John Pearson wrote:

> I understand some AC motors can be operated on DC. I would like to
> operate a 120 VAC leaf blower motor on an automotive 12 VDC.

  Still in the leaf blower?  Don't do it!

  Not only is it not worth your time (we don't even bother to try and
rewind dead appliance motors for mains use because in most cases they
are not sufficiently *robust* to survive the process!), but you should
understand the switchgear and in particular *brushes* are totally
unsuitable for the job.

> I understand the motor will not perform as well on 12 V.

  It will have a lifetime measured in minutes.

> I guess the motor would have to be rewound. I have rewound DC motors
> so this is not new to me.  I just need to find out what size wire and
> number of turns.

  Same as a transformer.  Number of turns divides by ten, wire diameter
increases by 3.3.

> Can anyone help me, or suggest a place to look.

  Yes.  Buy a power inverter.  You'll find other uses for it anyway.
Should you consider building one, note that a DC-to-DC version will be
adequate, no requirement for sinewave or even AC but your appliance
switch will burn out quickly on DC.
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.