Shopsmith Forums

OK this maybe a rookie question but I am a rookie. I notice one feature of the MK 7 is that it can be vertical at either end leaving the quill pointed up or down. I have wondered about this with my MK 5. It would be a pain but it would be nice to have the option of turning the headstock around and being able to have the quill pointing up for say drum sanding, routing, etc. Will this effect the operation, is there a reason not to do this. At this point I am not sure why I would do it but can it be done should I find the need?

Most certainly it can.

If you are more adventurous, you could make the Mark V double tilt.

A second hinge end casting and some 'modifying' and you would not need to flip the headstock.

However there is that pesky need to get gear rack on both sides of the table mounting posts(or get a Mark VII table/trunion ). Annnd a reversible motor.

There be a thread re double tilt mods. When I locate it I will post a link. Read the whole thing. The 'design' changes.


http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... t7521.html

Consider what JPG mentioned about the need to reverse the motor if you invert the headstock...could be more of a PITA than its worth. Have you looked into the Speed Increaser? It will let you do what it sounds like you want to do and increase your routing speed to boot, which inverting the headstock won't do.

Hadn't thought about needing to reverse the motor. that would be more than I would want to try. This was mostly theoretical. I can't think of a case where I would need to do it really. I have a router table and will be making an even better one and that would be the main place I could see the advantage.

Ed,

I see your in Idaho Panhandle. So am I. Nice to know I am not alone.

Be aware that Bill Mayo (billstoolz.com) can rewire motors to make them reversible. That can be done to a Mark 5/V motor so long as it does not have an Emerson motor.

JPG wrote:Most certainly it can.

If you are more adventurous, you could make the Mark V double tilt.

A second hinge end casting and some 'modifying' and you would not need to flip the headstock.

However there is that pesky need to get gear rack on both sides of the table mounting posts(or get a Mark VII table/trunion ). Annnd a reversible motor.

There be a thread re double tilt mods. When I locate it I will post a link. Read the whole thing. The 'design' changes.


http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... t7521.html

OK, I'll bite. Why do I need to reverse my motor if I run my headstock pointed quill-up? All my drill bits, router bits, shaper bits, etc. are still right-hand bits ...

BuckeyeDennis wrote:

JPG wrote:Most certainly it can.

If you are more adventurous, you could make the Mark V double tilt.

A second hinge end casting and some 'modifying' and you would not need to flip the headstock.

However there is that pesky need to get gear rack on both sides of the table mounting posts(or get a Mark VII table/trunion ). Annnd a reversible motor.

There be a thread re double tilt mods. When I locate it I will post a link. Read the whole thing. The 'design' changes.


http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... t7521.html

OK, I'll bite. Why do I need to reverse my motor if I run my headstock pointed quill-up? All my drill bits, router bits, shaper bits, etc. are still right-hand bits ...

Also.

A hand held router works bit down in handheld mode and bit up when installed in a router table. My PC 7518 in my router table is not reversable and works fine.

Good point. Can't wait to hear the reason

Hmmm...

It seems to me that its kind of like using the offside of the spindle to sand a turned bowl. Either way the spindle is still turning towards the speed dial side of the headstock, but relative to the grain, the direction of rotation is reversed and you are now sanding opposite to the way you were when the bowl was on the front side of the spindle. Facing the bowl on the offside, the left side of the bowl is coming up which is opposite of what you would be looking at if the bowl were mounted on the front side of the spindle. So to sand the trailing side when using the offside spindle you would sand the right side, instead of the left.

So back to routing: relative to the table, the spindle will be turning clockwise when headstock is oriented normally and counter clockwise if inverted. So I think you are right, it does seem a reversible motor would not be needed as long as feed direction was adjusted.

edflorence wrote:Hmmm... Relative to the table, the spindle will be turning clockwise when headstock is oriented normally and counter clockwise if inverted. So it does seem a reversible motor would not be needed as long as feed direction was adjusted.

And you get a cutter that is also reversed. i.e. cuts 'counter clockwise'.