Time to plan the shorty shopsmith

[dusty]

Finally got to open the box of legs and the box of tubes.

I'm really pleased with the tubes. Just a couple of small touch ups needed and not worth the effort of spinning them, they are that nice.

The legs on the other hand are a bit worse off then I hoped for. I'll have to do some wire brushing and touch up before painting. Maybe start tomorrow if the weather holds. Like to get the undercoat on where the minor rust and damaged paint will be coming off.

Still haven't started to collect the other parts I need and figure out what I will have to buy to finish the project.

Could someone with a 18" cut off version tell me the distance between legs if I wanted to add a cabinet below the unit? Math wise it would like 48"-18" or 30" but could I make a 30" wide unit and have it fit?

I see that they are finally having a shopsmith demo in my area at the end of Sept. I had planned on getting a second double tilt but now that they have raised the prices I will have to see what it costs now. Also need to check my "new venture" funds to see what is left in the kitty.

Ed

I cut off 16" and I measure 32 1/8" between the castings (i.e exposed bench tubes). It would be a tight fit to slide a full width 30" cabinet under there. If it is going to hang there, probably fine. If it is going to be on wheels....

[BuckeyeDennis]

Finally got to open the box of legs and the box of tubes.

I'm really pleased with the tubes. Just a couple of small touch ups needed and not worth the effort of spinning them, they are that nice.

The legs on the other hand are a bit worse off then I hoped for. I'll have to do some wire brushing and touch up before painting. Maybe start tomorrow if the weather holds. Like to get the undercoat on where the minor rust and damaged paint will be coming off.

Still haven't started to collect the other parts I need and figure out what I will have to buy to finish the project.

Could someone with a 18" cut off version tell me the distance between legs if I wanted to add a cabinet below the unit? Math wise it would like 48"-18" or 30" but could I make a 30" wide unit and have it fit?

I see that they are finally having a shopsmith demo in my area at the end of Sept. I had planned on getting a second double tilt but now that they have raised the prices I will have to see what it costs now. Also need to check my "new venture" funds to see what is left in the kitty.

Ed

Instead of hanging a cabinet underneath a shorty, have you considered mounting the base atop a cabinet, shop-deputy style? You'd get more cabinet storage in the same footprint, and could probably still adapt a set of SS casters (mounted to the cabinet) for mobility.

[dusty]

I have thought about doing that but have never gone into action. Actually, I have thought about that even for a full size Mark V. You could even determine just how high you want it.

[wa2crk]

Have anyone considered this Item?
http://www.rockler.com/adjustable-height-work-station
Expensive but worth a look.
Bill V

[billmayo]

Finally got to open the box of legs and the box of tubes.

I'm really pleased with the tubes. Just a couple of small touch ups needed and not worth the effort of spinning them, they are that nice.

The legs on the other hand are a bit worse off then I hoped for. I'll have to do some wire brushing and touch up before painting. Maybe start tomorrow if the weather holds. Like to get the undercoat on where the minor rust and damaged paint will be coming off.

Still haven't started to collect the other parts I need and figure out what I will have to buy to finish the project.

Could someone with a 18" cut off version tell me the distance between legs if I wanted to add a cabinet below the unit? Math wise it would like 48"-18" or 30" but could I make a 30" wide unit and have it fit?

I see that they are finally having a shopsmith demo in my area at the end of Sept. I had planned on getting a second double tilt but now that they have raised the prices I will have to see what it costs now. Also need to check my "new venture" funds to see what is left in the kitty.

Ed

Instead of hanging a cabinet underneath a shorty, have you considered mounting the base atop a cabinet, shop-deputy style? You'd get more cabinet storage in the same footprint, and could probably still adapt a set of SS casters (mounted to the cabinet) for mobility.

Excellent idea. Since you will not have the flair of the legs, the cabinet will be a few inches shorter in width. I have a bench top MINI mounted on the Power Station platform for even a shorter MINI. Yes, you can mount the caster assembly with a cutout at each end if desired or mount on top of the caster assembly. I sold a few bench top MINI frame kits to members who has not displayed any pictures on the Forum of their finish MINI setup.

[reible]

Since I haven't cut the tubes yet I do have options. The plan is now for cutting off 18" so what is left space wise under the machine is what I was interested in. I can go longer yet, like 16" but once they are cut they are going to as long as they ever will be.

I do plan to use shopsmith legs and casters. While other options could be looked at in the future I have no plans at this time of anything other then a pretty stock shorty.

One thing that does come to mind is the two shopsmith red metal cabinets I have under one of my other shopsmiths. With the left assist on I can only have one cabinet facing the front and must turn the other 90 degrees so it is less then wonderful. I'll have to measure but it seems to me they are about 16" wide. Given that three are designed to fit that sounds reasonable. It also says if I cut off 16" then there should be room for two of them under the shorty. A plus for the 16" cut off length. That would make it a 2/3 length unit, a maxi-shorty if you will.

Since this is a stock headstock it would be nice to tip it up for oiling and since it is also lighter then the powerpro I think it unlikely I will ever want to add a lift this might be the perfect spot of the cabinets.

If I do this then it also clears me to design a better/more useful area under the powerpro with lift. That lift really eats up the space.

Ed

[jsburger]

Finally got to open the box of legs and the box of tubes.

I'm really pleased with the tubes. Just a couple of small touch ups needed and not worth the effort of spinning them, they are that nice.

The legs on the other hand are a bit worse off then I hoped for. I'll have to do some wire brushing and touch up before painting. Maybe start tomorrow if the weather holds. Like to get the undercoat on where the minor rust and damaged paint will be coming off.

Still haven't started to collect the other parts I need and figure out what I will have to buy to finish the project.

Could someone with a 18" cut off version tell me the distance between legs if I wanted to add a cabinet below the unit? Math wise it would like 48"-18" or 30" but could I make a 30" wide unit and have it fit?

I see that they are finally having a shopsmith demo in my area at the end of Sept. I had planned on getting a second double tilt but now that they have raised the prices I will have to see what it costs now. Also need to check my "new venture" funds to see what is left in the kitty.

Ed

I cut 18" off to make my shorty. The distance between the end castings (exposed bench tubes) is 30 1/4".

[reible]

Thank you. Just what I sort of expected but it is good to have an actual number to use when thinking this though.

Ed

Finally got to open the box of legs and the box of tubes.

I'm really pleased with the tubes. Just a couple of small touch ups needed and not worth the effort of spinning them, they are that nice.

The legs on the other hand are a bit worse off then I hoped for. I'll have to do some wire brushing and touch up before painting. Maybe start tomorrow if the weather holds. Like to get the undercoat on where the minor rust and damaged paint will be coming off.

Still haven't started to collect the other parts I need and figure out what I will have to buy to finish the project.

Could someone with a 18" cut off version tell me the distance between legs if I wanted to add a cabinet below the unit? Math wise it would like 48"-18" or 30" but could I make a 30" wide unit and have it fit?

I see that they are finally having a shopsmith demo in my area at the end of Sept. I had planned on getting a second double tilt but now that they have raised the prices I will have to see what it costs now. Also need to check my "new venture" funds to see what is left in the kitty.

Ed

I cut 18" off to make my shorty. The distance between the end castings (exposed bench tubes) is 30 1/4".

[reible]

Got the legs cleaned up pretty well this morning before we had to run off. Still need to do a little cleaning on the folds at the bottom of the legs then clean them off before I hit them with some undercoat.

The one leg shows pitting but has been repainted and no sign of rust coming through the new paint so I'm going to chance it and not sand. The other leg is in much better condition, may be even off a different machine???

I'd like to work on it a bit more now but I've been pretty busy/and out and about for most of the day and I think that might be pushing it a bit too much so I'll do a few other projects that I have going and come back to the legs tomorrow. May only need another half hours work or less but it rather late in the day to be painting.

Ed

[reible]

So a little time has past but I got back on the project this afternoon. Got paint on but the weather report says it might be a few days before I can get a second coat on and dry. After this coat dries I have to decide if I will leave it black or go to some other color. Black is a tricky color to paint especially when the surface is ruff and pock marked......... which mine sure is.

Hope it will be dry enough to put in out of the possible overnight rain before it gets dark, skunks happen in the back yard so once it is dark it will either be in or will spend the night out.

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Ed