PowerPro Overheat - Just a Question

[dusty]

I am back in the decision mode again.

There have been several posts (threads) bemoaning the headstock over heat issues with the PowerPro. I think I have sought out and reread all of them but I still have one lingering question (concern).

Have all (maybe just the mass majority) of the incidents occurred while doing "high speed", "prolonged duration" tasks? Asked a different way, has anyone experienced the problem while just drilling, sanding or sawing?

I use a table top router and do "very little" shaping. I am hoping to be told that this makes me pretty much immune to the heat issue.

Sound off, please.

[dickg1]

Dusty,
I have had one issue with my PowerPro and I can relate it to routing at 10000 RPM. The headstock would not respond to button selections. I left it unplugged (220) for several days, I have not had any problems since. It may have been related to a heat issue, I don't know. However, I now have a routing table and will use my PP for operations other than routing.
I have two minis, one has my jointer and belt sander mounted and the other has my band saw and scroll saw.
Dick

[reible]

I normally don't use the router function of the powerpro but I did play with it for a while to see what I thought of it. I did not see the "heat issue" so it may have been just my lucky days or perhaps the time I had it running, not all that extended period of time. It was also not a really hot weather time so again that may effect things.

I have two of these and have a few years under my belt using them and can say the "heat issue" has never come up for me. I would say if one were to total up the hours on the machines the two biggest would be sawing and drilling, neither of which require anything more on the top end then the stock conventional headstock. Given the option I would like a lower top end and a lower low end over what is provided.

Also keep in my I workshop has always been shopsmith and router based until the last couple of years where I now do a lot more with guided saws, especially when it come to sheets of plywood. I still have multiple router table set ups all of which I think work much better then the shopsmith even with the powerpro.

I do love the powerpro and it makes a lot of improvements over the conventional head stock but I feel it was a mistake to try to make it into a better router, it wasn't and still isn't that good at it and again I think the "heat issue" is going to be more of an issue at high speed. Likewise extended running in hot conditions could be an issue. It is thermally protected so it should not damage itself but it may take some time to cool down and you might loose some work time.

I have noticed that the color is not much of a help either, just sitting in the sun out on the driveway it gets really hot, noticed this well before going to the powerpro so perhaps a factor for some people like myself who works in the outdoors a lot with it.

Ed

[sehast]

I use my PowerPro as a table router with large diameter bits on occasion. I think it does a better job with 1 1/2" to 2" bits than my conventional table router. The 10K RPM is fine and it has a lot more power. I also built a table for it so I can use it as a horizontal router(Joint Matic like) which works well for raised door panels and mortising. I have not had any heat issues but I don't used it for hours on end either.