Shopsmith Forums

I purchased a new Shopsmith 25+ years ago and have not put over an hour or two on it. Over the years I have acquired most of the stand alone tools needed for basic woodworking. Having just retired I'm ready to create some sawdust and plan to use the Shopsmith lathe function to turn pens.

My question is, for ease of setup I'd like to use the auxiliary spindle to turn the pen mandrel rather than the main spindle. Obviously I'd mount the tailstock and live center on the left side of the Shopsmith. Any reason why this would be contraindicated or cause me some problem? Thanks! - Scrapwood

Wouldn't you have to move the carriage to the other side as well? The tool rest mounts in the carriage.

Mike

Aux shaft distance above way tubes and minimum distance possible for the tailstock and tool rest???

Thanks to all. I hadn't even thought about the steady rest because I haven't found the steady rest! I actually think I may have had two, one curved and one straight, but we moved a year ago January and there are all kinds of tools that have not yet surfaced. So Mike, you are correct that I'll need the carriage making use of the auxiliary spindle for turning
unfeasible.

Lube? It is a safe bet that this Shopsmith, which has essentially been in storage for most of these past 25-30 years, hasn't been lubed since leaving the factory! Would one of you be kind enough to tell me where it needs to be lubed and what it needs to be lubed with? Thanks! - Scrapwood

I just started turning, but I recommend this mandrel from Penn State Industries: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKM-CL.html. They also carry them at Woodcraft stores.

These PDF's may help ya. Use 6/8 drops of oil in both places.

If it has been idle for a quarter century, I would not be so stingy with the oil.

Add 10 drops, run the speed from slow to fast and back 10 or more times and add '6-8' more then up n down a couple of times.

You should be able to ascertain if it was sufficient. Those last times go from slow to fast quickly, and down to slow gently(do not force it). The response should be immediate.

I have turned over three hundred pens on my ShopSmith and for the life of me cannot understand why you would even want to turn off of the auxiliary spindle. First problem I see is that I use the quill feed to tighten the mandrel against the live center. You certainly do NOT need any more speed than you can get from the main spindle. I turn pens at about 1800 RPM's and sand them much slower.

I hope that I was not rude in the way that I wanted to know why scrapwood would want to turn pens on the auxiliary spindle.