Shopsmith Forums

Remembering back to last post we have a deflection that is 7/16" with the 5 pound weight hanging on the tube. At this point we only know this distance change is due to movement somewhere in the set up, or combinations of places in the set up.

With the new tube in place I did the measurements again. This time the distance between tubes is 5-3/16, this could mean that I used the bent tube for test one as I would have expected the distance to be the same. I will have to check that out.

[ATTACH]17917[/ATTACH]

Drum roll please.

[ATTACH]17918[/ATTACH]

This time the results are 7/16", again.

At first glance my guess is that the main table is deflecting and it could be that the whole difference is due to that. In fact the 5 pounds might not be enough to cause any deflection in the tubes.

So that test did not really prove anything and I will have to construct another test to limit the main table movement and retest. I might even add a second 5 pound weight if I feel wild and crazy tomorrow when this testing happens.

Ed

The best stickey tape/glue remover I have found is WD-40.

GOOF Off seemed to do the trick. The new tubes are ready for waxing after I'm finished with my testing.

Just out of interest I stuck some tape on one of the tubes, this time using my favorite. I'd like to have it on for about a week if I can wait that long and then report how it comes off.

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Ed

More testing results.

The first thing I did was replace the shopsmith tube I was using with the other shopsmith tube. I had indeed picked the bent one for testing. The shopsmith unbent bar and the new bar then were at the same distance from the test extension. Mystery solved.

I changed the test set up by adding a leg under the table and a leg to the tube as shown here.

[ATTACH]17943[/ATTACH]

Visual inspection still showed the table flexing. That did not fix things at all.

Next I went to the tried and true method that I post about long ago. Adding an extension table had shown to work then and again now. I put tubes in back (short one) and the long one in front as show here.

[ATTACH]17944[/ATTACH]

I saw no deflection of the table at this point. But there still might be some, so I can not claim that it has been isolated out of the test.

Keeping in mind that the tubes unsupported length is now less and that most of the table deflection is gone I was not surprised to see the shopsmith tube showing just 1/8" movement between weighted and unweighted. The new tube was about 1/32" less, still not a statistical enough of a change as other factors could easily account for that.

I think I've done about all the testing I feel like doing. I certainly don't want to test to the point I bend anymore tubes. As well we are missing any long term information such as will the chrome start coming off in 10 years or that sort of thing. I think I can and will give you my conclusions at this point, will follow up if things change.

The things like plating and finish seem pretty even.

The e-bay tubes are thicker, I'm equation that to being a bit stronger, point to e-bay bars.

Since I don't remember how the shopsmith tube shipped and I certainly don't know that the current method is but I will give shopsmith the point because I know I hated the tape on the ebay ones.

Now we get to the dollar and sense of the deal.

Shopsmith sells theirs for $48.54 plus shipping (521942).

This is the ebay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shopsmith-510-520-main-table-saw-floating-long-tubes-band-extention-auxiliary-/200788730409?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebff0e229

I paid $37.00 plus 11.27 shipping for a total of $48.27. At this price I have to give the e-bay tubes the point.

If you are a loyalist to shopsmith then by all means spend the extra money. If you want a little heavier tube and want to spend a little less then visit e-bay.

At this point I'm rating this e bay option a 8 and the shopsmith ones a 7 (factored in how easy I bent one of mine) based on my hands on gut feeling. The 8 could climb to a 9 if they repackage and get rid of the yucky tape and cleaned up the inside of tube ends.

Ed

Thank you for the review!

I was not aware that the shipping tape was an issue. It was a simple way to make the cardboard wrap around the tube. We will stop the practice right away!! BTW we use discarded refrigerator box for the card board... Trying to be environmentally responsible.

We will look into better deburring. Never have had any feed back about that either.

Yes they are thicker and they do not deflect as much as the

The plating is the same as Shopsmith... It will last just as long... We used to strip and replate old shopsmith way tubes. However there was not enough interest/value in salvaging them...

foolish... wrote:Thank you for the review!

I was not aware that the shipping tape was an issue. It was a simple way to make the cardboard wrap around the tube. We will stop the practice right away!! BTW we use discarded refrigerator box for the card board... Trying to be environmentally responsible.

We will look into better deburring. Never have had any feed back about that either.

Yes they are thicker and they do not deflect as much as the

The plating is the same as Shopsmith... It will last just as long... We used to strip and replate old shopsmith way tubes. However there was not enough interest/value in salvaging them...

I also had the tape problem, and I am pleased to learn that you will change your practice. The cardboard was fine, but the tape residue was a son-of-a-gun to remove. Hank

foolish... wrote:Thank you for the review!

I was not aware that the shipping tape was an issue. It was a simple way to make the cardboard wrap around the tube. We will stop the practice right away!! BTW we use discarded refrigerator box for the card board... Trying to be environmentally responsible.

We will look into better deburring. Never have had any feed back about that either.

Yes they are thicker and they do not deflect as much as the

The plating is the same as Shopsmith... It will last just as long... We used to strip and replate old shopsmith way tubes. However there was not enough interest/value in salvaging them...

Aha! My suspicions confirmed!:)


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Ooops... I didn't realize that I was over the line...

My apologies...

I love my shopsmith... and all the toys I have bought for it... Use it every week...