Shopsmith Forums

Thanks Dusty! I'm a woodworker from way back and just starting to rediscover the joy of it all. My SS was purchased new in 1981 (for $1000!) and got a lot of use early on. I made a fateful decision early in life to go to college instead of take an offered apprenticeship in cabinet making. I eventual...

Ok, I took the plunge! Thanks everyone for all of your advice and comments. After thinking it through a bit, I also decided to get an additional floater and another pair of telescoping legs. That should give me quite a bit of flexibility!

Brian

... if it were unsupported the lever arm would make it easier to bend/deflect the longer lengths.... That certainly makes sense to me. I wasn't suggesting using a cantilevered tube configuration. The only question about support was if I used longer tubes between the main table and a set of legs, we...

You posted several questions regarding various setups. Please go back and read them all along with the resulting responses] Apologies if I said something that misrepresented your comments! It was your response that prompted my question to begin with. I got to thinking about how I might use the 5' t...

It's getting towards the end of the sale, and I'm still debating this one. Maybe those of you who use the 5' tubes can describe your setup to me and why you like it. I've attached a doc file with some (very simple) drawings showing the setups that I envision with the requirement that I be able to us...

Thanks for the heads up!

I just found a used 510 with a bandsaw and a bunch of accessories I was also looking for for less than an upgrade. I see the 510->520 sale as well, and I'm very tempted, but I find it hard to justify until I've had some time on the 510.

Brian

dusty wrote:This might be what you're looking for.
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=205

Ahhh... So the extrusion fully surrounds the tube. I had the impression that it didn't.

Thanks!

Yeah, I would rather have used 1/2 as well. I tried using 1/2 MDF for an extension table, and wasn't happy with it's flatness. Even after adding aluminum angle for bracing, it still sags. I'm sure I could have found a better quality 1/2" plywood than what my LDH offers, but this was the quickes...

I'm considering an upgrade of my 1981 Model 500 to a 510/520, but now I'm wondering if I'm better off getting a used 510/520. My 500 is in good shape, so what don't I get if I go upgrade? Here's what I know from the SS site: Two bearing quill introduced in 1984. I can buy this as a separate upgrade....

Thanks Ed, that's all good info. Especially the alignment issue. That may be the deciding factor for me - I can't stand futzing around with things. To me, that's been one of the biggest downsides of the SS: always having to align the tables when changing depth of cut. It isn't obvious from the photo...