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Finishing - Drying Motors

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As I have been looking at rod wrapping equipment, I have noticed that several with motors describe them as having high speed finish motors, as well as, slower speed motors for drying.  I know about using the motors for drying and applying finish to the wraps but some of them mention up to 24 rpm for "applying finish."  Is there a method used in applying the finish to the rod with high speed motor and I guess a brush? (Doug Hall)

The faster speed allows a person to apply the finish a little quicker, as it takes the epoxy, or varnish, from the brush at a faster pace since it is turning faster.  Then, you can adjust the speed down to allow the finish to flow and level better.  I'd suggest 4 to 8 RPM for finish speed.

I have a Sully's two rod turner that is adjustable.  The concept of changing the drive belts is good, but the turner I have has been a hassle since the day I bought the thing 6 years ago.  Belts break frequently (I was told by Sully's to simply cut the broken edge with a razor blade and reapply super glue to fix them).  The two cups that rotate are also a bit of a hassle because the belt that turns them both must be tight enough to create enough friction to turn the wooden disks.  That much pressure on the two disks causes them to "pinch" together a bit (tightening the bolts that hold them in place has never worked), making them turn elliptically and sometimes stall.  If those are the ones you are considering, I'd weigh the cost to benefit ratio.  (Jason Swan)

Waiting for a rod section to turn around at 4 rpm whilst applying finish makes a dull job absolute tedium.  Faster RPMs help get the finish on and give you time to smooth it out.  I unhook the drive belt from the section I'm working on and turn it by hand, hooking up the motor again when the section is done and needs to turn  for drying.  I really wish I had rod shop elves that would do the dull work so I could concentrate on the fun stuff. One that looks like Steven Tyler's daughter did in "Lord of the Rings" would be even better, as long as I'm dreaming. . . . (Brian Creek)

Can anyone out there give  me a source  for a 1 RPM electric motor?  I have one that is 4.8 RPM that I use for finishing my wraps.  I picked it up on eBay a couple of years ago and I see the same guy is still selling them.  He does not carry what I'm looking for unfortunately.

I want to upgrade my finishing system by installing one of these little electric motors, just can't find a source.  I would like to keep the cost down, so I am not considering one of those gear motors that MSC Industrial Supply or Granger carries for ~$60.  (Scott Bahn)

If you can get to Chicago, American Scientific has a store (and a web site) with motors of all RPMs. Another 1 RPM motor can be found in any analogue clock.  (Rich Jezioro)

Check with your local appliance repair shop/man. Ask if he has replaced any ice makers from household refrigerators lately. The Whirlpool ice makers  (the one that make the half-moon ice cubes) have a small gear motor in them that last time I looked was 1 RPM. These are also 115 Volt. He might even give you the defunct ice maker.  (Dick Fuhrman)

That is where I got mine for free.  Paid a good price for the new ice maker. LOL  (Tony Spezio)

How about here? 

Surplus Center Link (Mark Shamburg)

The motor from older model humidifier used in forced air gas furnaces is 1 rpm and is what I use in my finishing system.  If you do not have and old humidifier, Home Depot sells the motors for @ $20 I think.  (Robert Cristant)

There is another way to slow down the withdrawal rate with a dip tube. Use the block and tackle arrangement. A block and tackle trades distance for lifting power. In this case we are not concerned about lifting power, but we are looking for the amount of string wound up on the motor to lengthen - more string wound up, same distance of rod withdrawn.

Attach the end of the string at the top. Route the string down to the end of the rod and use some arrangement that allows the string to slide. I use a fishing snap swivel. Bring the string back up to the top, around your pulley or hook and back down to the motor/take up spool. I use a 6 rpm rod turning motor and a section of rod to wind up the string. The free end of the rod section is inserted through a hole in a cardboard box so that the rod section isn't lifted up instead of the dipped rod.

If you can follow what I am trying to describe you can see what this does. It doubles the amount of string that has to be wound up for the same distance the rod is withdrawn, halving the withdrawal rate. With a 6 rpm rod turning motor I can get 1 1/2 inches per minute.  (Darryl Hayashida)

After reading this again I see there was no mention of a dip tube. I thought finishing system meant varnishing, but it now looks like Scott was talking about finishing wraps. So please disregard......  (Darryl Hayashida)

I should have clarified by question.  It is for varnishing the rod, pulling it out of  a dip tube at a very slow rate.  I did find a source for the motors (thanks Mark!).  Now I just need to put the cabinet together.  I have some 1"x12"x10’ white pine that was cut more than 20 years ago on my Grandfathers farm and I plan on putting it through the planer this weekend and I hope to put together a nice cabinet to withdraw the rods into from my dip tube that will hopefully be a dust free finish system as my current method needs an upgrade.  (More like, I just need another project/gadget for the rod shop!) (Scott Bahn)

If you are looking for dirt cheap electric motors, try All Electronics.  (Mike Brown)

I have a small electric motor - battery operated. It has corroded  from lack of use and is sunk.

Any idea where I could find one. It is for slowly turning the rod  blanks while the wrap varnish sets.  (Sean McSharry)

Try Lego at any toy store. (Ron Larsen)

I bought a BBQ rotisserie motor from BBQ's Galore. They have both AC and DC - I use the AC one.  (Nick Taransky)

An old Barbecue rotisserie motor work's excellent.  (Martin Jensen)

Does anyone have the web address for the site that sells the 6 rpm drying motors for cheap?  I seem to recall that several years ago they were only a couple of bucks, but for the life of me can't remember where or whom it was.  (Denis Dunderdale)

I remembered the name of the place, It is Surplus Center. They have them for 5.95 the shipping is 6.00.  (Tony Spezio)

You might try Herbach & Rademan at. They have a large selection of small motors,  but they are in the $10.00.  range now. You  can  also  try  John  Fleisher  at  Fish  Tale  Tackle, 714-957-6138, or: calljmf@sbcglobal.net. He has had them on eBay in the past, and has a very nice coupler that comes with some of his motors (you might check for him on eBay).  (Frank Schlicht)