Shopsmith 10e spindle and drill chuck runout question

cjlink · Post by **cjlink** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:33 pm

I retested my spindle runout and it is around .001"; which is excellent for 64 yr old shopsmith with original bearings(right?).
After cleaning the inside of the chuck and retesting; I am still receiving around .010" runout (measuring drill rod 1" out from the chuck).

So does that mean that my chuck is wore out? I would accept a reading of .005".

skou · Post by **skou** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:22 pm

In my opinion, .003 is a LARGE runout for an ER. If I'm not mistaken, .0015 was average for them.

JPG is hinting at something. Did you tighten on all 3 holes? Yes, It DOES matter.

steve

cjlink · Post by **cjlink** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:01 am

I agree. My updated spindle measurement result was .001".

After about 20 attempts with two different size drill rods, I am still around .010" at 1" below the chuck. This makes me suspect that it is the drill chuck.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:19 am

I don't know about this. You ask, "Is my chuck wore out"? Your chuck may not be performing like a brand new one but does it need to. When you drill holes are they properly located and are they the right size? Are they round? That is the real question.

If they are clean, round holes of the right size, does the age and condition of the chuck matter.

I ask because you never indicated that you were having problems; only that you might have a runout issue. Bad numbers don't count until they cause bad performance.

After thought: are the drill rods perfectly straight. How do you test for that?

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:12 am

Dusty's question about the drill rod being straight is right on. Try using a 1/2 inch shank router bit in the chuck and re measure. The router shank is ground very true and may give a more valid reading.
Bill V

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:38 am

dusty wrote:I don't know about this. You ask, "Is my chuck wore out"? Your chuck may not be performing like a brand new one but does it need to. When you drill holes are they properly located and are they the right size? Are they round? That is the real question.

If they are clean, round holes of the right size, does the age and condition of the chuck matter.

I ask because you never indicated that you were having problems]perfectly straight[/U]. How do you test for that?

There you go... Common sense approach.

Are current "working" results unsatisfactory?

I for one will "continue" to be ready to make any "needed" repairs to any of my equipment and will always watch its performance for satisfactory results. "IF" I have a problem with the results I will take action. I will not, to quote my late father, "go borrowing trouble".

If I hear a noise I go hunting, I want to know what it is.
While I only rarely use any of my Shopsmith's for a tablesaw I do consider the alignment of the entire system of blade, fence, table etc. etc. to be ultra important for safety as well as quality of cut. About all of the rest of the SS functions? Eh... Not so much...

I also want to point out that on all of those ultra high priced selling antiques from the colonial days which sometimes sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars most holes were made using a hand held brace and bit... Some pretty danged crude. Micrometers and dial indicators were not part of their tool kits.

Now, if anyone wants to carefully check everything, constantly taking all manner of measurements as if they were going to be making ladies watches instead of doing woodworking I would say have at it and have fun.

This post is not meant as criticism of anybody or any way of enjoying their hobby. I just like to try to insert a bit of balance from "the other side" (maybe the dark side [smiling]) now and then.
The reason I often kick in a post like this is that I do not want the young guy that is thinking that he wants to do some hobby woodworking and starts reading this or similar forums to investigate the hobby to think "I can't deal with all that detail stuff, That's too much hassel". Or to think I just can't do that". I want him (or her) instead to think "I think I can easily learn to make bird houses or something and maybe go on from there and relax and enjoy it".
I used to occasionally get up on my soapbox with a small handful of guys on an antique tractor group I was on for years. While generally a good bunch of guys some were not the kind of helpful fun loving guys that populate this forum. Some of them once in a while would actually announce strongly that they felt that if someone didn't have the money or skills to restore an old tractor "properly" (to their standards) that they should not be in the hobby at all...

I have been saddened for some time over the dumping of shop classes from the schools. I'm pretty sure that a fair number of guys here likely got their first exposure to woodworking through a school shop class. Sometimes those memories linger for years before popping up as a possibility of an enjoyable hobby... Being taught that they were capable of making an acceptable "whatsit" is what gives many the thought "I can do that".

Just rambling...

.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:43 am

Well said!

As usual.

cjlink · Post by **cjlink** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:18 pm

I am not sure what the soapbox post was about.

I want to thank you guys that actual offered good advice. Thanks to Dusty; he took the time to measure his runout.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:25 pm

[quote="cjlink"]I am not sure what the rambling soapbox post was about.

I want to thank you guys that actual offered good advice. Thanks to Rusty]
Go back and read it again(and again if necessary) until understanding descends upon thee.

Agreement will come later in life.

Who's "Rusty"?:D