Another shop fan bites the dust WTF? Any DIY options?

[gellfex]

So another fan (Flow-Pro) lasted 2 1/2 years before seizing. I once had a dumpster dive industrial fan last a decade, do you really need to spend a fortune to buy a fan with decent bearings? Am I better off spending more money on a fan of dubious better quality, or taking the blade and cage and adding a better motor, or perhaps a belt drive like my blower? I'd also like it variable, which I assume means it has to be a shaded pole, which should be enough power. Ideas?

[JoeLee]

Look around for some old Hunter fans. They last for ever.

JL......................

[Evan]

They still need oil every few years.

[gellfex]

If I get no continuity at all with it switched on it means the internal thermal fuse is gone, right? This bastard is riveted shut too. I think I may have been mistaken about the bearings, it may have been the cap instead. It was struggling to start.

[Forrest Addy]

When they say "oil every 6 months" they MEAN it.

[A.K. Boomer]

I haven't ran across an appliance of any kind let alone a fan that says "oil every 6 months"
That's a thing of yesteryear - if today's average hillbilly was walking through wal-mart going to buy a fan and it had a sticker on it that said "oil every 6 months" I can just imagine the conversation between Jed-phro and his hillbilly wife ------------ ughhh hunny - what's oil? do we have any? uhgg - yeah but don't see a drain plug babe so I don't know wut they want me to do - uhhh well then maybe we should pass on that one - one over there says maintenance free and has ribbons on it so it lets u know its workin...

[lakeside53]

Most small (like on small fans) motors still don't have ball bearings - just bronze bushings and a felt-like mass that's oiled. My fresh air fan for the fireplace says - oil yearly. Well... it's 18 years installed... and I guess I forgot

On larger fans, the bearing "seals" aren't that good; crud and airflow will take a toll.

[lakeside53]

If I get no continuity at all with it switched on it means the internal thermal fuse is gone, right? This bastard is riveted shut too. I think I may have been mistaken about the bearings, it may have been the cap instead. It was struggling to start.

"Struggling to start" can also mean a bad bearing.

[wierdscience]

They used to sell box fan kits,you got the blade hub,the shaft,a set of pillow blocks and a set of pulleys.You supplied your own plywood for the blades and box.Used to sell for $20 in the late 70's.
I've got two in my woodshop and another one sitting on the shelf in pieces.

[sasquatch]

Most bushing motors that are just dried up,(not all egg shaped/wore out,) can be dismantled then cleaned and re oiled and will run for the longest time again.

Found a number in the landfill like that, all they needed was some cleaning and re oiling.

[Gravy]

Old American Iron

Go to flea markets and garage sales and antique stores until you find an ancient desk fan that weighs at least 10lbs and looks like it belongs in a Humphrey Bogart movie. It will have no plastic, and it will have oil cups and probably some rust and the remains of black enamel paint. Drive your best bargain, but if it runs at all, buy it anyway.

You might have to clean the switch contacts and replace some wiring. It will happily chop off anything stuck into the blades. But it will move a bunch of air quietly without fuss or noise for a very long time. You will have to oil it every few months or years, depending on the length of your hot season.

In all likelihood, it will outlast you (even if you are an under 50 youngster).

I got my rusty ugly old Emerson desk fan back around 1978. I spent several whole hours and several whole dollars bringing it back to working condition. It has served well ever since. I think I've oiled it once or twice per decade.

The last time I paid attention, similar fans were going for $50-$100 in decent condition at big flea markets and antique stores. If I needed another, I'd pay that in a heartbeat.

I wish my Heavy 10 had held up as well...

[sasquatch]

Gravy is right,, some excellent old fans around cheap with decades of running still in them!!

[Gravy]

Gravy is right

I'm gonna print this out and show it to my wife

[sasquatch]

,,,,,,,,,,,,, Actually there are antique fan collectors, (probably a forum on them,) like most things.

A number of those old fans are quite ornate, friend of mine just inherited two big ones, a bench model and a floor model, blades are about 24in dia, and really move air!!! (these are like shop or industry fans,) the motors on them are BIG old 1/4 HP.

[Gravy]

,,,,,,,,,,,,, Actually there are antique fan collectors, (probably a forum on them,) like most things.

A number of those old fans are quite ornate, friend of mine just inherited two big ones, a bench model and a floor model, blades are about 24in dia, and really move air!!! (these are like shop or industry fans,) the motors on them are BIG old 1/4 HP.

I'm not a bit surprised. My old Emerson is at least as well made as my SB lathe. I'd bet there are multiple forums with the same kind of disagreements as PM & HSM, etc.

I had my fan humming away drying paint in my laundry room this afternoon. I just love honest well made machinery.