Shopsmith Forums

After looking over the Shopsmith Power Tool Woodworking book that I recently recieved with my new sawdust toy, I see for example where there is roughly a zillion different ways to cut a rabbet joint depending on what tools you've aquired and what set up mode you are in. Is there a chart that organizes the options to make a cut and/or joint ect, per work station. So if you are set up for tablesawing what your choices are to make the rabbet with minimal changes. Or utilizing a different mode of operation with the least amount of changes, or even if you have an auxillary stand alone tool, i.e. drill press, use it instead to cut down time of conversions and make dust effficiently. I'm sorry if my question is a little hard to understand and I'm sure for you veteran users this is second nature, but I thought I just saw about 12ways to skin a rabbet.
Also, if a guy had 2 shopsmths, for most efficiency would you sand and bandsaw on one, and table saw and plane-joint on the other? Just opinions for those who have learned through experience.
Thanks for the pointers

mrhart wrote:After looking over the Shopsmith Power Tool Woodworking book that I recently recieved with my new sawdust toy, I see for example where there is roughly a zillion different ways to cut a rabbet joint depending on what tools you've aquired and what set up mode you are in. Is there a chart that organizes the options to make a cut and/or joint ect, per work station. So if you are set up for tablesawing what your choices are to make the rabbet with minimal changes. Or utilizing a different mode of operation with the least amount of changes, or even if you have an auxillary stand alone tool, i.e. drill press, use it instead to cut down time of conversions and make dust effficiently. I'm sorry if my question is a little hard to understand and I'm sure for you veteran users this is second nature, but I thought I just saw about 12ways to skin a rabbet.
Also, if a guy had 2 shopsmths, for most efficiency would you sand and bandsaw on one, and table saw and plane-joint on the other? Just opinions for those who have learned through experience.
Thanks for the pointers

As with many other operations that the SS is capable of performing, making rabbets are part of the needed sequence of operations that are necessary due to the need to make different setups for each operation.

How and when using what are part of that planning.

There is no pat answer that can be 'charted' since the uniqueness(s) of the tasks at hand are the determining factors. Add to that the uniqueness of the tooling at hand also!

I suppose one could chart the options available with their individual tool mix.

Ain't no pat answer!]Repetition intentional!:)[/SIZE]

I can't answer the first part of your question but I have an opinion on how to most effectively utilize two Mark Vs.

I have two, that is why I have an opinion.

I use one to hold a bandsaw and to function as a sanding station. Except, my belt sander is mounted on its own power stand.

The other Mark V permanently supports the jointer and all other Mark V functions.

If I need to go to the drill press mode, I will use which ever Mark V most easily supports that transition at the time.

Personally, I do not believe there is a pat answer.

Changing setups is not a big deal, just a bit of a nuisance. The more you use your Shopsmith, the easier it is to plan ahead and avoid repeating setups.
I think my first project was a night stand for my son with no plans to guide me, just my sketch for design and measurements: one drawer, one shelf, legs turned from the lower shelf to the floor.
By the end of that project I had pretty much learned to identify what cuts I had to make, what sanding I had to do, what holes had to be drilled and the most logical sequence to work to avoid changing back to a setup I had already used.

wgander wrote:Changing setups is not a big deal, just a bit of a nuisance.

As one poster said on another thread (sorry, I forget who) - woodworking is about "the journey". Changing setups doesn't bother me all that much as it is part of the process of turning beautiful hardwood into sawdust and kindling.

On the flip side, a few years back, when I was doing mostly home repair/remodeling and very little woodworking, changing setups was a pain in the butt - but that was all about getting the job done quickly.

dusty wrote:...
Personally, I do not believe there is a pat answer.

Actaully, ther IS a 'Pat' answer, just as there is a 'Dusty' answer, and a 'JPG' answer, and (occasioinally) a 'Derek' answer

I believe I mentioned the 'journey' when talking about cutting purfling channels and shoulders (little rebates/rabbetts on a musical instrument) is a post about a tool my brother-in-law made. Unfortunately, Dave passed a couple of weeks ago, so the 'journey' will be ever more bitter-sweet.

Derek

When I started in wood working my high school shop class was outfitted with hand tools and basic power tools so I was familar with them and liked using them.

I was not familar with tools like a router or dado saw blades as they simply weren't standard equipment in the shop.

When I started wood working I was more or less afraid of Router, they were loud, started with a sharp jerk, and just looked dangerous.

I also didn't like Dado blades, if a saw blade can do real damage just think how much damage a whole mess of spinning blades can do. Boy I'm not touching one of them.


So my wood working was limited to things I could do on a bandsaw, tablesaw, drill press, lathe and with hand tools. I was fat dumb and happy.

So if you asked me about a rabbet I would tell you either to cut it on the tablesaw making two cuts one for depth and two to clear the rabbet. Or to use a shooting board and hand plane.

However today I have gotten over my fear of routers, I use a jointer and even use a electric hand plane. I have also added dado blades and a sacrifical fence to the my SS. So I can cut Rabbets many ways depending what I'm doing, how my SS is setup and if the truth be told how much junk I have sitting in my shop. If I have the room and everything is cleaned off I will probably cut the rabbet with a router and rabbetting bit. Quick easy and no fuss no mess. But I have cut them with hand planes, single saw blade, with dado blades, on my jointer and once with my electric hand plane.

derekdarling wrote:Actaully, ther IS a 'Pat' answer, just as there is a 'Dusty' answer, and a 'JPG' answer, and (occasioinally) a 'Derek' answer

I believe I mentioned the 'journey' when talking about cutting purfling channels and shoulders (little rebates/rabbetts on a musical instrument) is a post about a tool my brother-in-law made. Unfortunately, Dave passed a couple of weeks ago, so the 'journey' will be ever more bitter-sweet.

Derek

Enjoy the sweet part, and merely tolerate the bitter.

Who's 'Pat"?:D

Thanks, JPG. I'm going to miss Dave, but the tool... the tool. You know what I mean.

About the 'PAT' part, I'm standing pat right now. I just was given (GIVEN!) an old JET 6" Jointer, with base and motor. It had been a little neglected with rust on all the smooth bits. SO, a couple of weeks in, lots of 'navel jelly' and elbow grease (at least THAT's free!), and the table and fence are nice and shiny. I think I'll go the next few steps and do a tear-down/re-build and paint job. The knives were even sharp!

Derek