Shopsmith Forums

terrydowning wrote:Holy SMOKES!! I just saw the price tag.

I'll make my own if and when I need one. If they're going to give me one to experiment with, that's a different story.

They did not offer that to me just the discounts and free shipping. I also thought $349 was high but my expereince with Carter Products bandsaw accessories for my Shopsmith has been excellent and worth the cost.

I agree with woodburner. There is no reason to spend that kind of money on a steady rest. I didn't even spend that on the one for my metal lathe. These things are all takeoffs of what metalworkers have used for years. A welder, scrap steel and some bearings from a bike shop will get you the same result. If wood burner can't help you I'd be happy to weld one up for someone local. The local metal shop has cutoffs that are easy to make into a steady.
As far as the tailstock moving, again just like a metal lathe. The point on the Shopsmith is that you wouldn't have to reset any setups if the tailstock ram can adjust into the work. I've played with some similar setups.

I too am interested in a tailstock mod, the eccentric moving on it's own can get rather tedious. This would not be an issue with a regular tailstock.

terrydowning wrote:I too am interested in a tailstock mod, the eccentric moving on it's own can get rather tedious.

This is easily solved by adding a second setscrew and/or getting the newer thicker eccentric.

paulmcohen wrote:This is easily solved by adding a second setscrew and/or getting the newer thicker eccentric.

Pix Please.

When did that happen?

paulmcohen wrote:This is easily solved by adding a second setscrew and/or getting the newer thicker eccentric.

Yeah, not so much (for me anyways) The second set screw helped, but with the kitless penmaking I'm now working on I'm looking for very exacting tolerances and the least little slip yields junk for me.

I may move to a dedicated lathe. I was able to get an early 1940s Dunlap 9 x 36 spindle lathe at no cost. I got a motor for it, I just need to get the Headstock pulley free so I can change to a new belt. I'll also need to get some MT1 pieces to get really get in gear, All I have currently is a spur drive and dead center but that is most likely the direction I will go for small items and pens.

Terry, you could try one of the Fenner link belts. That way you don't have to remove the spindle to replace the belt. Harbor Freight sells a green version of the link belts and they're less expensive there especially if you use one of their 20 percent off coupons.

Thanks, I kinda want to remove the pulley and clean the shaft. It's not the original pulley which had indexing holes. Hopefully someday I can find a replacement with indexing holes. I think I have it loosened up, I just have to get around to extracting it. I have not given the lathe restoration much time or effort. I've had other higher priority items to work on.

JPG40504 wrote:Pix Please.

When did that happen?

Not sure but the PowerPro Mark 7 seems to have a different one.

paulmcohen wrote:Not sure but the PowerPro Mark 7 seems to have a different one.

Would you look in your PowerPro Mark 7 manual and reveal the part number for the newer, thicker eccentric (for use in the tailstock).

The original Eccentric Mounts(#288), in my three tail stocks, are part number 501437. If you try to order this number you will get this. Is that the new and improved version?

Sure wish the on-line descriptions included photo images!

This may be of interest to some.