Tool Talk
Woodworking Forum => Woodworking Forum => Topic started by: Branson on July 27, 2011, 01:35:13 PM
-
Does anyone here speak Shopsmith? Last Friday morning, my wife and I went to the Recycle Town area of the dump in Sebastapol. I had just picked up a Delta benchtop saw for ten bucks (needs a new switch), when a truck came in and unloaded a Shopsmith. Now, I need a lathe, so I walked over with the yard man and asked how much they wanted. $40. It came with everything but the sanding plate it seems, plus a few extras (like 4 shaper cutters still in their boxes). It also came with a box that held 6 nearly unused lathe tools and a file ground into a lathe skew. And a folding draw knife, two 1 1/2 inch socket gouges, a pair of old Stanley chisels. And the original manual -- 1949.
It's still in Santa Rosa since it wouldn't fit in my wife's Taurus. We're going to Santa Rosa this weekend and I'll get some pictures. I may have to disassemble it, at least in part, to get it into my van, and I have to get rid of a lot of surface rust. Hope the motor works... I promise to get pictures this weekend.
It's a 10 er Shopsmith. Looks like it just got put in the barn about 40 years ago.
-
I think you did well.
On the old site, Papaw had a thread detailing a shop smith he bought at a yard sale. I believe he paid well over $40 for it, though.
Maybe someone can resurrect that old threads contents about the shopsmith.
Congrats on a nice find.
-
Yes. I bought a Shopsmith at a yard sale for $100. Working and in good condition. I bought it to give to my BIL who is a woodworker, and delivered it to him that day. He decided it needed rewiring, and I think it still sits where he put it! I am sure I can dig up pictures, but it will be tomorrow.
-
I love a good shopsmith. Never owned one myself but used several. They are great machines. I keep checking craigslist and ebay but just havent found a deal sweet enough or one like you found with all the atachments.
By the way good find.
-
I love a good shopsmith. Never owned one myself but used several. They are great machines. I keep checking craigslist and ebay but just havent found a deal sweet enough or one like you found with all the atachments.
By the way good find.
Heh! Come out to California. The dump near Sebastapol gets them with some regularity, enough so that the yard man told me he prices them at $40 if they look like they still work.
I almost had one 6 years ago, but the deal fell through. This will be my first, and my first opportunity to use one. I need the lathe right now, but getting the sanding disk will be necessary in the future. The saw guards are not there, and I don't think I'll miss them. The belt guard is not there, but it turns out a lot of people tossed them -- including one fellow who worked for Magna.
-
Here are the pictures of the Shopsmith I bought for my BIL.
-
That's a newer one. Mine looks like this picture, only with more rust on the ways. I should have pictures this weekend.
-
Shopsmiths are supposed to be made with bearings that are hell for stout. FYI.....
-
2 allen wrenches, a couple skotchbrite pads, a quart of Diesel fuel and a decent mallet will have a Generation 1 Shopsmith fitting in a Taurus in under an hour.
-
2 allen wrenches, a couple skotchbrite pads, a quart of Diesel fuel and a decent mallet will have a Generation 1 Shopsmith fitting in a Taurus in under an hour.
I'm gonna cheat anyway. I'm taking the van this weekend. And a can of break free, and some kerosene, and some tri-flow, and allen wrenches and a bunch of assorted wrenches. Gotta have the wrenches -- the machine is fastened to the bench with old square head bolts and square nuts. I'll bet they haven't been turned in 50 years. On the way to Santa Rosa, we'll stop in Napa, where the younger boy has bought an old Arcade game cabinet (that's what he collects -- old electronic games and arcade machines). Even my wife wouldn't be able to fit it in the Taurus -- 73 inches tall for starts.
I'll also be testing the motor... I sure hope it runs!
-
Another thing at the dump. When I was trying to do some disassembly, the yard man brought out a bucket of old tools they kept for such things. In it, along with a lot of barely usable junk, was a Wizard #9... I asked if they could part with it. Well, that was the only adjustable wrench they had... I'm taking an unremarkable crescent style with me, and hope they will be willing to exchange. Wizard... Maybe I should look for a Hogwarts stamp on it. Was it possibly used by Harry Potter's father?
-
One of the nicest features of that generation ShopSmith was that only 2 allen wrenches were required to assemble and or adjust the machine.
As they age the locking clamps that hold the head and table tend to get a bit less than fully operable.
-
Here she is! And all the stuff that came with that was specifically for the ShopSmith. The second pic shows the shaper/jointer fence and the lathe tool rest. Third pic shows the shaper cutters and their original SS boxes, as well as a circular "planer" to be used in the drill press (anybody ever use one of these?
More in the next post.
-
There was another box of stuff that came with the machine. It held a set of 6 C-man lathe tools with the C-man decal still on the handles, and one skew made from an old file. First picture.
The second picture shows the misc. tools also in the box. Folding drawknife, two elderly Stanley socket chisels, a Speares gouge, a Swedish 3/8 chisel, and two large (1 1/2 inch) gouges. The gouge on the left is a Marples Hibernia. I can't (yet) read the maker of the other gouge. The tin snips aren't much to talk about -- probably good wall hangers.
-
heh, I think the extras covered what you paid for the Shopsmith.
You stole it ; P
-
heh, I think the extras covered what you paid for the Shopsmith.
You stole it ; P
Shoot, in the proper place, I suspect the Marples gouge and the drawknife alone cover the $40 I paid for the whole haul. The ShopSmith was just the prize in the box.
-
well dang, you didn't get the saw blade sharpener.
I thought you said it was rusty. That'll polish out in half an hour.
The original cardboard boxes are prized by many owners, keep them in a nice place for future generations.
The jointer setup is a bit hard on the machine, I know a fellow whos dad lost 2 fingers proving that. That machine was originally bought in 51, and lived in what became the living room till the house was completed. It cost over $200- with saw, drill chuck and drum & disk sanders new. The disk sander is a beast, with a lot of momentum to be dealt with.
There also should be a "splitter" on the back side of the saw table to maintain the kerf when ripping. It also carrys th cast blade guard. I might be able to get you pics of both the blade guard and belt guard if you need them.
-
Yeah, I was real depressed about not getting the blade sharpener. I gather that the speed changer is uncommon, but one is installed on the machine.
Sounds like the jointer is harder on the user than the machine... Oh well. I learned to be careful on the old square head jointers -- learned from people like Lefty and One Thumb. At some point I'll look for a disk, but not until this machine makes me some money.
There is a splitter. I pulled it off for the time being. I focused on getting the lathe function set up since I need to use it this week. (remember my search for socket chisels? Got 'em all, but some need handles.) The guard is one of those plastic jobs, and I'll have to check to see if the splitter is original (the manual shows it). There was also a cast iron bottom guard for the blade, also not there.
There's mixed messages on the belt guard (another missing in action part). I saw one that had been owned by one of the Magna machinists, and he had tossed the belt guard. I think I'd like to get one, but I don't wear loose clothing and my hair is short, so I'll put that off.
When the pics were taken, I'd spent a couple of hours getting rid of rust. Had to move the parts on the ways with a 2X4 and a big ball pein at first. (The ball pein I snatched out of a pile I have turned out to be a Madole! Hadn't looked at it closely before.) I felt like a shoe-shine boy with the scotch bright. Now it moves freely except for the back part that I haven't worked yet.
Know anything about the motors? I have the A.O. Smith, and it seems a little sluggish. I looked for places to lubricate it, but couldn't find any.
-
Oh. The machine disassembles with two allen wrenches, but the smaller parts, like the live center use a third, smaller allen. I found a series of holes drilled in the bench top that look like the original owner's place for stashing allen wrenches.
It didn't move far from where I found it, either. The wheels still had price tags on them from a Santa Rosa hardware store (under its old name).
-
You'll love this, the motor was an optional extra on ShopSmith generation 1, damned if I know, maybe there were still a lot of line shafts in home shops, or they needed to lower price for better sales and a lot of people used motors off old washing machines, a popular source at that point in time.
The belt guards tended to get tossed or shelved, according to an old friend who still has one, because the &$^&(*( hunk of iron got in the way when the saw table was set to maximum cut depth and you were cutting off a 2x4.
Sluggish motor-
That could be lack of lube on the bearings or it could also be rust between the rotor and stator. I find a lot of motors that live in damp locations and don't get much use grow sufficient rust between rotor and stator to lock up. The best cure is to clean it off with Skotchbrite and coat the surface of both with lanolin.
Could also be an accumulation of dust in the motor housing
Might be a sluggish centrifugal starting switch as well that needs a bit of lube
If the motor is ball bearing there is a possibility the soap based grease has become more of a hard plastic in the bearing.
About that Skotchbrite shoe shine thing, you can sew Skotchbrite onto a piece of cloth a couple feet long and about 4" wide and get a lot more efficiency going.
Yea, when you stop laughing and try it you'll be glad you did.
-
>You'll love this, the motor was an optional extra on ShopSmith generation 1,
Sheesh! You're right! I checked the packing list, and there is no listing for the motor. But it is the motor ShopSmith sold to go with the machine. No motor... Scratching my head here.
But then, they only shipped two allen wrenches -- 3/16 and 1/8, and the drive center for the lathe, etc, take a smaller size.
-
Here she is! And all the stuff that came with that was specifically for the ShopSmith. The second pic shows the shaper/jointer fence and the lathe tool rest. Third pic shows the shaper cutters and their original SS boxes, as well as a circular "planer" to be used in the drill press (anybody ever use one of these?
More in the next post.
Looking Good! You got yourself a steal of a deal!
Wayne
-
>You'll love this, the motor was an optional extra on ShopSmith generation 1,
Sheesh! You're right! I checked the packing list, and there is no listing for the motor. But it is the motor ShopSmith sold to go with the machine. No motor... Scratching my head here.
But then, they only shipped two allen wrenches -- 3/16 and 1/8, and the drive center for the lathe, etc, take a smaller size.
Somebody's messin with you son. That machine takes 2 allen wrenches, they both came with it and both were about 8" long x 2" high.
The saw arbor should take the 1/8 wrench. There are many repro saw arbors out there, and they generally have a course thread. The original is fine thread. I think the drum sander is also 1/8.
The drive center for the lathe clamps down to the spindle with a 1/8 wrench, which is strange considering the drill chuck uses a 3/16 wrench best I recall. The center that sits in the tailstock bushing is just taper friction fit. You might want to scrub that bushing well with skotchbrite before trying to use the lathe. If the center spins a single layer of newspaper will solve it.
The place you may have trouble will be the headstock moving because of wear on the lead bushings. Best suggestion I have is to cast up some new ones in plaster molds while you still have a good one.
There was another cute thing as first gen machines aged, the brass screws tended to corrode inthe aluminum knobs and break loose. Fortunately we have JB Weld today to solve that.
Probably ought to mention too that a rope going to the overhead is dang handy to have when you tip the machine up. That rope is sure cheaper than a trip to the chiropractor.
-
It looks like I have a spare set of the lead bushings, and a spare handle and nut with them. But it doesn't move at this point. Saw arbor, live center, 1/8 -- check. Jacobs drill chuck, 3/16, check. I had to use an intermediate size to disassemble some things, and I'll have to see what those were... And what size wrench I used (I just dug through the allen wrenches until there was one that fit).
The center in the tail stock fits fine, and no spinning at all. Already tried that out. And a good thing, too, since that's what I need to use soon.
The rope is going to have to wait until it has a building to live in, but as long as the head stock and motor aren't at the far end of the ways, I do alright lifting it. I ran the motor for about an hour yesterday, and it seems to run fine. Guess it just wasn't used to running when I tried it Sunday.
Thanks for all the really useful information!
-
I'm in love with my shopsmith!!! As most of you know, my passion for woodworking began in Houston ( a good decade or so, ago). I had a saw or two, a few chisels, a no. 3 Stanley plane that I bought from a pawn shop, and a whole lot of time on my hands...... endless time to spend in my "shop"....... time to escape from my girlfriend!!!!! So, I spent my mornings practicing cutting dovetails (and pins) ...... it seemed like the best thing to do with my time.
Again, most of you who know me know this story.... I'm repeating myself. But, for those that don't know me..... I called my brother one day and said, "Stevie, I'd like for you to find me a house to buy."
"Um, when, Bird?"
"Well, tomorrow would be good."
So, my brother, stevie, looked for a house for me. He finally called me and said, "Bird, I found your house!. You won't have many neighbors. You have a shop that's 1200 square feet.... it's perfect."
I told him..... buy it!!!!!
And so, I moved back to Nelson County, VA, without ever having seen the house I bought. When I walked into the house, I was excited. But, Stevie took me downstairs to the future shop ....... It was a very large basement with one light bulb, and an odd machine I didn't recognize. It was a 1952 Shopsmith that my brother, dad, and grandfather had spent a long time working on in order for it to be an awesome machine that worked perfectly.
That Shopsmith served as my table saw, disc sander, drum sander, drill press, and jointer.
I know that many persons aren't a fan of the Shopsmith for many reasons. One reason is that persons think it takes forever to change the machine into the task you want the machine to perform. (drill press, disc sander, jointer, ect.)
If you spend enough time with the machine, it will take you less then 90 seconds to "flip" the machine into the task you want it to perform. Hmmmm, transformers were a little bit after my time.... but, it's the same idea.
The jointer I had for my shopsmith was a six inch jointer, but not a very long bed. But, it worked pretty well, considering the many tasks that machine was in charge of!
I've moved on to some larger machines. But, I won't forget having a shop with that one light bulb, and that one machine that was waiting in my basement when I moved in. That shopsmith served me well as a table saw, drill press, and jointer. As time went on, I ran over 350 feet of wire in my shop. Over time, I've bought a table saw I'm quite happy with. I have a Grizzly jointer that I love (76 inch bed!!!!!). I haven't bought a separate disc sander, drum sander, or drill press........ the shopsmith works fine for those tasks.
So, as you can tell, I'm still in love with my shopsmith. It's a sturdy tool with a simple motor. I have gotten to the point where I can "flip" that thing around in no time at all to accomplish any task.
Well, I've gone into a long love story of that old hunk of metal. But, it's worth keeping around.
cheers, bird
-
OK, Bird, you are now my primary ShopSmith expert! I've heard all the complaints about changing the machine around, and I'm not really impressed with the complaints. We were always resetting machines at the mill shop where I worked for a while, and adjusting machines is just part of the way of things. It took longer to set new cutters in the shaper than it does to shift the ShopSmith.
What I had a real and immediate need for was a lathe. Got it. The drill press is very useful, and I've already used the table saw, too. The lathe got the first use -- turning some handles for Civil War period chisels. I still need to tune it up a bit. Might prettify it some more. Gotta play with the other systems (I think the shaper function will be quite useful to me). I have what *might* be the jointer you mention, but mine came with the 4" jointer that's used in the drill press.
One problem I have yet to figure out is that cinching down the headstock... Well, it cinches down fine, but then getting it to move when I undo it is a problem. It gets stuck. Suggestions? I've got all the rust off the ways, and I've waxed them, and I've cleaned up the holes that the ways run through. That worked for the table saw mount, but the headstock is still reluctant to move -- though once started, it moves freely enough.
Mine was bought in 1949 -- I was lucky to get all the paperwork with it. Even the Magna Corp Happy New Year 1950 letter they sent out. I'm already quite fond of this old machine. It just feels good to be around it. And it's what I need right now -- several functions in one compact machine.
I really enjoy your stories, and it doesn't hurt that Bird is my sister's name, too.
-
One problem I have yet to figure out is that cinching down the headstock... Well, it cinches down fine, but then getting it to move when I undo it is a problem. It gets stuck. Suggestions? I've got all the rust off the ways, and I've waxed them, and I've cleaned up the holes that the ways run through. That worked for the table saw mount, but the headstock is still reluctant to move -- though once started, it moves freely enough.
The old and well known stuck ShopSmith quill problem.
Screw one of the drillpress handles in, and give it a sharp whack with your hand in the direction you'd go to extend the quill farther from the headstock after loosening the locking screw and giving it a sharp whack with a rawhide mallet. Those lead locking jaws do not like to release.
-
OK, Bird, you are now my primary ShopSmith expert! I've heard all the complaints about changing the machine around, and I'm not really impressed with the complaints. We were always resetting machines at the mill shop where I worked for a while, and adjusting machines is just part of the way of things. It took longer to set new cutters in the shaper than it does to shift the ShopSmith.
What I had a real and immediate need for was a lathe. Got it. The drill press is very useful, and I've already used the table saw, too. The lathe got the first use -- turning some handles for Civil War period chisels. I still need to tune it up a bit. Might prettify it some more. Gotta play with the other systems (I think the shaper function will be quite useful to me). I have what *might* be the jointer you mention, but mine came with the 4" jointer that's used in the drill press.
One problem I have yet to figure out is that cinching down the headstock... Well, it cinches down fine, but then getting it to move when I undo it is a problem. It gets stuck. Suggestions? I've got all the rust off the ways, and I've waxed them, and I've cleaned up the holes that the ways run through. That worked for the table saw mount, but the headstock is still reluctant to move -- though once started, it moves freely enough.
Mine was bought in 1949 -- I was lucky to get all the paperwork with it. Even the Magna Corp Happy New Year 1950 letter they sent out. I'm already quite fond of this old machine. It just feels good to be around it. And it's what I need right now -- several functions in one compact machine.
I really enjoy your stories, and it doesn't hurt that Bird is my sister's name, too.
I imagine some persons have better advice then I do. OK, most persons have better advice than I can give!!!! But, I've found that the machines dislike to movement is often caused by a balance issue. By this, I mean that if you don't move everything just right, (for instance, if you move any part of that machine along the two bars without it being exactly balanced right, it tends to lock itself into an undesirable position) the Shopsmith is fairly unwilling to move. ..... it's a stubborn beast.
As for the jointer, I'll have to go measure the width of the jointer blades. But, I think you said that you have a four inch jointer that attaches where the drill press is??? Is that right? I've not heard of that before. To the best of my knowledge, if you have a jointer, it will fit into the opposite end of where the drill press is. In other words, it's at the end of the machine that isn't used for anything else. The actual jointer is a really heavy piece of metal that "slides" (yeah right!!!) into the machine via two posts. OK, I should stop talking, go downstairs, and investigate this whole jointer thing!!!
As I think I've said, I now have a 9 inch jointer that has a 76 inch bed! Yeah, I'm gloating!!!! So, I haven't worked with the "jointer attachment" to the shopsmith in a while. But, I do remember that the hardest thing I had to do with that jointer was lifting that beast into the shopsmith.
Anyhow, I've never met anyone else named "bird". She must be a good gal!!!!
cheers,
bird
-
[/quote]
I imagine some persons have better advice then I do. OK, most persons have better advice than I can give!!!! But, I've found that the machines dislike to movement is often caused by a balance issue. By this, I mean that if you don't move everything just right, (for instance, if you move any part of that machine along the two bars without it being exactly balanced right, it tends to lock itself into an undesirable position) the Shopsmith is fairly unwilling to move. ..... it's a stubborn beast.
As for the jointer, I'll have to go measure the width of the jointer blades. But, I think you said that you have a four inch jointer that attaches where the drill press is??? Is that right? I've not heard of that before. To the best of my knowledge, if you have a jointer, it will fit into the opposite end of where the drill press is. In other words, it's at the end of the machine that isn't used for anything else. The actual jointer is a really heavy piece of metal that "slides" (yeah right!!!) into the machine via two posts. OK, I should stop talking, go downstairs, and investigate this whole jointer thing!!!
As I think I've said, I now have a 9 inch jointer that has a 76 inch bed! Yeah, I'm gloating!!!! So, I haven't worked with the "jointer attachment" to the shopsmith in a while. But, I do remember that the hardest thing I had to do with that jointer was lifting that beast into the shopsmith.
Anyhow, I've never met anyone else named "bird". She must be a good gal!!!!
cheers,
bird
[/quote]
Yeah, she's a great gal!
Once it's started, the headstock moves fine. It's like the locking jaws get stuck. I've seen brass replacements for the issued jaws and wonder if they might be less likely to stick. The spindle has a spring between the jaws, and no problem releasing...
Yep, I have a 4" jointer head. it uses the drum sander fence (which is also used for the shaper attachment -- got the shaper spindle and four cutters). I have anoter 4" jointer I got years ago that *might* have been made for a ShopSmith, to fit on the other end like the one you mention. I always wondered why someone would have removed the motor to just have the bed and fence lying about. I have to remember where I stored the thing.
Gloat away! I just wish I had had the space to put it, but somebody dropped off a 12" Faye & Egan jointer at the dump a few months ago! Everything except the 5 horse motor was there. Maybe somebody else will dump one when I have a big enough space and a solid slab of concrete to support the monster. It sure would be nice to have that 9" like yours!
-
The stubby chisels are probably Stanley Everlast chisels. A little collector value there, if they clean up nice.
The gouges are --really-- interesting. Shipwright size roughing gouges, just slipped in there. If you want to trade something for whichever one you end up not using, let me know?
You won't like the folding handle drawknife much. A good idea for portability, I never met one I liked using much.
Tell how you like using the lathe, when you get to it?? I need a heavy duty lathe, mine is a flyweight. I have considered Shopsmith in the past, but never knew anyone who used one much.
yours Scott
-
The stubby chisels are probably Stanley Everlast chisels. A little collector value there, if they clean up nice.
The gouges are --really-- interesting. Shipwright size roughing gouges, just slipped in there. If you want to trade something for whichever one you end up not using, let me know?
You won't like the folding handle drawknife much. A good idea for portability, I never met one I liked using much.
Tell how you like using the lathe, when you get to it?? I need a heavy duty lathe, mine is a flyweight. I have considered Shopsmith in the past, but never knew anyone who used one much.
yours Scott
Yeah! Everlasts. I couldn't recall the name. I think they will clean up enough to be useful -- they've had a hard life. The Swedish chisel has had some hard times, too, but the handle is quite good, and it will definitely clean up for use -- I've found these chisels will take and keep a 15 degree edge very well. The little gouge has already been put to use nicely.
The big gouges... I'm keeping the Marples! But the other we can work out a trade for -- send me a pm.
Draw knives are one of my favorite tools. They are just so satisfying to use. This one makes the third folder in my accumulation. One works pretty good. I think their real advantage is that you can toss them in the tool box without worrying about the edge, that, and they don't take up as much room. But they don't work like my Bartons or Bucks, sure enough.
I've used the lathe function already. Necessity commanded. I didn't have time to fuss with niceties like putting a good edge on the chisels or reading the manual. It did the work, and the motor never faltered. The one complaint I have is with the tool rest -- I ended up turning two chisel handles at a time because the rest doesn't have an in and out adjustment that will let you work on short pieces very well. Still, the lathe function seems to be one of the primary uses of ShopSmiths from what I see. A couple that have gone up for sale had nothing other than the lathe function, and eBay pulls up lathes when you do a SS search. On a ShopSmith list I joined, there are a lot of threads on lathe work, both between centers and on lathe plates. Some people are turning out some good looking pieces. Maybe I can ask about this on the SS list. (and there were/are metal lathe accessories for the ShopSmith -- special rests and plates).
-
I forgot to mention on the lathe question... Nominally, the lathe can run 33". With a little modification to the bench, however, you can gain a bit more room by attaching the headstock all the way to the ends of the ways. Like I said, a lot of people use the SS primarily for the lathe function. So much so, that there are commercially made 20" extensions for the E and ER to increase the length.
What lathe do you have, Scott, that you find too wimpy? I could put the question directly to folks who have a lot more experience than I do.
-
The gouges are --really-- interesting. Shipwright size roughing gouges, just slipped in there. If you want to trade something for whichever one you end up not using, let me know?
Tell how you like using the lathe, when you get to it?? I need a heavy duty lathe, mine is a flyweight. I have considered Shopsmith in the past, but never knew anyone who used one much.
yours Scott
Scott, I just sent an email to a fellow who could better answer your questions about the lathe function. He does commercial furniture work with his, and seems really knowledgeable. I'll let you know what he has to say.
On the gouge, the one I'm willing to part with is marked SARGENT V-B-M. It's 1 1/2 inches wide, and has 6" of usable blade (to the shoulder where it tapers to the socket. I have a handle that fits it.
-
Cool, thanks! I will welcome any shopsmith experience report.
I see them for sale sometimes, but seldom for free. So if I actually have to buy something for money (not accustomed to this)
I would really like any council I can get.
If the shopsmith falls through, I see sears roebuck lathes a lot. You know the ones with a single large column for ways?
I knew these aren't really heavy, but does anyone have anything good to say about them?
I do know they at last have Morse taper head and tailstock for swapping in attachments easy.
yours, still needing a better lathe
Scott
-
I got a little more info, now, and hope to get some more. The fellow I spoke about has three ShopSmiths and he uses them exclusively for turning. (They have a nominal 14 inch swing, by the way.) He does serious (and commercial) work with them, so I think we can say they do heavy work.
I don't know about the motors he uses, and the early ShopSmiths had the option of a 1/2 horse or a 3/4 horse motor (part of the reason, Aunt Phil, for why a motor wasn't part of the package.)
He has, and I think I would recommend, the early models -- the ER 10 -- made by Magna. The ways on these have a full quarter inch wall, about twice the thickness of the new ShopSmiths.
I've attached a photo of one where the headstock has been attached outside the head rest to get greater distance.
The tail stock is also set up to receive a Morse taper.
-
It has for some time baffled me why someone doesn't just buy 2 pieces of mechanical tubing to replace the rails of a ShopSmith and grow the length.
Then again thinking and problem solving seem to have been left behind somewhere around 1970.
Last guy I saw exhibiting intelligence with a ShopSmith had built his own lathe duplicator with 4 ball casters and a hunk of angle iron.
-
It has for some time baffled me why someone doesn't just buy 2 pieces of mechanical tubing to replace the rails of a ShopSmith and grow the length.
Then again thinking and problem solving seem to have been left behind somewhere around 1970.
Last guy I saw exhibiting intelligence with a ShopSmith had built his own lathe duplicator with 4 ball casters and a hunk of angle iron.
The closest I've run across is a connector with a pair of 20" tubes, but it seems like you'd have to have two carriages for the tool rest. Dunno. Well, you would have to take things apart to make a new set up. Oh, wait, you have to take things apart to make a new set up anyway.
-
In my experience turning a couple walking sticks it was easier to leave the saw table in place and use a 1" carbide toolbit set up in a ballcaster base made from a 4" long piece of 3 x 5 angle iron. If I was going to turn walking sticks or something similar in the machine often I'd definitely make up a toolrest that was the length of the machine, or a long enough table to run the castered cutter the length of the machine.
I suppose there was somebody who once made enough ballisters for a staircase on a ShopSmith but it sure wasn't me.
-
In my experience turning a couple walking sticks it was easier to leave the saw table in place and use a 1" carbide toolbit set up in a ballcaster base made from a 4" long piece of 3 x 5 angle iron. If I was going to turn walking sticks or something similar in the machine often I'd definitely make up a toolrest that was the length of the machine, or a long enough table to run the castered cutter the length of the machine.
The length problem arises when making table legs for some people, but ballisters would sure be a challenge. I'm having difficulty picturing a ball caster base -- how would that work?
-
I don't have one handy to take a pic right now, but if you envision a single bearing ball entrapped in a housing with slightly less than half the ball exposed you have a ball caster. The ball is free to operate in 360° of motion against a flat plane.
The good news is our China friends are selling them at Horrible Fright for a couple bucks a shot, and they last reasonably well until they get wet and rust.
-
if you need a motor i have a nice one
-
if you need a motor i have a nice one
Thanks for letting me know. The A.O. Smith is running fine at the moment. Shoot, at 62 years old, it's younger than me! It's got a couple of honey-dos out of the way, cut stock for some replacement pieces for an old spinning wheel, and will soon turn another piece for the spinning wheel. One of the maidens is missing, for those who know spinning wheel terminology.