Poll - Do you have the PowerPro upgrade?

[letterk]

I voted no, just isn't likely to happen and now I have another used machine. Couldn't pass it up, but it is going to need some work to get back in shape. I finally got a project machine at a project price. Chances are if I had the money to spend, I'd probably upgrade to a cabinet saw and better dust collection.

[baysidebob]

I upgraded to the Power/Pro but as yet have not installed it. Have had it for about 5 weeks, but things just keep getting in the way of installation.

[nil]

Need another option, what upgrade? I bought a new mark 7. Answered yes instead.

[joedw00]

No, it will have to come down a lot before I think about it.

[RonKlein]

Yes. Did the DIY upgrade some time ago. IMHO, well worth it.

[donalexander]

I too voted no. After seeing a demo I was torn between the sales hype and the reality that the value really isn't there. If the price were to drop by half, I'd say maybe.

In the meantime, I'm exploring what it would take to make a comparable upgrade with available components. If Wife doesn't object (too loudly) I may buy a used and abused Mark V and give the full upgrade a try. I am pretty sure there are some things that could be done that would be an improvement over the Power Pro...but the question is always, what will it cost? If I come up with something, I'll post it here.

[stephen_a._draper]

I originally thought I might upgrade after seeing Mike demonstrate it at Lowe's as well as participating in one of the Webinars but I have also decided not to upgrade. Electronics will eventually go bad when used in a high heat, high vibration environment and those electronics boards are not cheap!

Now that I have my Mark V 500 modified to have double tilt as well as a reversible 500 table, I can do under table shaping and routing without using a speed increaser. I have tried it and it works great as long as I use a slow feed rate. So I have most all of the Mark 7 capabilites now.

For information on how to make a 500 table reversible see my thread: https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=12064

[forrestb]

I did get the PP but just like some others here I worry about the electronics going bad over time. So, like a good conservative, I wrapped up my LONG performing mechanical version and stored it away - just in case.
Forrest

[dusty]

[quote="forrestb"]I did get the PP but just like some others here I worry about the electronics going bad over time. So, like a good conservative, I wrapped up my LONG performing mechanical version and stored it away - just in case.]
I would like to do that but I just can not bring myself to spend that sort of money (right now) while thinking I better save the old one for just in case.

Surely the warranty covers most (if not all) of the technical issues that might arise. It certainly seems that way when those few who have had problems post here. Many of the failures that have been disclosed here on the forum were with "early production models" and with any newly designed item, early production units exhibit issues that later units will not.

[fredsheldon]

After having turned over 150 pens and letter openers in the last 6 months, and to date 7 green wood bowls 12-16 inch in diameter, and the 150 pen blanks cut up on the band saw and the hundreds of blanks and other items sanded with the disk sander, I would say I'm happy with the PowerPro so far. If all that vibration and catching I have generated with the bowl turning it hasn't caused any issues I don't think I will have any. Time will tell, but I think I have already gotten my moneys worth out of the upgrade. Just not having to worry about turning the speed control up and down everytime I use it has made it worth the investment. That's several hundred power ups and downs in the last 6 months. If you drove a Prius you would have paid for the upgrade already just in the fuel savings:D