How many use stand alone machines too?

[tdorey]

I looked up "Old Mark VII". I see an older model had that feature. Actually that model looks better designed with the extension tables etc. Why the change? Was cost an issue? Even having a storage box under is a good idea.

[JPG]

I have a 520 table/carriage with a 500 headstock.

How does it lock together on the VII?

See last two pix - http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 83#p143183

And this = http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 83#p143183

The 'lock' drops into grooves in the rod.

[JPG]

I looked up "Old Mark VII". I see an older model had that feature. Actually that model looks better designed with the extension tables etc. Why the change? Was cost an issue? Even having a storage box under is a good idea.

That ain't no storage box(at least not originally ). That box holds the saw dust collection bag for the built in vac.

Realize that design belonged to two corporations back. Not sure SS Inc. got what was needed to restore its production. The Mark 5 is easier($) to manufacture. However some design details were implemented with the 510 carriage and idler shaft bearing and shaper fence mount and . . . and lastly the double tilt Mark 7 by RLF Tools LLC.

[beeg]

Why the change? Was cost an issue? Even having a storage box under is a good idea.

My best guess is that when Bob Folkerth bought the ShopSmith rights, in the early 70's. It was because he had a Mark V.

[masonsailor2]

I have a stand alone TS, router table and drill press. Both the TS and router table were built by me using various components. I also have three 510's and all the accessories. Stand alones are merely time savers. I am not sure what project one could even think up that could not be done on one single Shopsmith. Years ago I made a living using a Mark V and a ton of accessories all neatly tucked into a VW van along with various hand power tools and did onsite custom cabinets, mantles etc. We even used the molder head and made miles of custom molding. It was some of the best work we have ever done and all with one Mark V. The stand alones are great to have but are merely a luxury of space. One of the great challenges of woodworking is taking on a difficult project and figuring out how to make the components. Many tomes it involves making jigs to produce complex components and nothing offers more versatility than a Mk 5. Gotta lovem.
Paul

[ibskot]

Masonsailer2, I'd love to see any pics if you have of that van setup. VW's are another love of mine. A Karmann Ghia was my first car...had a 72 pop top Westy and a 68 beetle. Learned to drive in a 67 beetle.

[jsburger]

I currently have a SS with BS, Jointer, Bosch Chop Saw, Dewalt Plainer. I have only had the SS for 6 months. Still thinking about getting a dedicated TS. Its not about the ability of the SS TS< its more about the frustration changing between TS and other functions.

I can see why some of you have more than one SS, While doing projects there is a part of me that says, "if I do that I have to take off the table Saw Blade, Remove floating table etc etc. So I end up doing something a different way. So the change over is part of my decision process.

Not 'recommended', but, not fiddling with the saw blade guard greatly reduces the time and effort.(says the 'one' who has never had a saw guard for a half century). Ditto the floating tables and tubes(says the mark 5 goldie user).

With a SS, the changeover process needs to be part of the 'plan' so as to minimize it or at least have them not affect the final result.

Yes having more than one is 'convenient', but far more meaningful is that any one can be set up as any of the rest as needed. With > 1 saw(etc.), different setups can occur simultaneously.

Yes they require, yet allow, a different mind set.

I know, I'm trying!

Is there a product feedback area of this forum? I think Shopsmith as a company should be listening to customers and see the jigs and complaints people have to improve the product. This forum is like a free Research and Development.

On a different topic, has anyone thought about a ratcheting system for the headstock and carriage? One of my frustrations is "sliding" the headstock and carriage back and forth along my well waxed tubes. They get stuck, I have to bend down, push form a different angle etc. It would be a great improvement to have them on a ratchet with a wheel adjust left to right. yes, some cost to have tubes geared etc, but it would really improve that experience of moving things out of the way, could all be down with out having to bend down.

There is no reason to have a crank/ratchet or what ever on the SS. The head stock and carriage move perfectly on their own.

Not sure why you have that problem. That should not occur no mater how old your machine is. Good waxing helps but is not a fix for your problem. Something else is wrong. I have 65 year old 10ERs that slide perfectly after they have been cleaned.

Maybe your way tubes are slightly bent.

[JPG]

Why the change? Was cost an issue? Even having a storage box under is a good idea.

My best guess is that when Bob Folkerth bought the ShopSmith rights, in the early 70's. It was because he had a Mark V.

Bob's daddy John was the one. He went looking to make saw blades for the SawSmith and ended up with Mark 5 stuff. I think he got all there was at the time that was 'found'.

[JPG]

. . .

. . .

I know, I'm trying!

Is there a product feedback area of this forum? I think Shopsmith as a company should be listening to customers and see the jigs and complaints people have to improve the product. This forum is like a free Research and Development.

On a different topic, has anyone thought about a ratcheting system for the headstock and carriage? One of my frustrations is "sliding" the headstock and carriage back and forth along my well waxed tubes. They get stuck, I have to bend down, push form a different angle etc. It would be a great improvement to have them on a ratchet with a wheel adjust left to right. yes, some cost to have tubes geared etc, but it would really improve that experience of moving things out of the way, could all be down with out having to bend down.

There is no reason to have a crank/ratchet or what ever on the SS. The head stock and carriage move perfectly on their own.

Not sure why you have that problem. That should not occur no mater how old your machine is. Good waxing helps but is not a fix for your problem. Something else is wrong. I have 65 year old 10ERs that slide perfectly after they have been cleaned.

Maybe your way tubes are slightly bent.

I never try to position the carriage by pulling/pushing on the table. It just does not make good sense to try that(yes sometimes it might work, but stress results).

When in vertical(drill press mode) that crank becomes quite 'handy' to raise/lower the headstock.

Bending over to move stuff will pay off later when ya get old and stiff later than if you did not bend over now. Remember, use it or lose it!!!

[wa2crk]

T Dorey
I have noticed that pushing on the table will sometimes cause the carriage to bind up a bit on the way tubes. I found that pulling is a lot better than pushing.
To move the table and carriage to the right try to pull it by grabbing the table on the tailstock side and pulling it toward the tailstock and when moving it towards the headstock grab the headstock side of the table and pull towards the headstock. The carriage bores seem to want to be forced down on the way tubes when pushing and stick to the way tubes.
Bill V