My newly upgraded PowerPro maiden voyage project

[mindpilot]

This is the first thing I made after upgrading the PowerPro. It is also a "stuff I have on hand" project. It is a small coffee table for my front yard bench. It is made from an old wooden bed frame (white oak?) and old redwood fence boards. The bed frame I recently found when I pulled down the ceiling while re-doing a room, so it was in the attic when I moved in over 25 years ago.

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It replaces this:

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Which used to look like this:

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This one was made from a tree in my backyard that had to come down because lightning split it apart. The legs were pieces selected from my firewood pile. But a diagonally sliced piece of diseased elm was not going to be a structurally sound tabletop anyway. Especially after sitting outside though four Socal summers.

And here's what the new one looks like in the shop:

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[JPG]

Ain't yer first rodeo!

Nice job!!!

[friscomike]

Very nice table. Did you put a finish on the table? ~mike c

[bainin]

Nice - can never have enough places to put a coffee.

What is your impression of the PowerPro ?

b

[mindpilot]

Thank you!

No, not my first time, I have a college degree in wooodworking, but it will never be more than a hobby.

[DLB]

Yes, that's a very nice table. I like the re-use ideas.

What is your impression of the PowerPro ?

That should get some lively discussion going. What is the over/under for how many pages this thread will go?

PowerPro - Very quiet, very powerful, and a fabulous upgrade to the traditional speed range. An excellent upgrade and a decent value IMO. I've only used it with the 520 table system, but think it adds significant value to the full line-up. What's not to like? Okay, quite a few things, actually. Perhaps we should start a new thread with what we'd like to see in an upgrade to the ultimate upgrade.(?)

- David

[mindpilot]

Thank you! I didn't put a finish because I really wanted to keep the natural weathered look of the fence boards and the old bed frame has a factory--probably lacquer--finish.

[mindpilot]

Thank you!

I agree, you can never have enough room for coffee, or beer, or whiskey...

Maybe I should have called it more of a shakedown cruise than a maiden voyage. Overall I like the PP...a lot quieter, and it does seem to be able to deliver more consistent power with things like heavy rip cuts. Really like the interactive speed chart. Cleaner, smoother cuts; I'm finding my neighbors not calling the fire dept quite so often because I burned my way through a piece of 8/4 cherry.
The PP upgrade did serve to illuminate some other issues with accessories. The hub came loose on my jointer, and I found my bandsaw was badly out of blade alignment.

The only post-upgrade problem with the headstock was the idler pulley moved out of position because I didn't tighten the idler bushing clamp enough. That was simple to fix. Still trying to get used to feel of those buttons.