Before Turning On Your Shopsmith Lathe, Watch This!

[Chad]

My Growth Rings with Scott Markwood

SHOP NOTES: We pick up where we left off in December (Happy New Year!) with some must-do prep prior to using your Shopsmith tools for turning. Don't forget to post your Questions, Comments, and Cheapshots for the mid-week follow-up episode of "STUMPED?" and next week we'll cover some turning basics including scraping vs shearing.

Please consider joining the 100+ other channel members in supporting the channel and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/MyGrowthRings/featured

Here's an idea: If you aren't ready or able to join the channel, you can always support the channel by watching, clicking the thumbs-up, commenting, sharing, and by clicking through the provided links whenever you are shopping on Amazon or eBay. You don't even need to purchase the items these links lead to, but by going through these links they'll reward us with a small "finders fee". Thanks in advance for the support!

I've created an Amazon list of many of the tools that I have found to be indispensable in my shop. http://a.co/0GLhuR2 You may have to click the "Filter" link to show the items in the list. I suggest sorting them by priority.

Here's a link to our last video where we walked through the HSS lathe tools mentioned in this video: https://youtu.be/kiCI7WbG6ZA

Here's a link to the video I mentioned on 25-hour run-time maintenance of your Shopsmith Mark V: https://youtu.be/UT6vfZsJ7OI

Visit http://www.MyGrowthRings.com
Follow on Instagram @MyGrowthRings
I also blog at http://www.tool-hunter.com/shopsmith-posts and http://shopsmith-tool-hunter.blogspot.com/

DISCLAIMER:
A few viewers have requested I provide affiliate links to help them find the products I use and as a way of supporting the channel through commission. For example, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links I provide. If you purchase a product or service through these links, there is NO additional charge to you. I always recommend shopping around for a better price. Thank you for supporting My Growth Rings!

#MyGrowthRings #Shopsmith

[Chad]

My Growth Rings with Scott Markwood

SHOP NOTES: In this episode of STUMPED? I'll answer the questions and respond to the comments from this weekend's video on safely setting up your Shopsmith for lathe turning. If you missed that video, catch it here: https://youtu.be/w_SS67qincs

This is that crazy turning video where the guy turns a column with Shopsmith tools: https://youtu.be/rQbzEz0-7X0 and his blog shows the finished product: http://timetofiddle.yolasite.com/turn... He is my hero.

0:00 - Intro
0:40 - A sincere thank you
1:05 - Graham is amazed that he hasn't been hurt!
1:26 - Bruce asked about my rusty tool rest post
2:07 - Wayne is gaining confidence in his Shopsmith tools! Has the tailstock eccentric cup changed?
3:05 - Chad wonders if I'm sacrificing safety for comfort?
3:51 - Ed asks if it is possible that the Lift-Assist could cause problems?
4:45 - Gary notes that the Shopsmith is a low lathe, compared to many
5:54 - Scott has added setscrews to some of his old Shopsmiths
6:33 - Jg disagrees with the purpose of the large setscrew under the tiebar
7:00 - Why I never use an extension with a fence on the left side
7:40 - This "tolerance" (play) is eliminated on the Mark VII and the Mark 7
8:50 - James finds some of Shopsmith's instructions difficult to follow
10:39 - Paul asks about the turning limits of the Shopsmith
13:30 - Franken Berry disagrees and points out EVERY error made in that crazy video linked above

Please consider joining the 100+ other channel members in supporting the channel and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/c/MyGrowthRings/featured

Here's an idea: If you aren't ready or able to join the channel, you can always support the channel by watching, clicking the thumbs-up, commenting, sharing, and by clicking through the provided links whenever you are shopping on Amazon or eBay. You don't even need to purchase the items these links lead to, but by going through these links they'll reward us with a small "finders fee". Thanks in advance for the support!

I've created an Amazon list of many of the tools that I have found to be indispensable in my shop. http://a.co/0GLhuR2 You may have to click the "Filter" link to show the items in the list. I suggest sorting them by priority.

Visit http://www.MyGrowthRings.com
Follow on Instagram @MyGrowthRings
I also blog at http://www.tool-hunter.com/shopsmith-posts and http://shopsmith-tool-hunter.blogspot.com/

A few viewers have requested I provide affiliate links to help them find the products I use and as a way of supporting the channel through commission. For example, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links I provide. If you purchase a product or service through these links, there is NO additional charge to you. I always recommend shopping around for a better price. Thank you for supporting My Growth Rings!

#Shopsmith #WoodTurning ##MyGrowthRings

[Chad]

For years with my 1980 model 500 I could never figure out why the lathe centers weren't ever perfectly aligned. Also, none of my SPT drive hubs would be inline with the drive hubs on the headstock, even the jointer and the lower high speed shaft hub were off. There was always a misalignment of about a 1/4" horizontally, which made it very difficult to install the power coupler between any SPT, and the headstock. Being I'm a machinist, and if you know anything about us, misalignment of my Shopsmith was always a thorn in my side, but I lived with it for years. Until I watched this video.

So, I went out to the workshop, and started going through the lathe alignment procedures. Sure enough, the set screw that the tie bar sits on was throwing all of the alignments off. I would guess my Mark V had been that way since it was built back in 1980. The way tubes had so much twist in them that after I lowered the set screw in the headrest casting, and brought the tie bar back down; the tie bar would not sit on the headrest were the set screw is located. I actually had to loosen the set screws in the tie bar to relieve the torsional strain that way tubes had been under for decades.

That one set screw solved all of my Shopsmith's misalignment issues. The lathe centers were then perfectly aligned, the headstock and carriage slid much easier and smother along the way tubes, and all the SPT drive hubs lined up with the headstock drive hubs. Except for the jointer. That required rotating the offset jointer mounting posts a bit. I encourage anyone who has the same misalignment issues I had; to check out the video, and then check out your machine. It defiantly made the use of my Mark V & my woodworking more enjoyable. -Chad

[thedovetailjoint]

You aren't alone, Chad. Back in the late 80's and early 90's we occasionally saw that condition on some of the Marks that were in use in the Dayton Academy. I think the way Shopsmith has jigged everything up now prevents things like that from happening. During my last tour of the factory in 2021 Jim McCann showed me some new fixtures that they put into use during assembly that were just brilliant. New owners really get a leg-up that we didn't have in 1987 when I purchased my first 510. Scott

[DLB]

You aren't alone, Chad. Back in the late 80's and early 90's we occasionally saw that condition on some of the Marks that were in use in the Dayton Academy. I think the way Shopsmith has jigged everything up now prevents things like that from happening. During my last tour of the factory in 2021 Jim McCann showed me some new fixtures that they put into use during assembly that were just brilliant. New owners really get a leg-up that we didn't have in 1987 when I purchased my first 510. Scott

It seems to me that any Mark 5/V of any age equipped with a Headrest may require adjustment of the large setscrew to work at its best for all operations, as Chad describes above. I needed to do the adjustment on a third hand 2004 520. An 'old-style' tailstock seems a poor standard, at least for those that don't have one. I used the procedure in this thread with success: viewtopic.php?t=16904

- David

[Chad]

Anyone who is expecting "engine lathe precision" out of a Shopsmith, or any lathe based woodworking tool is asking too much from their machine. The key word is "woodworking" tool. It's not a machine tool, such as a engine lathe. There is only so much you can do when it comes to accuracy; while staying within the original design and build parameters of a tool.

[JPG]

Agreed this big set screw issue has a small effect on lathe operations, but as has been 'discovered' by most of us will cause it to be impossible to have an aux table that will be properly aligned when mounted on either end of the ss. Adding to that has been the touting(by ss) of attaining front/rear alignment of spt shafts and vertical coplanerity(sp?) of main.aux table on the left by n adjusting that setscrew. Doing so will alter the twist/non-twist of the waytubes.

All this affects mainly the table saw function(rip fence etc.).

Yes I resonate on this subject. It has been misunderstood by so many(including certain ss folks) for decades and has caused the belief that it is impossible to adjust an aux table to function properly on both ends. It is not impossible but neither is it easily obtained.

Imagine an engine lathe with twisted ways. Most operations will not suffer. After all the workpiece is rotating already.