With the strength of the £ against the $ at the mo i'm considering buying a 110v Dewalt mitre saw from a company in the US. It would be a massive saving even with shipping charges added.

I'm not sure if a US model will run from UK 110v transformer - i haven't got a clue with elctrics but is there a problem with the type of current (AC as opposed to DC)?

Feel free to correct me/take the P**s if i'm talking Bo****ks!
Dave.

IIRC, US voltage is 120V 50 hz, when coupled to a UK 110V tranny the saw would possibly run a litlle slower but not significantly so.

which model of saw is it?

I think the US power supply is actually 60Hz (as opposed to the UK 50Hz). While this would matter for things that use the frequency to take timing information from (eg a TV), I can't see it mattering with powertools.

A friend who is currently working in the US took a load of electrical stuff with him and is using step-up transformers without any problems.

Doug

when i was in miami the pirce of dewalt stuff is cheaper in dollars than we pay in pounds and is already a 110v power supply so id say they are well worth buying, ive got an american makita srewgun and that works just fine

[Edited by stevebt - 1/7/2004 6:04:28 PM]

If your tools are marked up as 110V 60/50Hz then you're OK. If they're are only for a 60Hz supply, You'll have reduced torque and ,more than likely, they'll overheat and fcuk.

It is 60HZ in the US, which would also effect the speed of the saw, not too sure on the long term effects of running it on 50HZ though, but i'm sure some bright spark will put us in the picture.
It would be quite a heavy bit of kit, so the shipping costs won't be too cheap.

dewalt mitre saws only about 299 in the uk at the moment DW701 i think

In New York : Cannal Street there is a shop that sells 240/110 tools.. A shop so full of top quality stuff you will go mad. Check "Craftman" stuff out ar "Sears" much better than Dewalt.

sparky kev,

you are quite right about the freqency, I was unsure of the US Hz.

I wouldn't know how a 60 hz motor would behave at 50hz, but I know that freqency is proportional to speed - we install disel generators, anything in the uk ( apart from slow speed marine engine derived machines) run at 1500 RPM. similar machines for export ( 60 hz )all run at 1800RPM, I think its to do with the windings, thats altermnators though, motors are a different animal.

I found there to be quite a good selection of new stuff on ebay, though from the german traders that will post to europe, the shipping costs are quite a bit easier on the wallet aswell.

If you want dewalt from germany you look for ELU branded tools, elecktra beckum stuff & sheppach stuff is also top quality.

There is no doubt than US manufactured tools are top notch, but a dewalt saw from the US is not really a true quality US tool, dewalt stuff is ok, but you can get better for similar money, milwaukee stuff is also good ( the US version of AEG or Atlas )

How much are you looking to pay and what type of saw is it?

Thanks for the replies,
The saw i'm thinking of is a Dewalt DW708 retailing at $599.99 + shipping (not received the quote for that yet).
But if it would run at a lower speed then i probably won't bother.

D.

I would say that the shipping for something that size and weight would be getting on for $200-300 dollars. My builder mate has one of these, he paid something like £450, but he got a maga one off deal, end of line at B&Q + a mate that works there with staff discount... I would say its ok, but it doesent seem as smooth as some of the others, and the motor kicks like hell when you pull the trigger.

Thats $800, or at todays rate .....£450 - £500 ish

which puts you back here ( well nearly, and you get a free stand for it ):

http://diytools.com/store/detail.asp?productid=35781



If I had that kind of money to spend I'd get :

http://www.dbkeighley.co.uk/masters/kgs303.htm



I paid £325 for one of these, 110V though ( used in top nick with a decent 3KVa tranny aswell - from ebay). Top bit of kit, very pleased with it.

http://diytools.com/store/detail.asp?productid=230


Just my 2p,

I looked at bringing in some power tools from the states to resell on ebay, but I reached the opinion that I needed a mate over there who would accept all the tools, crate them up, then ship them over, to make the shipping and handling costs worthwhile. There are some ace deals to be had though from the US.

cheers,

mike.

Is that shipping it over in George Clooney’s arms? I ordered a Bike Helmet from the US and shipping was a reasonable $30 via air.

You need to remember customs and excise will slap 17.5% VAT on it and the Courier will then charge you an extra handling charge because it's they who pay the VAT and claim it back from you.

from the dhl-usa site:

based on 30 inch cube parcel, 70 lbs in weight.....



Rate Quote
Total Charge for your shipment $ 800.35

Shipment Details
Origin 80223, United States Of America
Destination United Kingdom
Service Type Worldwide Priority Express (Dutiable)


Charge Details
Shipment Charge $ 757.95
Fuel Surcharge $ 37.90
Pickup Fee $ 3.00

Special Services Selected
Residential Delivery Fee $ 1.50

Total $ 800.35

Note : All rates displayed are estimates and actual rates may vary based on shipment


:eek: - I'll take the george clooney option :D

Assuming the saw uses ac to power the motor, it will have a slower max speed if you use it at 50Hz rather than 60Hz. Rotational speed = (Hz x 60 / motor pole pairs), so if its got a low number of pole pairs, the speed reduction will be significant (1800 to 1500rpm for a 4 pole). Motors are the same as alternators in this respect, just with the current flowing in the oipposite direction.

The heat loss in the motor of the saw is basically copper loss (current passign through windings) and iron loss (due to the magnetisation of the iron circuit). Copper loss is difficult to comment on without motor details, but iron loss increases by the square (cruedly) of the applied frequency. That is why motors get hot if you run them at a higer frequency than they were designed for. As you will be reducing Hz, the iron loss will reduce. If the motor draws more current than usual, then you will probably burn out the windings.

Considering the torque, it all depeds upon the torque speed curve for the motor, but I would suggest that the torque would be reduced if you used it in the UK.

[Edited by matt.bowey - 1/8/2004 1:17:47 PM]

dave i have a dw708 it cost 500 quid from L+R power tools Luton

by the way the 110v 708 does not run very well off a generater

[Edited by wakeboardar - 1/8/2004 5:15:52 PM]

Aint Google great!

Many thanks for the replies.
I'd already shopped around in the UK and £500 is the best deal i can come up with but it looks as though i'll go down that route as i hadn't realised shipping would be so much nor that there was any tax to pay.
Besides which, the company in the USA haven't even bothered to reply to my email......Oh well!

D.

V45DSM - cheeky sod!!! I am a electrical generator designer!!

who for matt, just out of interest?

Goodrich - We design/build aircraft power systems from generation right through to the load.