Is anyone out there using the RBS System Power Head? I ordered one, and it's not working as expected. It seems like there isn't much middle ground with this thing. I push down the pedal, and it takes a lot of the range to overcome the thread spool tension, then once that happens it's spinning too fast for wrapping. Wondering if I should return it.

Just wanted to follow up on this so I don't leave a bad impression for anyone looking at this in the future. I watched some videos of other power wrappers, there were no videos of the power head. I had the pedal backwards, which gave me no real control. Flipped it around and wrapped all of my guides on a 7' spinning rod in record time. I know it's a budget option compared to the other power wrappers, but for right now it's working just fine for me.

Seth,
Actually, I expect that it is a bit tougher to get good speed control with this particular system, since the unit uses a direct drive - motor that likely has a 5-6.000 rpm top speed. Most of the other wrappers that use a similar pedal and a similar motor use a belt reducing system to reduce the overall speed of the chuck by a factor of 6-10, which is huge in the wrapping world.

Good luck

Thanks Roger. I wonder if it would be possible to install a rheostat without damaging anything.

Seth,
Of course, go to a big box store and buy an inexpensive lamp dimmer. Wire it up, so that when you wish, you could plug the lamp dimmer into the wall socket and then plug the motor into a plug wired into the lamp dimmer.
Dial down the power to the motor as you wish and you will get the effect that you wish.

For example:

[www.lowes.com]

To wire this in, just take an inexpensive 2- wire extension cord. Cut one of the conductors in the cork and attach one of the cut ends to one side of the switch, and connect the other cut end to the other side of the switch and you will be set.

For example:
[www.lowes.com]

Thanks Roger. Does it matter where in the line it gets wired in? I'll have to look at the back when I get home, but I'm thinking I could use one of the below rheostats. If it's like I remember, I could pull the wire off the motor, wire it to the rheostat, then wire the rheostat to the motor. Then I could drill a hole in the base and mount the rheostat to it. That way I would have speed control right there on the power head base.
[www.amazon.com]

I also have the RBS power head and have not been very pleased with it. The speed control is very difficult. The motor doesn't seem to have enough torque to get a rod moving most of the time with the rod secured to the stand. Light rods and heavier rods have been challenging with the power head.

Matt

One option to consider with the RBS power head is to rebuild the head to a more conventional system, of putting a 1 inch pulley on the motor shaft, then mount a head stockshaft in a set of bearings and put a 5 inchpulley on the headstock shaft.
Run a belt between the motor and chuck shaft and you will have a 5:1speed reduction and a 5X increase in the starting torque of the headstock shaft.

If you are handy, you can likely do the work and materials for under $20 - reusing the chuck for the headstock chuck.