Floor / Foot Switch

[jarhead]

Okay, is there anything special I need to look for when creating one? Thought just about any "standard" electrical hardware will work - I just find that reaching for the switch on the motor at times, is a little awkward / possibly dangerous. Will put non-slip something or other on the back of a "box" and have a large rocker to step on...... didn't know if someone has constructed one and has a picture.

Thanks.

[pennview]

My thought on that is to build a waist-high tower (kinda like a short coat/hat rack) and put one of those large on-off safety switches mounted on the top, facing upward. The Shopsmith plugs into the switch and the switch plugs into the wall outlet. That way you can move it around to meet your needs.

Here's the switch I'm thinking about -- http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offe ... ct=Details

I don't have a problem using on-off switch for the five Shopsmith functions, but when using the SPTs like the bandsaw, the Shopsmith switch is not easily reached. A length of 4x4, plus about four 12" lengths of 2x4 attached pinwheel fashion to the upright should do the trick nicely.

[JPG]

One caveat!

Make sure you do not inadvertently turn it ON by unconsciously stepping on it.

Covering it so you must insert your foot into it will prevent that, but will make quickly turning off more difficult.


More complicated, is a relay circuit that the Normally Closed foot switch causes to drop out when depressed and requires a separate momentary switch to turn on.

[wdelliott]

I seem to recall that a Sawdust Session illustrated how they recommended adding a vertical pole to the floor switch (about waste high) to ease the movement of the switch.

[wa2crk]

Don't think that this would be useful with a PP headstock. On/off control is on the keypad. Killing AC to the PP headstock may not be the proper thing to do. Teknatool has a remote on/off switch that looks like a wristwatch that works with their NOVA DVR lathe. I asked a Nova/Teknatool rep at the Tampa wood show earlier this year and he said that he "thinks" that it "may" work with the PP but he wasn't not positive. Methinks that this would a great improvement for the PP.
What say you guys JPG, Dusty, et al.
Bill V

[JPG]

I think the power on/off method for the PP is not compatible with a foot switch(nor the SS mounted planer).

Think of the pp on/off as a run/stop switching. Power on/off is the original power switch.

[WorkinClass]

Is there a reason why SS stopped selling the foot switch like Nick uses in the Sawdust sessions?

I kinda like the idea. Not just because of convenience, but for my self - safety. (2 hands on work piece stopping spindle, etc.) Believe me, it would be much easier to remove a foot from a switch in an emergency to stop a spindle, than trying to reach a power switch or lift a foot off the ground to hit a brake while wrestling a machine for your t-shirt.

I've ordered a 15amp/250v NO foot switch which I plan to pigtail between the wall and machine (Also added benefit of an extension cord). Granted I understand resistance, length, and draw, and will use a beefy gauge of wire and keep it fairly short and hope it doesn't blow breakers in the home garage. Is there any reasons, any of the veteran SS owners know why this shouldn't be done?