Converting a Pro Planer to a Mark-Mount Planer

[everettdavis]

"I thought it was spectacular that the guy custom-designs guitars for elite musicians, and then builds them primarily using his ancient Shopsmith 10ER."

You say 'Ancient' - I say 'Still In Service'

Leroy Jethro Gibbs Rule 5: "You don't waste good."

Shopsmith 10ER.png (395.34 KiB) Viewed 3021 times

You will find that photo elsewhere in the forums, just as you will a plethora of 10ER unit photos, still in service or actively being restored.

[burnt]

Loved that anecdote. Wonder what the naysayers think about that.

Right? The difference between what is made by my DeWalt GWI and Shopsmith 500-turned-510-turned-520-turned-Mark7 with SPTs and what's made by a shop full of new Jet and Powermatic machines is who's using the tools.

[burnt]

"I thought it was spectacular that the guy custom-designs guitars for elite musicians, and then builds them primarily using his ancient Shopsmith 10ER."

You say 'Ancient' - I say 'Still In Service'

Leroy Jethro Gibbs Rule 5: "You don't waste good."

Shopsmith 10ER.png

You will find that photo elsewhere in the forums, just as you will a plethora of 10ER unit photos, still in service or actively being restored.

Hey, "ancient" isn't a bad thing! Unless Shopsmith accessories count, I'm not sure I've ever bought a power tool that was new, and most are closer to two times than to one time my current age. I trust manufacturing processes that are so economically unfeasible nowadays that they don't even exist anymore over the uniformly planned obsolescence seen in big-box stores, or even most tools one could find in Woodcraft or Rockler.

Now, if only that approach were in any way practical when buying a router...

[everettdavis]

My Mark-Mount Planer is a manual feed model bought many years ago when budgets were very tight. But at my age now the elbows begin to groan when I have a lot of planing to do

I need to get a feed motor fix, but that would run around $1,000 from Shopsmith

I can locally get a Pro Planer for around $500 and could sell the mount and motor for $????? so I am wondering if anyone has done such a conversion before and has advice?

I see from the pix of the Pro that the cutouts for the tubes are there but I am uncertain as to getting it attached to the PP head.

Forrest

PS There no room for the Pro Planer in my shop.

Forrest,

Several things have come to mind since I read your post.

I have one of each, and looking at the Mark V mounted unit, I think you could harvest the feed mechanisms from the Pro Planer you are considering, and convert it to feed easier than converting the much heavier Pro Planer unit - with one caveat.

Since I don’t have a manual feed unit to compare it to, I can’t be sure the side castings of the frame are exactly the same as those with feed motors and would readily accept the gearing etc.

But, if I read what you said and interpreted it right, Shopsmith sells the upgrade for your unit for about $1000, indicating there is a conversion path mechanically, suggesting you could harvest the parts from the Pro Planer you are considering.

As others have mentioned, the cast iron table is heavy on the Pro Planer. Your elbows are going to notice that as well as your back, and maybe your eyes as they bug out of your face lifting it.

Bill Mayo has created a 3” caster upgrade for the Pro Planer base (and power stands etc.) and I have it now, but not yet installed it. It is supposed to make rolling Pro Planer around the shop similar to the new casters for the Mark V. The Shopsmith upgrade for that won’t fit them. Bill’s are supposed to.

Since the footprint of the SPT Mark V Mounted unit when stored is roughly the same as a Pro Planer, (aside from the stand height), making a bench area it could roll under when not in use could be done to help keep it out of the way if you have room for that, and your elbows will not have to crank or (lift) the heavier Pro Planer to mount it.

The larger cast iron table is really welcome at times with some stock.

I would love to have some detailed pictures of the manual feed planer, as I have never seen the internals of one for comparison.

When I get the casters mounted on my Pro Planer, I will post pictures, but that means I am going to have to separate that heavy unit from the stand for safety, and then put it back, or devise some way to elevate it and work on the floor from my knees, perhaps a worse prospect for me.

Everett

[everettdavis]

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... 16009.html

Is as discussion about converting from feed motor to manual which opposite of upgrading manual feed unit but there's a good bit of relevant information I think.

[forrestb]

Thanks, Everett, for the link.

Given the weight of the Pro Planer's bed I am seriously looking at the area where I store my Mark-Mount planer for modifications. Take out the Mark-Mount, remove the support and I think the area problem is solved.

Minor issue of storing the Mark-Mount unit till sold, but I can live with that to get relief for this old body.

Forrest

[garys]

I'm new to the Shopsmith planer. I've owned my Shopsmith since 1988, but never had a planer. Last week I bought a used planer and it has me a bit confused.
It is a Mark mounted model with manual feed, but it has a power cord. What is the power cord and the On-Off switch for. I plugged it in and it appears to do nothing and that is what I would expect since it has no motor inside it.

[JPG]

I'm new to the Shopsmith planer. I've owned my Shopsmith since 1988, but never had a planer. Last week I bought a used planer and it has me a bit confused.
It is a Mark mounted model with manual feed, but it has a power cord. What is the power cord and the On-Off switch for. I plugged it in and it appears to do nothing and that is what I would expect since it has no motor inside it.

When mounted to the left end on the SS, the planer infeed is at the back of the SS. The SS power switch is on the front(opposite to the infeed).

The power cord and control box provide a means to control the power to the SS from the rear(infeed side).

The SS is plugged into the receptacle on the control box. The SS power switch is turned on. That allows the control box to turn the SS on/off from the 'rear/infeed side'.

[forrestb]

I'm new to the Shopsmith planer. I've owned my Shopsmith since 1988, but never had a planer. Last week I bought a used planer and it has me a bit confused.
It is a Mark mounted model with manual feed, but it has a power cord. What is the power cord and the On-Off switch for. I plugged it in and it appears to do nothing and that is what I would expect since it has no motor inside it.

When mounted to the left end on the SS, the planer infeed is at the back of the SS. The SS power switch is on the front(opposite to the infeed).

The power cord and control box provide a means to control the power to the SS from the rear(infeed side).

The SS is plugged into the receptacle on the control box. The SS power switch is turned on. That allows the control box to turn the SS on/off from the 'rear/infeed side'.

That switch even works with a PowerPro head as long as you leave it always ON and use it ONLY for emergency shutoff - which is especially nice to have when you mount the planer on the left side with the Power Pro head.

Forrest

[garys]

That makes sense now. I suppose I should have read the owner's manual better. I was lucky enough to get the manual with the planer even though it is one of the oldest planers Shopsmith made.
It is serial number 00308 which dates back to March 1985, but it looks like it has had very little use in its life.