. The next thing I know the lathe is hopping, and making a racket. The bar had bent into a 45° or so angle, and had whacked the electrical cabinet before I got it shut off. That happened at somewhere around 2,000- 2,500 rpm from my best guess.

Thanks for your reply and your words of caution. I don't take things like that lightly. I just wonder if maybe the pics were a bit deceiving. I don't think its as long as it looks overall. Tell me if you feel the same way after these pics... I don't see a name on the drill chuck.

As far as the treadmill motor goes, I was leaning heavily toward making a 2 x 72 but all the ones that I've seen or heard about used a motor with less than 2 1/4 HP. Is there any good reason not to use it for a belt grinder, other than having to  make a filter to shield it from metal dust?

That looks like a fan motor, and was designed to have something like a squirrel cage mounted to it on both sides. Fans do not impart the same loading as a push from one direction like a grinder would. If I was to use it as a drive motor for something like the arbor you have I would mount the pulley close to the motor. I would avoid having any weight, or side loading forces out on the end of it.

Edited May 17, 201511 yr by Glenn

I'd certainly shorten those shafts.  Unless you have a support right behind the pulley and chuck, you're just asking for a ton of wobble when you apply any kind of load.

Simple salution is to place a pilot block bearing close to the chuck and pully, then you have a rather old school polishing, grinding, sanding and wire brushing setup. The long shaft on the front then has an advantage as the pilot block is a heck of a lot easer to work around than the motor on a sort shaft. Think drimel tool with the chuck, the other end runns the other tool mount, a flap sander and a buffing wheel looks to be in order their. Place it on the end if your bench so you have the chuck off the end and tool stand facing front

Isn't the top motor a buffer/buffing outfit that has been modified?  Be easiest to make it back into a buffer.

I think the treadmill motor would be good for a 2 x 72 grinder. The only problem is the shaft might be 17mm, you can get a 17mm drill bit and drill out a pulley so it fits the shaft.  If you don't have a controller look into the MC-60 controller they are easy to hook up. I put a treadmill motor on my drill press and lathe they work great.  The other motor I would cut the shaft shorter and get a buffer wheel adapter. 

Thank you everybody for the suggestions and words of caution. I'm going to use the treadmill motor to make a 2x72. 

I still don't know what to do with the other one. I think the only shop machine that I am especially wary of working with is a buffer. I'm giving serious consideration to taking Mr. Stevens' suggestion.