Want to make a shorty... How much to cut?

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:03 pm

dusty wrote:Can your belt sander be driven from either side?? I think it can. If so, that would make a good combination because all you have to do is slide the headstock back and forth to change functions.

Shopsmith thought this was a good idea too. Reference their new mini configuration.

I have a mini with band saw on the left and belt sander on the right, but the belt sander rotates the wrong way for the dust collector to suck up the dust. I have tried to figure out how to make it work, but no luck. What do you mean driven from either side??

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:24 pm

joedw00 wrote:I have a mini with band saw on the left and belt sander on the right, but the belt sander rotates the wrong way for the dust collector to suck up the dust. I have tried to figure out how to make it work, but no luck. What do you mean driven from either side??

Does the drive shaft protrude from the belt sander on both sides? If it does, the headstock can be on either the right side or the left side of the headstock.

Just a configuration question driven by curiosity.

The band saw, for example, has a drive shaft on only its' right side. Therefore, the headstock must be on that side of the belt sander. Same limitation for the jointer. The jointer is always to the left of the headstock.

edflorence · Post by **edflorence** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:25 pm

Just a quick word in defense of the "mini" idea...I just picked up a mini from an EBay seller and the tubes on it are a mere 26 inches. I suspect he simply cut a set of full-size tubes in half and made two minis...However, this is perfect for what I have in mind to use it for. I want a dedicated stand for the bandsaw and the jointer, both of which SPTs are a bit awkward to move from storage to SS and back again. Bill Mayo did a wonderful job of rebuilding my old "54 vintage greeny headstock and installed a reversing switch on the motor. My plan is to install the jointer in its normal location, using the 1.6 spindle and put the bandsaw on the right hand side. To use the bandsaw the motor will be put in the reverse position. The headstock width is about 16 1/2 inches which will leave me with about 5 1/2 to 6 inches of sliding room on the tubes. The SPT coupler is 5 inches long so it all should work fine. I have not put it all together yet because I am waiting for caster brackets. Hopefully will have it up and running in the next couple of weeks. Once the BS and the jointer are mounted on the mini, they will stay there. No plans to use the mini in any other mode...Really, really looking forward to not schlepping the jointer from one side of the shop to the other ever again :>)

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:40 pm

edflorence wrote:Just a quick word in defense of the "mini" idea...I just picked up a mini from an EBay seller and the tubes on it are a mere 26 inches. I suspect he simply cut a set of full-size tubes in half and made two minis...However, this is perfect for what I have in mind to use it for. I want a dedicated stand for the bandsaw and the jointer, both of which SPTs are a bit awkward to move from storage to SS and back again. Bill Mayo did a wonderful job of rebuilding my old "54 vintage greeny headstock and installed a reversing switch on the motor. My plan is to install the jointer in its normal location, using the 1.6 spindle and put the bandsaw on the right hand side. To use the bandsaw the motor will be put in the reverse position. The headstock width is about 16 1/2 inches which will leave me with about 5 1/2 to 6 inches of sliding room on the tubes. The SPT coupler is 5 inches long so it all should work fine. I have not put it all together yet because I am waiting for caster brackets. Hopefully will have it up and running in the next couple of weeks. Once the BS and the jointer are mounted on the mini, they will stay there. No plans to use the mini in any other mode...Really, really looking forward to not schlepping the jointer from one side of the shop to the other ever again :>)

This is why I have my Shorty except I solved the heavy weight hauling problem differently. My jointer remains mounted on the left side of my Mark V.

The right end of the Shorty is "drill press" and the left end is where the belt sander resides. The band saw could go there too but I have a Power Station for that.

2centsworth · Post by **2centsworth** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:45 pm

Like Bill Mayo said 18 inches is the true shorty. I have cut 14 inches, 16 inches and 18 inches. All work all all have sold like hot cakes. It just depends on what you want to use it for. If you want the carriage cut 14. If you want the lathe and drill press go either 14 or 16. But 18 still does it all. Now cutting it down to mini limits your options. No carriage at a mini, but a heck of a sanding station with a belt sander, drum sander and disc sander all attached and functional. So I recommend starting with 14 and see how you like it, you can always cut it down again, but it is hard to add it back

!

edflorence · Post by **edflorence** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:50 pm

Dusty...I have been using the left side of my full-size SS as the storage place for my jointer but as I have no other drill press, I am frequently moving it. Your solution sounds great, but would require room for the Power Station which I no got. I can just barely squeeze a spot for the new Mini. All the different solutions do, however, go to show how versatile and adaptable these machines are.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 7:06 pm

edflorence wrote:Dusty...I have been using the left side of my full-size SS as the storage place for my jointer but as I have no other drill press, I am frequently moving it. Your solution sounds great, but would require room for the Power Station which I no got. I can just barely squeeze a spot for the new Mini. All the different solutions do, however, go to show how versatile and adaptable these machines are.

I was sorta forced to do something that would eliminate the need to heist that jointer around. A "permanent residence" was the objective. Everything else sorta fell into place with there not being many other solutions.

Before making this change I was giving serious thought to either reducing the size of my work bench (the one in the middle of the shop) or giving it up all together. I have a bench along the back wall of the garage but it is usually full of "stuff".

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:09 pm

dusty wrote:Does the drive shaft protrude from the belt sander on both sides? If it does, the headstock can be on either the right side or the left side of the headstock.

Just a configuration question driven by curiosity.

The band saw, for example, has a drive shaft on only its' right side. Therefore, the headstock must be on that side of the belt sander. Same limitation for the jointer. The jointer is always to the left of the headstock.

Here is what it looks like.
[ATTACH]25548[/ATTACH]

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:23 pm

joedw00 wrote:Here is what it looks like.
[ATTACH]25548[/ATTACH]

1) Remove the hub from the 'right' shaft.

2) Pull the shiney cover off the 'left' shaft'

3) Install the hub on the 'left' shaft.

4) Push the shaft cover over the 'right' shaft.

:)

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:37 pm

Thanks I will try that tomorrow.

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Want to make a shorty... How much to cut?

It depends on what you need it for....