Mini Mark V
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Thanks for the sketch, J.C.!! Now I know what you were saying! I just couldn't make hide nor hare out of mounting the OPR backwards. I could view the drawing pretty well when enlarged to 150% - and 200%.
Now it make perfect sense, and is a GREAT IDEA! I think you would also want to shorten the lower bars a bit more so you could better walk around the router table.
After thinking about it for a while, the length of the table support tubes would present an issue that would determine the length of the cut off "Bench Tubes". I probably would want to also cut off part of the "Way Tubes" in order to decrease the vertical weight that could increase instability.
The real slick part of your idea is to put the router and the table between the two machine legs. GOOD THOUGHT!:D
P.S. Have reversed my position on this idea, at least for the time being, because I think it would be unsafe. SEE THE NEXT POST
Now it make perfect sense, and is a GREAT IDEA! I think you would also want to shorten the lower bars a bit more so you could better walk around the router table.
After thinking about it for a while, the length of the table support tubes would present an issue that would determine the length of the cut off "Bench Tubes". I probably would want to also cut off part of the "Way Tubes" in order to decrease the vertical weight that could increase instability.
The real slick part of your idea is to put the router and the table between the two machine legs. GOOD THOUGHT!:D
P.S. Have reversed my position on this idea, at least for the time being, because I think it would be unsafe. SEE THE NEXT POST
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Today I realized there is a problem with mounting the OPR on the reverse side. That is - the only thing on the Mark V to prevent the router from diving into the work piece is that little screw called the Arm Lock Knob (504293).
The upright position of the way tubes is usually stabilized with the weight of the outboard headstock and the outboard router w/arm. Both outboard weights apply a radial force that will hold the way tubes vertical. The little "Arm Lock Knob" is only used as a fail safe instead of a lock down.
Now we know (from the Academy) that the OPR will work nicely without the headstock on the way tubes. However if we place the OPR on the opposite side (inside) of the way tubes - then we would have a force that would tend to cause the upright tubes to fall (close like a big pair of scissors). For one, I wouldn't trust that little Lock Knob to hold the thing upright. Even the digging force of a router bit would tend to pull the tubes down. If you have ever had a loose router bit, you know they dig in further rather than move out of a groove.
In order to use the OPR in this situation, the upright tubes would have to be stabilized somehow. I thought of reversing the right leg, but in order to do that the bench assembly would have to be re-fabricated to accept the bench tubes. Still there would be a problem with the left leg being in the way of working.
The upright position of the way tubes is usually stabilized with the weight of the outboard headstock and the outboard router w/arm. Both outboard weights apply a radial force that will hold the way tubes vertical. The little "Arm Lock Knob" is only used as a fail safe instead of a lock down.
Now we know (from the Academy) that the OPR will work nicely without the headstock on the way tubes. However if we place the OPR on the opposite side (inside) of the way tubes - then we would have a force that would tend to cause the upright tubes to fall (close like a big pair of scissors). For one, I wouldn't trust that little Lock Knob to hold the thing upright. Even the digging force of a router bit would tend to pull the tubes down. If you have ever had a loose router bit, you know they dig in further rather than move out of a groove.
In order to use the OPR in this situation, the upright tubes would have to be stabilized somehow. I thought of reversing the right leg, but in order to do that the bench assembly would have to be re-fabricated to accept the bench tubes. Still there would be a problem with the left leg being in the way of working.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck,
Although I did not explicitly mention this in my posting or sketch, the way tubes should be locked in an upright position.
I concur with you that the adjusting knob is in no way a secure way to do this.
Since the idea sprung from using an old SS Mark V to simply act as a support of the OPR, reason indicates that the retaining knob should be replaced with a bolt after perforating the swivel stock to fix the way tubes firmly in the upright position. I would perforate both sides and place 2 bolts, one on either side.
Noting lost because the frame would not be used for anything else.
JCB
Although I did not explicitly mention this in my posting or sketch, the way tubes should be locked in an upright position.
I concur with you that the adjusting knob is in no way a secure way to do this.
Since the idea sprung from using an old SS Mark V to simply act as a support of the OPR, reason indicates that the retaining knob should be replaced with a bolt after perforating the swivel stock to fix the way tubes firmly in the upright position. I would perforate both sides and place 2 bolts, one on either side.
Noting lost because the frame would not be used for anything else.
JCB