Mortise hold down question

hjlssfor1 · Post by **hjlssfor1** » Tue May 22, 2012 11:06 pm

I am new to Shopsmith (I have a 510), and I am trying to get my equipment setup for use. I purchased a used mortise attachment, and it apparently did not come with all of the parts. Attached is an image that shows all the parts of the mortise attachment. The image makes me think that the shaft of the hold down must be attached to a t-nut in the t-slot of the rip fence. Am I correct?

I have purchased some t-nuts, but the shaft for the hold down doesn't seem to have any way to attach to the rip fence via a t-nut. Neither end of the shaft has a hole or threading for attachment to the rip fence.

Am I missing something obvious? I want to put the tool to work, and any guidance would be appreciated.

Hank

judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Tue May 22, 2012 11:53 pm

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SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Tue May 22, 2012 11:56 pm

You have the older style holddown designed for the model 500 and 10E/ER. The newer style is as shown in your picture and the holddown rod has a threaded stud to accept a t-nut. You could always modify the rod that you have to do the same thing. Or call Shopsmith and see if they sell the rod by itself.

hjlssfor1 · Post by **hjlssfor1** » Wed May 23, 2012 11:54 pm

Thanks to Rob and Dave for pointing me in the right direction. I should have remembered to use the search function to find the other thread.

I will contact Shopsmith to see if the threaded shaft is for sale as a separate item.

Hank

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 24, 2012 2:51 pm

hjlssfor1 wrote:Thanks to Rob and Dave for pointing me in the right direction. I should have remembered to use the search function to find the other thread.

I will contact Shopsmith to see if the threaded shaft is for sale as a separate item.

Hank

If not, just drill & tap the one you have!;)

A stud will convert the newly made female threads to male to fit the t-nut.

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Thu May 24, 2012 8:14 pm

[quote="JPG40504"]If not, just drill & tap the one you have!]

Yup, thats the easy way.

Another option would be to drill, then cut the head off of a carriage bolt with a smooth shaft at the top of it. Insert with some epoxy or JB weld, then after putting a nut on cut the threads to length.

Personally, I did one by grinding it down to a small enough diameter that I could tap threads on it. Not very exact, nor very fast. Wouldn't do it that way again.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 5:33 pm

How did it work with the older models without the t-slot in the fence?
How was the hold down secured?

My old edition of PTWFE only says it sits in a hole in the fence.....
the work piece hides that in the photo...

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:09 pm

lightnin wrote:How did it work with the older models without the t-slot in the fence?
How was the hold down secured?

My old edition of PTWFE only says it sits in a hole in the fence.....
the work piece hides that in the photo...

Both the 10ER and model 500 fences have a hole in the top of the fence (and a set screw to secure the holddown). The 10E had an upgrade that bolted on to the fence that also had a vertically oriented hole to accept the holddown.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:09 pm

SDSSmith wrote:Both the 10ER and model 500 fences have a hole in the top of the fence (and a set screw to secure the holddown). The 10E had an upgrade that bolted on to the fence that also had a vertically oriented hole to accept the holddown.

And a rear fence clamp.