PowerStick ?

[dcruze]

I am new to this forum. I am looking for a used router and ran across a Post talking about a PowerStick. Can someone explain how this works? Can it be used with vacuum hold down?

[adrianm]

Have a look at the pictures, videos and description of the Buddy on the main site - http://www.shopbottools.com/mproducts/shopbot_buddy.htm - there is a video that explains and shows what the powerstick is and does.

[dcruze]

Thanks, that helped. Do you know if a Powerstick only works on a Buddy or can it be put on a Standard or Alpha 4x4

[cowboy1296]

It confused me in the beginning as well and even though I bought it I had no idea what it was until I got it. With the buddy, referring to the X direction which goes in the length of the table the router does not move but the table does. Of course it is all coordinated with the Y and Z moves that the router makes. I have the buddy 24x32 (24 inch power stick). I replaced that table with the 4 ft power stick aka moving table and now I have twice the length cutting area.

I am still working on my first cup so I hope that made sense. Now if you do not understand X Y and Z just ask and we will try to bring you up to speed.

[Ajcoholic]

Thanks, that helped. Do you know if a Powerstick only works on a Buddy or can it be put on a Standard or Alpha 4x4

It is specific to the Buddy series of routers.

AJC

[cowboy1296]

I am saying this with no knowledge of the other tables but I strongly believe that it only works on a buddy

[gerryv]

The Buddy series is the only one with a fixed gantry (Y axis) and a moving table, which is called a powerstick (Z axis).

The rest of the machines are the opposite in that their gantries move back and forth over a fixed table (Z axis.) On the newer PRS machines including the Buddy and fixed table designs, the gantry is the big, heavy aluminum extrusion that the YZ car (spindle car) moves back and forth along.

You can't mount a powerstick on the fixed table machines. It would not make sense because you need either the gantry or the table (powerstick on the Buddy) moving on the X axis, not both. Unless, of course, your name is Rube Goldberg :-)

[Simops]

The Buddy series is the only one with a fixed gantry (Y axis) and a moving table, which is called a powerstick (Z axis).

:-)

Or in my case I've changed it so that the gantry is the XZ and the powerstick the Y axis.......

Cheers

[dcruze]

Thanks guys for the information.

I am kind of torn between a Buddy or a 4x8. 80% of my work could be done on a buddy and it would help because I am limited on space. I work out of my basement.

I have looked at the Buddy videos that I could find, so if you don't mind I may have more questions as I research both types of tables, like:

1)On the Buddy - if you add a 4' powerstick, does it stay on there or does it come off and on.

2)With the 4' stick how do you attach anything to it?

3) With a 4' stick what supports the weight as it hangs over?

Thanks guys

[gerryv]

What you need to keep in mind is that the Buddy with a 4' powerstick will require about the same amount of clear working space as the 4'x8' table model, which is about 10'. Think of the Buddy's powerstick as being like a moving piece of timber going through a stationary planer - it takes lots of clear space when operating. Therefore 10' for a 4' capacity Buddy or 10' for an 8' capacity fixed table.

That said, the buddy has two advantages, when not in use:
1. It is easily rolled into a corner and needs only 3' front to back with the powerstick removed (easy with a 2' (4' long) reasonable with a 4' (6' long) and typically needing two people or some form of mechanical assist with the heavy 8' (10' long) one. When not in use, 3' is better than the 10' the fixed table always takes.
2. Unless you're doing wide material such as 4'w sheet goods, you can line the buddy's powerstick up so that it moves back and forth through a door for example, keeping in mind that the noise and sawdust will travel with it when the door is open. Are you married heh, heh.

I've had two buddies, a 4'x8' and a 5'x8' depending on which shop I have at the time and the best I can offer is that I constantly think I'd prefer the other one. Not always a clearcut decision unless you think you'll evolve to doing sheet goods. Then the fixed table is the way to go.

[cowboy1296]

Once the 4 foot power stick and sacrifice table (board) has been added to the buddy it is pretty hard to remove by yourself. Its pretty bulky and heavy for one person. Not sure how shopbot handles this now, but once I took the two foot off its been in storage ever since with no use. Somewhat a waste of money.

One rule of thumb is buy a little more shopbot than you need. Space can be a deciding factor. Hopefully you have a walk out on that basement or some very wide stairs?

I like using t-tracks and t-clamps on my table. This picture is old and I now have more tracks. What I would do differently would be to cut the pockets for the t-tracks deeper. That way you could resurface the table a few times without having to removed the tracks.

Another plus for the buddy. You can literally plug it into a 110 socket on a 20 amp breaker. The bigger tables I THINK have to be hardwired.

The 4 foot power stick needs no added support. I think with the larger ones maybe starting with the 6 foot you do.

Now I have the 4 ft power stick and 99% of my work could be done on the standard table, but it is nice to have the extra length.

Since space is an issue remember you need a dust collector. Breathing dust is harmful and caused me to get daily headaches until I got one.

[dcruze]

Gerald,
In your last sentence you said you think you would prefer the other one. Which other one -the Buddy or the 4x8.

I agree with you that you could run the material through a door way. And the small size of the Buddy would take up less room. That is what I am trying to consider.

Most of the time I cut plaques and small signs. Occasionally I need to do something larger, so I am trying to figure out what it takes to put the Powerstick off and on and what type of support I would need to support a 4x8 piece of wood.

[dcruze]

Thanks Rick,
You may have just answered some of my questions. If it is that difficult the remove the Powerstick and I keep it on and it is taking up the same space as a 4x8, then I might as well have a 4x8.

A 4x8 does make my space very tight though.

I will continue to look into both until I find the right one for me.

[cowboy1296]

Once the 4 foot is on, there really is no reason to remove it other than maintenance

[gerryv]

Re your question "Which other one - the buddy or the 4'x8'": Well, that's my never-ending story; I'm always thinking that I'd be better off with the one I don't have at the moment.
Rick may have made one of the most important observations so far when he said "Hopefully you have a walk out on that basement or some very wide stairs?" Don't underestimate this for two reasons.
1. If you go with a Buddy, it comes pre-assembled and most doorways aren't on the plus side of 36". Yes, some of us have done a dis/re-assemble but SB would prefer that you don't.
2. Whether bringing sheet goods and/or lumber in or later moving out products that you've built and thought would fit, some just don't make it around those overlooked corners and low ceilings sometimes. We all know the story of the guy that built the boat in his basement :-) The best bet is to actually do some trial runs with things like 4'x8' sheets, 10' pieces of raw lumber, your better half's dresser, etc., just to see.
Finally, if your plan is to begin with or evolve into assembling things you build (like a replacement for your better half's dresser after it fell down the steps), don't overlook the fact that you will also need significant space to assemble and manoeuvre. That's why my current machine is a Buddy... although I wish I still had my 5'x8' (chuckle).

[Simops]

Dale as said above I have replaced the default 2' powerstick with a 4' powerstick (6' long stick) and have never gone back to the 2'. With the 4' stick you also don't need Infeed-outfeed support. Most of my machining requirements fit on a 4' x 4' cutting area.

As I don't use CNC on a regular basis having a Buddy with a 4 x 4 footprint when not working is convenient in my cramped workshop. If I have to cut sheet goods I cut a 8x4 sheet in half on my vertical panel saw. I just work around that sized sheet which is easy to manoeuvre on and off the Buddy.

But if you are going to do a lot of production work, need to work with 8 x 4 sheets and use the CNC regularly then go for a full table alpha with spindle. As I said even though I rarely need full sheet cutting given a second chance and knowing what I do now I would have, should have bought a full size table.

So regardless if you think you don't need it.....buy a full size table now rather than wish you did later, especially if it is going to be your main tool of income!

Cheers

[Bob Eustace]

Just following on from what Rick and Mike have said - you do leave the 4 foot table on all the time in real life. The biggest reason for this is if you use location pins on your jigs you LOSE these critical settings if you remove the table which can waste hours of time. If you go with the four foot its a good move to go with the extra roller mod Andrew and I have done to keep the table flat. We also went with the tee slots along the X axis, and use cam clamps most of the time. Five inch or slightly less is a good spacing.