SPT Leg Length

[ERLover]

I have never cut tubing that thick with a pipe cutter, even though I think they use them on galvanized pipe, and I think the SS ones are Aluminum, if so I think it would work and be more square the using a hack saw.

[JPG]

What do you recommend cutting these down with? A pipe cutter or a metal cutting band saw blade?

I recommend getting the correct ones and saving those for when someone might need them.

[greasemonkey2275]

I recommend getting the correct ones and saving those for when someone might need them.

Looking at the parts diagram it looks like you can only get the offset or eccentric mounting tubes; does anyone know where I can get shorter straight tubes without cutting mine? I know that the eccentric mounting tubes are designed to allow you to raise the way tube tie bar without hitting the SPT's but I have not had that problem with my Mark V with either my bandsaw or jointer mounted.

[reible]

I can not speak to the needs of the jointer as I don't have one of the shopsmith ones but for the other tools the eccentric legs were there for alignment purposes. My older tools like the jig saw had a groove with a ring in it for height adjustment and then the rest of the alignment was done via the set screw under the tie bar. The change was made so the adjustment is done at the SPT via the eccentrics later on and the height via the collars.

So do you really want or need straight legs? I'm really asking as I don't know.

Ed

[greasemonkey2275]

So do you really want or need straight legs? I'm really asking as I don't know.

Ed

What I am saying is I like the straight tubes especially after reading the threads about wobble issues with the eccentric tubes. As far as the height adjustment for the jointer goes, I asked my dad to turn some bushings for me (see first pic in OP) and now I don't have to fiddle with drive hub alignment when I swap out SPTs.

[reible]

OK I think I see what the problem is. We have a case of the "failure to communicate" syndrome. Sometimes terms get cross used and when we want to say something we use a word we remember but it is not what we really mean. So here on the forum we sometime have the use of eccentric and off-set used to mean the same thing. They don't.

Lets talk off-set first. Shopsmith users use to like to keep there bandsaw in place on the shopsmith and then still be able to go to drill press mode while leaving it there. The new larger bandsaw table came out and well someone had not done there homework and you could not simply raise the machine anymore. Looking for a solution shopsmith deveolped the off set legs which allowed the bandsaw to be moved out of the way due to the off-set in the legs. Some people have since written saying that the bandsaw is "blowing in the wind" so to speak with these off-set legs. Sometimes people have used eccentric for this off-set set of legs, and incorrectly so.

So the new bandsaw table had a ripple effect and those that wanted the ability to keep in in place were then stuck with wobble, a trade off I guess and some people have since changed the bracket between the legs, the off set to heavier material.... but when you upgrade to the dual tilt you can't keep a bandsaw in place anyway so it is what it is.

Now the other term is the eccentric legs. Older SPT had straight legs and as I mentioned the movement needed for alignment was done on the tube location via a setscrew or filing on the shopsmith. That was changed when they decided the movement would be done in the legs of the SPT. I have never seen or heard of and bad behavior caused by this change and in fact it was in my book an improvement in usability. This is a far different changed then the off-set but again people sometimes use this term where they should have used off-set.

I have converted all my older tools to the new legs except for the the jig saw. I can't remember now if that is because they never did the newer design for that or I just never did it.....

So as far as I know there is no wobble issue with using the eccentric legs, only with the off-set legs.

Again it is up to you if you don't want the new legs but I just wanted you to know that I don't think you will have any issues with putting them in and might even like them once you have them adjusted.

Ed

So do you really want or need straight legs? I'm really asking as I don't know.

Ed

What I am saying is I like the straight tubes especially after reading the threads about wobble issues with the eccentric tubes. As far as the height adjustment for the jointer goes, I asked my dad to turn some bushings for me (see first pic in OP) and now I don't have to fiddle with drive hub alignment when I swap out SPTs.

[dusty]

Eccentric_Short (502080)...vs...Eccentric Tubes(555626)

It is easy to see why the wobble issue exists when using Eccentric Tubes (555626).

[ERLover]

Sure can see how and why those from SS would wobble.

[greasemonkey2275]

ERlover & Dusty,

Thank you for the education and I now understand how those terms can lead us down the wrong path.

[JPG]

Anti 'wobble' fix.

band saw offset.jpg (319 KiB) Viewed 1828 times