Directions on How to Make your own Power Assist

Straight8 · Mar 17, 2005

I recently made my own power assist, I really like the stretch you can get with it. I made it from red oak, It came out a little crude but works great.
Cost of materials...
6"x1"x5' board of read oak=$9.00
2 gig saw blades=$2.00
variety of sandpaper single sheets=$2.00
time to make=about 1 1/2 hours design and breaks included.
if I ever need another I still have 40" of read oak left.
I'll post pic but sorry for the poor quality I only have a scanner and a crappy image host.

DLD · Mar 17, 2005

Straight8 said:
I recently made my own power assist, I really like the stretch you can get with it. I made it from red oak, It came out a little crude but works great.
Cost of materials...
6"x1"x5' board of read oak=$9.00
2 gig saw blades=$2.00
variety of sandpaper single sheets=$2.00
time to make=about 1 1/2 hours design and breaks included.
if I ever need another I still have 40" of read oak left.
I'll post pic but sorry for the poor quality I only have a scanner and a crappy image host.

Very nice work! Did you go by the plans or did you modify?

Straight8 · Mar 17, 2005

I followed your plans but had to guess on some measurements like the hand grip width and outer ring taper into the handle. but I've done stuff like this for years and the drafting experience also helped so It was pretty easy. Thanks for the great design DLD. DLD do you use one yourself? I find it works best for side to side stretch and tunica stretch but I've just started, if I think of any new stretches I'll make a diagram.

DLD · Mar 17, 2005

Straight8 said:
Thanks for the great design DLD. DLD do you use one yourself? I find it works best for side to side stretch and tunica stretch but I've just started, if I think of any new stretches I'll make a diagram.

I use mine each and everyday, I would be lost without it. Nothing accents manual stretching like a Power Assist. There is only so much intensity my hands can produce and the fulcrum action of the PA makes intensity limitless.

Mosterson · Mar 20, 2005

I installed wood floors for awhile and I know that the REAL wood that is installed in peoples homes is 3/4 inches thick. So the way cheaper route to get ash is to just go to a flooring supply store and it should only cost $5.00 max to get one plank.

And if your pretty slick you can probably just ask to get a sample to show your wife or something. But IMHO I would spring for brazilian cherry it's a extremely dark and hard wood and it would be cool to say that you have a power assist made out of it. BTW Brazilian cherry is one of the most expensive floors to lay down.

Oh yeah and ask for the plank not the strip as the strip's height is not 4.5 inches.
If you live in Houston I can point you in a good direction.

DLD · Mar 21, 2005

Mosterson said:
I installed wood floors for awhile and I know that the REAL wood that is installed in peoples homes is 3/4 inches thick. So the way cheaper route to get ash is to just go to a flooring supply store and it should only cost $5.00 max to get one plank.

And if your pretty slick you can probably just ask to get a sample to show your wife or something. But IMHO I would spring for brazilian cherry it's a extremely dark and hard wood and it would be cool to say that you have a power assist made out of it. BTW Brazilian cherry is one of the most expensive floors to lay down.

Oh yeah and ask for the plank not the strip as the strip's height is not 4.5 inches.
If you live in Houston I can point you in a good direction.

Maybe I can try to get 100 samples before the third run

Mosterson · Mar 21, 2005

Only 100?!

This slipped my mind earlier but a great nationwide source for wood floors for rock bottom prices is Lumber Liquidators.

Whoaaa I see they have Brazilian Walnut....sweet. If you notice they have the planks with the height of 5". But unfortunately their samples would cost at least $12.00. So this site would probably only interest DLD.

So once again the cheapest route would be your closest flooring store or wood miller. :cool:

Bear in mind though that the wood is 3/4 inches thick which leaves no margin of error using the above diagram unless you plan to make the P.A. a bit slimmer. But using a harder wood then oak, like cherry or walnut, you should have no problem!

joe_smith · Sep 16, 2005

DLD what is the thickness? I didn't seem to catch that measurement.

ctmwm · Sep 18, 2005

its like min 1 - 1-1/4 Its not your stock 3/4 wood from Home Deeps

Directions on How to Make your own Power Assist

Straight8

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DLD

doublelongdaddy

Straight8

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DLD

doublelongdaddy

Mosterson

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DLD

doublelongdaddy

Mosterson

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joe_smith

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ctmwm

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