Auxiliary drill press table for the SS??

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:59 am

Having acquired a (yet to be assembled) "Shorty" from Bill Mayo....Thanks Bill....I'm intending to use it for all the modes/operations made onerous by the installation of the Jointech Saw Train on my old ca. 1975 MKV. The drill press being the main one.
I've long admired the shop made drill press tables I've seen on other sites and in mags. I'm wondering if anyone has made one that is SS specific that takes advantage of all the table mobility and horizontal boring capacity?
Thanks guys.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:27 pm

Could you post a picture or two of what you are asking about? The aluminum Shopsmith main tables will flex under pressure when drilling but there are ways to reinforce them. I have a modified Total Shop main steel table supported underside and have various vises and jigs that mount on the steel table.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:52 pm

Bill, you have said that the Shopsmith Table will flex and I agree but do you believe that it flexes enough to be an issue in normal wood working situations.

I drill a lot of metal (mostly aluminum) but the Shopsmith is a wood working tool and not a milling machine. Is it fair to tag the Shopsmith with the label "table flexes"?

As a drill press when working wood I do not experience difficulties at all. It may well flex but not enough to impact a wood project.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 1:05 pm

Use a mortising bit often?;)

Otherwise I consider it rigid enough.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:49 am

Thanks for the replies.
Not really concerned about the table's stability. Won't be drilling anything other than wood, plastic or aluminum.
Really interested in how to firmly attach an auxiliary table to the SS table. My thought was to mill a ZCI piece and glue it to the underside. Then add strips around the perimeter. Maybe a strip to fit in the fence lock groove in the front.
I'm trying to get the utility of a dedicated DP fence, replaceable, insert, length stops and T-tracks for hold downs.
Any and all ideas welcome!
Thanks again.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:22 am

I believe your drill press is a converted (Shorty) Mark V with the larger Shopsmith table (505, 510 or 520).

If that is correct, what do you perceive to be the short comings that necessitate a special table?

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:30 am

As far as the table flexing when mortising or other heavy pressure situations, SS does sell this to alleviate the problem:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/table_support_leg.htm

It's not 100% clear from their description if this fits 500's as well, or just 510/520's, but I can't see why it wouldn't fit on a 500 table as well (?). For that matter, I'm not sure why one couldn't just use a 2x cut to the right length to stick under the table for such stability needs.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:44 am

I tried this table (similar ones available from Rockler) for awhile but for my use, mostly drilling metal, I did not like it. It clamped on from underneath:
[ATTACH]22390[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]22391[/ATTACH]

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:39 am

Dusty,
It's the 500 table. I've worked or jigged around most of the small table's limitations. I never found it's size to be too much of a hinderance. But my DP table would be wider (in DP mode).

dgale,
"I'm not sure why one couldn't just use a 2x cut to the right length to stick under the table for such stability needs."
Exactly! No need for adjustability as my DP work would be at a specific height for my comfort, anyway.

Peter,
First, let me compliment you on the condition of your machine. Mine hasn't been that clean since it was new!
Thanks for the pictures. That table looks like exactly what I need. Why don't you care for it? I'm off to search Rockler's site.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:46 am

That table looks to be very functional. The problem that I would have with it on a drill press would be "what happens to it when I fail to use a backer board". It may be that Rockler has already taken care of that. I see what might be a sacrificial insert in the center of the table.

However, looking at this table of Peters, I realize a problem that I would have. The auxiliary table raises the work surface and on my Shorty I have already reduced the height of stock that I can drill. I can not afford to reduce it further.

This is the only issue I have seen/experienced with my Shorty so far.

[ATTACH]22393[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22394[/ATTACH]

These are changes that I had to make to my drill press to make it efficient.