Shopsmith newbie with 1954 Mark 5

[dgale]

BTW, tell us more about the model rocketry. I was a big Estes Rocket fan as a kid in the '70's and just recently got back into it with my son - we've built a couple rockets and are waiting for the right weather to go launch them. Sounds like you are talking about something more upscale than Estes - I'd love to hear more...just what I need, another hobby

[pennview]

If you have a model 500, adding the wider auxiliary/extension table really doesn't improve your ability to rip wider boards. You simply put the rip fence on either the narrow or wide auxiliary table and move the headstock and/or the quill to adjust for whatever width you want up to about 48". To rip the wider widths, you must put the auxiliary table to the left of the headstock and slide the headstock toward the right end of the Shopsmith. The only time you have a problem ripping on the Shopsmith is when the fence must straddle the main table and the auxiliary one. If you add a wide enough wooden auxiliary fence to the rip fence, you can overcome this shortcoming. Be aware that you also must check that the fence is aligned with the blade whenever you mount the fence on the auxiliary table because the alignment can shift when moving the fence to the opposite end of the table.

Personally, I'm not sure that the "upgraded" saw guards improve operator safety. And, I prefer the original, all metal lower guard that came with my 1980 Shopsmith over the plastic ones. You may find the clear plastic upper guard a benefit over the older metal version, however.

[dgale]

My original narrow extension table doesn't have the track for the rip fence, whereas my wider one does...maybe that's just unique to my narrow table but hence why I suggested the wider one improves ripping width.

Another item that is nice to upgrade the too-small 500 saw table is the front table extension:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/swd_500fronttableext.htm

These tend to sell used in the $20 range if you keep your eye out. I have a couple of them and they are great when cross-cutting wider boards. You can only fit one on when the rip fence is installed on the main table and realistically you only need one as it's meant to extend the miter gauge slot, but if I have my rip fence installed on the extension table (or if I'm not using the rip fence), I can fit two of them on side-by-side and extend the overall width of the table by ~6".

[JPG]

My original narrow extension table doesn't have the track for the rip fence, whereas my wider one does...maybe that's just unique to my narrow table but hence why I suggested the wider one improves ripping width.

Another item that is nice to upgrade the too-small 500 saw table is the front table extension:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/swd_500fronttableext.htm

These tend to sell used in the $20 range if you keep your eye out. I have a couple of them and they are great when cross-cutting wider boards. You can only fit one on when the rip fence is installed on the main table and realistically you only need one as it's meant to extend the miter gauge slot, but if I have my rip fence installed on the extension table (or if I'm not using the rip fence), I can fit two of them on side-by-side and extend the overall width of the table by ~6".

It would definitely be unique! You are aware the narrow ones have a cast in rail.?

[dgale]

It would definitely be unique! You are aware the narrow ones have a cast in rail.?

No - it had never dawned on me in the past to put my rip fence on the narrow extension table. I wasn't until I go the wider table that has the same track on it that my main table has that is occurred to me to move the rip fence there...at which time I noticed my narrow table doesn't have that track. I'll head out to the shop and check it all out to better educate myself on what I have.

[tcbetka]

[quote="dgale"]BTW, tell us more about the model rocketry. I was a big Estes Rocket fan as a kid in the '70's and just recently got back into it with my son - we've built a couple rockets and are waiting for the right weather to go launch them. Sounds like you are talking about something more upscale than Estes - I'd love to hear more...just what I need, another hobby ]


There is a ton of stuff out there on high-powered model rocketry...a TON of stuff. Basically, "model rocketry" is when the rocket has only a 'G' engine or less, in terms of thrust. So that is less than 160 Newton-meters (N-m) of total impulse. There is also technically a weight limitation (1500g I think), and an altitude restriction as well. But most everyone goes on the engine size, because to maintain the desired 5:1 thrust-to-weight ratio, the engine size becomes the critical factor. But in order to purchase an engine with more total impulse than a 'G' level, you'll need a high-power model rocket certification. There are three levels:

Level 1 for H & I engines (160.01 - 640.0 N-m)
Level 2 for J, K & L engines (640.01 - 5120.0 N-m)
Level 3 for M, N & O engines (5120.01 - 40960 N-m)

There are some details I'll gloss over, but basically to get a Level 1 certification, you need to fly a rocket with an H or I engine; for Level 2 certification you must have Level 1 certification, pass a written test and then fly a rocket with a level J, K or L engine; and for a Level 3 certification you need Level 2 certification and fly a rocket in the M, N or O class. There are also a number of requirements for on-board electronics for the Level 3 stuff, because (potentially) you're talking about a vehicle that could exceed 100,000 feet in altitude! Just go on YouTube and search for "Large and Dangerous Rocket Ship" and enjoy yourself.

Anyway, it's a VERY cool hobby--especially for someone like myself who used to fly aircraft for years and years, and now likes to develop embedded software for various microcontrollers. You wouldn't believe the stuff that people put in these things: Cameras, altimeters, heading, temperature, GPS, accelerometers, transceivers (you must have a HAM radio license for that), etc. I have been a HAM operator for many years. I've also taken several engineering courses over the years, like calculus, differential equations, statics, and dynamics. I've even been do a "self-study" course in Linear Equations through MIT's "Open Courseware" program. I recently took an early requirement from practicing medicine due to medical disability, and now have my own small technology company...mainly doing embedded development.

Enough rambling about high-powered rocketry I suppose. Needless to say there is always something to make, and I plan to use the Shopsmith unit to help out in this endeavor. So if it would take me a month or so to basically "restore" this Greenie, I'd probably be all for it. I plan to call SS tomorrow and get a general feel for how practical it would be to do that.

Thanks again for all the information everyone--this is a very nice site, with LOADS of very helpful information!

[dusty]

I took calculus, linear equations, differential equations, statistics, Latin political science I and II and a bunch more. I still can't cut a perfectly square piece of wood.

I doubt if I could launch a rocket either. I got pretty good flying combat control line but then when I launched by first (and last) RC model it was hijacked and I never saw it again. Well...., it might not have been hijacked but I never saw it again.

BTW - Shopsmith might not be too eager to discuss restoring a Greenie but they would probably talk to you for a long time about buying a Mark 7 (not to be confused with a Mark VII).

[dgale]

Wow, I'll have to read up...that takes my old hobby to a whole new level (pun intended). BTW, how many folks can claim to have been an MD and a Rocket Scientist in the same lifetime?

[tcbetka]

I took calculus, linear equations, differential equations, statistics, Latin political science I and II and a bunch more. I still can't cut a perfectly square piece of wood.

Heh, it remains to be see if I can...although I also spent 4 years in Medical School and another 2.5 in Computer Science school (part-time) as well. So I guess that if I *can't* cut a square piece of wood, I'll at least be able to diagnose why not, lol.

I doubt if I could launch a rocket either. I got pretty good flying combat control line but then when I launched by first (and last) RC model it was hijacked and I never saw it again. Well...., it might not have been hijacked but I never saw it again.

I bet you'd find it easier than you might think. I haven't done much R/C aircraft flying, but I do have that "RealFlight" simulation program with a controller, and it's pretty slick! And you don't have to fix anything when you crash--just hit "restart."

BTW - Shopsmith might not be too eager to discuss restoring a Greenie but they would probably talk to you for a long time about buying a Mark 7 (not to be confused with a Mark VII).

I am not interested in buying a new unit right now, although that might happen a year or two down the road. But I am quite interested in talking to them about what accessories I might be able to buy from them to use with the Greenie. Then, if I did decide to go with a new(er) unit, I could also use those SPTs with that as well. That was my first thought anyway, although as has been pointed out, it might not work out as well as I'd like. Before I stick any more money into this Greenie, I want to find out how feasible it would be to add SPTs--because if it is, then I'll likely just restore this one and starting adding them. If it isn't, then I may just clean this one up a bit, use it for a year and then upgrade. I don't think it is really going to lose much value from what I paid for it--I certainly haven't seen them any cheaper anywhere.

[dgale]

But calculus should have taught you that you can only get infinitely closer and closer without ever getting perfectly square. Besides, I bet your square would look a lot better than mine ;-)