Lathe

markap · Post by **markap** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:03 pm

The ONLY negative I have with my 520SS as a lathe is that with the upgrades (35#) tool rest, it's impossible to use the tail stock on large pieces. Do to that, I have to take the large tool rest off and go back to the standard. That said, I just turned an 8" bowl out of a very roughly shaped. off balance piece of Cherry log with NO porblems using the speed reducer. I was able to round and balance the log into bowl shape at very low speed, gradually increasing the speed as the bowl took shape and balance. Later I removed the speed reducer to gain higher speeds as the bowl became round and balanced.

IMHO, the only real lack is the inability to use a vacuum chuck.

The main thing is to invest in a grinder and jig to get sharp tools.

mdwine · Post by **mdwine** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:18 pm

Drat! Does that mean I have to throw away all of my pens, since I made them on the Shoppy? NAH...

The Shoppy has a few minor short-falls in the lathe department, but nothing that cannot be overcome with a simple tool! I had to get an adapter for my scroll chuck for the spindle, but everything else worked just fine!

The VS is a real feature too!

Give it a try... you won't be disappointed!

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:54 pm

People that make such comment about the Shopsmith not doing what it can do are either operating from a great deal of ignornace or, could it be, quite possibly jealous that there is such a versatile machine? I have turned on the Shopsmith and I have had no problems. About the only negative comments I have heard are from woodworking retailers who wish to sell you other types of equipment. For me, space is at a premium and even if I did have the room I wouldn't give up my Shopsmith! Bats, bowls, pens, etc., are no problem on the Shopsmith. And you can take that to the bank!

BPR

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:00 pm

BPR

I would rethink that take it to the bank comment. These days taking it to the back yard and burying it might be better!:D

Mark

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:09 pm

How about the credit union?:D

BPR

baddlad · Post by **baddlad** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:36 pm

robinson46176 wrote:I absolutely love that comment.
-
I will admit that it is not the worlds best lathe but it is a very good one.
I will admit that it is not the worlds best table saw but it is a very good one.
I will admit that it is not the worlds best drill press but it is a very good one.
I will admit that it is not the worlds best sander but it is a very good one.
I will admit that it is not the worlds best horizontal boring machine but it is a very good one.
-
Isn't that the whole point of a machine like this...
-
I will also admit that it is one of the most flexible and versatile general purpose woodworking machines out there. That is the reason I have a small herd of them in my shop. Yes I have a stand alone table saw and i love it but its use is limited to being a saw. I have other stand alones but I won't give up my Shopsmiths.

Shopsmith is very versatile I heard a friend describe it as the total gym of woodworking. If you don't know what the total gym is it's the machine Chuck Norris advertises on TV.

roy_okc · Post by **roy_okc** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:33 pm

thebear wrote:I have been using my 2 SS for several years now, but now I want to start turning. Friends tell me that SS is not right for turning. Is there any sites that show and talk about turning on the SS.

The SS is fine for many types of turning and IMHO makes a great starter lathe. I had a couple hour intro to turning at a vo-tech, then the traveling academy class that included turning. After that I've done numerous pens/pencils, a couple table lamps around 18" tall, a very bad bowl, a couple of hollow forms, and a few other things. My only complaints were the single-bearing quill that I've since replaced and a vibration that I can't quite completely get rid of (I think it is the adapter to my chuck). The first favor you should do for yourself (besides a intro class) is to get a live tail center with a Morse Taper #2 rather than using the dead center. Another must have if you don't already have a grinder and lathe sharpening jigs, in my opinion, is the SS lathe chisel sharpening jig that sets up all the right angles with the sanding disk.

You'll find many tools and adapters that connect to the 5/8" drive shaft.

Good luck and happy turning.

Roy

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:58 pm

I now have three lathes. Two shopsmith's (only one of which I have actually used as a lathe) and a Jet Mini lathe. For pens and other small items I prefer the Jet. Admittedly I have created numerous beautiful pens on the shopsmith. For any turning projects of much size I actually prefer the shopsmith. Generally speaking when I turn pens I assemble a dozen or more blank sets. I begin by using my bandsaw (free standing shopsmith) to size the blanks. Then the drill press (shopsmith in verticle mode) to drill them. After assempling the drilled blanks I use the drill press again to square the blanks before turning. I really like the assembly line approach as it saves a great deal of time if somehting goes wrong and I need to repeat a step or two. fjimp

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:41 pm

I've never had any issue with the Shopsmith used as a lathe. That said, I have heard and read reports the Shopsmith lathe is too low and the users back gets sore. Some users have raised their machine about 2 to 4 inches. I am told the axis of the lathe should be at elbow height. There are available instructions on this forum (in the archives) for weighting or steadying the shop smith even in a sand box type of structure. There is even a universal too rest that will add 35 lbs to the lathe. http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... olrest.htm
Thumb through (figure of speech) these lathe accessories.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... sories.htm

As was pointed out by many above, loyalty to their machines is a strong point of Shopsmith owners. They are fiercely defensive. Kinda like what you would hear when going to an Apple Computer convention and criticizing the price of them.

Shopsmith machines have been criticized by many, (mostly non-owners) who love to continue gossip that sounds like a pissing match.

Now I have to change subjects a bit to take issue with Farmer Francis' last post... Only one part -

robinson46176 wrote:.....
I will admit that it is not the worlds best drill press but it is a very good one.
-
Isn't that the whole point of a machine like this...
-

Actually, The drill press is one of the very best if not THE very best of WOODWORKING drill presses. I emphasize woodworking because all of the other drill presses I have found, were designed for metal working 1st. They do not have the table movement capabilities of the Shopsmith. Also the Shopsmith is a wonderful Horizontal drill press. If one has to drill into the end of a longer board,he can with this machine.

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:15 am

i love my shopsmith and use it as a lathe more than any other mode. however even as a drill press it has the same shortcoming as in the lathe mode. ie: the lowest spindle speed is too fast. you will burn up a 3 inch forstner bit without a speed reducer.i always defend the shopsmith to non owners but for what they cost it should do needed operations without a lot of expensive addons. i tell people that having a shopsmith is like buying a new router. right out of the box it is useless. then you have to start buying the addons/cutters/bits in order to do your first project. i compare the shopsmith as a lathe to a jet mini. they will do the same size pieces but the shopsmith is not suitable for the size of pieces that will actually fit in the machine. lust my $.02 fwiw