ShopSmith Routing System

[jmongold]

...

So, for all you much-more-experienced router folk, just what is the benefit of having an under table router when you have one over the table that is also vertical? This confuses me and I'm thinking it may be why they ditched the design in the first place.

...

I've worked with a homebuilt under-table router table for over 25 years. Loved it. Will always have one. And there are many, many prebuilts, kits, and plans available. I've also managed to burn out a few (cheap) routers since the saw dust falls into the motor and those with the stamped fans give out fairly quickly. Without investing a couple hundred dollars into a router lift I've always found getting under the table routers set "just right". Its not bad, but it takes some fiddling.

Recently I decided I wanted to add an overarm pin router. Why? The "pin" feature makes turning out duplicate pieces easier with less wear and tear on routers (although I have graduated to those that are a little more robust). I subsequently have discovered that having the router on top of the table where it is accessible and makes adjustments easier.

However, I also wanted a "stand-alone" rather than bolting it on and removing it from my Shopsmith. The attached pictures show my solution. I bought and cut a new way-tube in half, bought the right-end Shopsmith tub mounts and the left-end tub clamp, and combined with the Shopsmith OverArm Pin Router and a cheap table built the stand-a-lone in these pictures. I'm very happy with the results.

Hope this helps or perhaps inspires someone.

cheers,
Jim

[Ed in Tampa]

I've worked with a homebuilt under-table router table for over 25 years. Loved it. Will always have one. And there are many, many prebuilts, kits, and plans available. I've also managed to burn out a few (cheap) routers since the saw dust falls into the motor and those with the stamped fans give out fairly quickly. Without investing a couple hundred dollars into a router lift I've always found getting under the table routers set "just right". Its not bad, but it takes some fiddling.

Recently I decided I wanted to add an overarm pin router. Why? The "pin" feature makes turning out duplicate pieces easier with less wear and tear on routers (although I have graduated to those that are a little more robust). I subsequently have discovered that having the router on top of the table where it is accessible and makes adjustments easier.

However, I also wanted a "stand-alone" rather than bolting it on and removing it from my Shopsmith. The attached pictures show my solution. I bought and cut a new way-tube in half, bought the right-end Shopsmith tub mounts and the left-end tub clamp, and combined with the Shopsmith OverArm Pin Router and a cheap table built the stand-a-lone in these pictures. I'm very happy with the results.

Hope this helps or perhaps inspires someone.

cheers,
Jim

Very Nice! Could you be a little more specific on exactly what pieces you bought?
Also the SS Overhead Pin Router depends on the SS carriage and the height adjustment which moves the table in and out when in drill press mode. How did you compensate for that?
Again a Great Idea!!!!

[jmongold]

.... Could you be a little more specific on exactly what pieces you bought?
Also the SS Overhead Pin Router depends on the SS carriage and the height adjustment which moves the table in and out when in drill press mode. How did you compensate for that?
Again a Great Idea!!!!

Ed,

I bought the following from Shopsmith:

555970 - Overarm Pin Router - 1 360.99 360.99
501193 - Way Tube - 1 73.20 73.20 (only bought 1, cut it in half)
518379 - Base - 1 51.50 51.50
518381 - Base Arm - 1 60.47 60.47
517642 - Retaining Ring - 1 0.80 0.80
518378 - Base Arm Pin - 1 7.89 7.89
555208 - Work Apron - 1 0.00 0.00 (a freebie)
504293 - Arm Lock Knob - 1 3.74 3.74
50426401 - Way Tube Tie Bar - 1 15.54 15.54
502051 - Setscrew - 1 0.80 0.80
502051 - Setscrew - 1 0.80 0.80

Item(s) Total: 575.73
Shipping and Processing: 42.30
Sales Tax: 0.00
Order Total: 618.03

I had the Mark V table carriage and table on which to mount the overarm pin router table left over from upgrading my Mark V 500 to the 520. However, they are also generally available on eBay and Craigs list at a considerable savings over buying them new. I also think I forgot to order a couple of e-clips that I bought at the local hardware store.

cheers,
Jim

[a1gutterman]

I've worked with a homebuilt under-table router table for over 25 years. Loved it. Will always have one. And there are many, many prebuilts, kits, and plans available. I've also managed to burn out a few (cheap) routers since the saw dust falls into the motor and those with the stamped fans give out fairly quickly. Without investing a couple hundred dollars into a router lift I've always found getting under the table routers set "just right". Its not bad, but it takes some fiddling.

Recently I decided I wanted to add an overarm pin router. Why? The "pin" feature makes turning out duplicate pieces easier with less wear and tear on routers (although I have graduated to those that are a little more robust). I subsequently have discovered that having the router on top of the table where it is accessible and makes adjustments easier.

However, I also wanted a "stand-alone" rather than bolting it on and removing it from my Shopsmith. The attached pictures show my solution. I bought and cut a new way-tube in half, bought the right-end Shopsmith tub mounts and the left-end tub clamp, and combined with the Shopsmith OverArm Pin Router and a cheap table built the stand-a-lone in these pictures. I'm very happy with the results.

Hope this helps or perhaps inspires someone.

cheers,
Jim

Nice job Jim!!! Welcome to these forums. I look forward to your insights. 30 years with your SS. There are a few others of those here. I have only owned mine for 14.

[nuhobby]

Ed,

I bought the following from Shopsmith:

555970 - Overarm Pin Router - 1 360.99 360.99
501193 - Way Tube - 1 73.20 73.20 (only bought 1, cut it in half)
518379 - Base - 1 51.50 51.50
518381 - Base Arm - 1 60.47 60.47
517642 - Retaining Ring - 1 0.80 0.80
518378 - Base Arm Pin - 1 7.89 7.89
555208 - Work Apron - 1 0.00 0.00 (a freebie)
504293 - Arm Lock Knob - 1 3.74 3.74
50426401 - Way Tube Tie Bar - 1 15.54 15.54
502051 - Setscrew - 1 0.80 0.80
502051 - Setscrew - 1 0.80 0.80

Item(s) Total: 575.73
Shipping and Processing: 42.30
Sales Tax: 0.00
Order Total: 618.03

I had the Mark V table carriage and table on which to mount the overarm pin router table left over from upgrading my Mark V 500 to the 520. However, they are also generally available on eBay and Craigs list at a considerable savings over buying them new. I also think I forgot to order a couple of e-clips that I bought at the local hardware store.

cheers,
Jim

Jim -- Excellent Job! Likewise I have a "headless" old shorty model 500 dedicated to my OPR. In some ways this might be one of the better Mark-V-OPR mounting solutions, because the model-500-type table-carriage can be secured pretty tightly on the way tubes to avoid sliding (of course not so tight as to dent the tubes). Beyond this I have one telescoping leg hooked up to support the outermost part of the 500 worktable.

[stephen_a._draper]

Dusty,

The complete statement at the end of the article is as follows:

"As with all Shopsmith products, the Shopsmith Router Arm is covered by the Shopsmith Gold Medal Buyer Protection Plan, which includes a 30-day, money back guarantee, a full one-year warranty, and a lifetime reconditioning program."

In any case, I was told by customer service that doesn't hold true for discontinued products.

Rick,

You are absolutely correct about the need for a beefy bracket. My mistake of not thinking about it before I picked up the Overarm Bracket and post,

Regards,
Joe

It appears to no longer be true even for products that have not been discontinued. The current OPR is item #555970. However the item is currently not available. It has NOT been discontinued AND parts are not available to order because Shopsmith no longer stocks much in the way of parts. Shopsmith has plans to sell the OPR again perhaps in Spring 2016. When they do offer it again, parts will be available to order but who knows how long you will be able to get the parts. Shopsmith warranty and reconditioning program is not really something they have the capability to honor in a timely fashion anymore because they generally do not stock many parts and only order them when they happen to do a production run to sell a particular product.

[shopsmithpaul]

A lot of great ideas to think about. When I worked for SS 25 years ago I bought just the upper part with the column and steel mount, which I understand you don't have. I made my own cabinet base and bought a Rousseau table top. The insert allows for under table routing and also accepts Porter Cable inserts which I use for the pin in pin routing. It works quite well and have used it to make many SS rocking horses. I checked and Rousseau is still in business. As for your mount I like the wood block ideas. If you know someone with a welder you could just weld a flange on the bottom. Hope this helps with some ideas.