Shopsmith Forums

Welcome to the forum! Two of the 3 ERs I have started out in far worse condition than that, so there's no doubt it can be fully restored or, considering your skills and experience, improved!

First, take a look at this thread. It will give you some pointers to other sources of information you might find useful.

http://shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=5074


Then, study this thread. It's the most well documented 10ER restoration that I think exists. It's a long thread, but it is VERY helpful and informative and covers just about every area. I've found myself referring back to it recently as I'm working on my 3rd ER.

http://shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=3503

Bad_Synapse_Labs wrote:Another daunting task is that I am adding channel bearings to all items on the way bars for a better flow of linear motions.

Do you mean adding bearings to the headstock and carriage so they will roll along the way tubes instead of sliding? That is... fascinating. Although this may be overkill, if you pull this off I would be very interested in seeing how you do it and what the impact is on usability, accuracy, and stability.

Allow me to add my welcome to the funny farm.

Abrasives are only to be used to 'polish'.

There are two 'good' alternatives to grinding rust off. Evaporust(works by chelation) and electrolysis(stops when rust is gone).

Both methods leave a thin layer of blox which can be 'polished' away.

MickyD went to the extreme with his pitted way tubes, but only a few thousanths was removed.

Point being, do not grind away good material.

Bearing slides - velly intelesting!

I be curious what 'fasteners' you have in mind. The wedges are an elegant, good, simple method.

You may be interested in replacing the motor with a remotely controlled dc motor for cnc work.(no I be brainstorming, so I do not know where to look)

heathicus wrote:Do you mean adding bearings to the headstock and carriage so they will roll along the way tubes instead of sliding? That is... fascinating. Although this may be overkill, if you pull this off I would be very interested in seeing how you do it and what the impact is on usability, accuracy, and stability.

I do apologize for such a late response. In regards to adding "floating" bearings for an easier roll, you are correct. Do to my business I have adopted a mentality of "21st century Say Hello to the Good Old Years".
That is my big concern with forums...I always go overboard. I usually end up catching hell for it. I have HUGE plans for this multipurpose machine and I now have time to make it. So I will be asking a million questions. Beware. If your interested I will share my plans with you.

Bad_Synapse_Labs wrote:So I will be asking a million questions. Beware. If your interested I will share my plans with you.

Okay you have 999998 questions left.
YES we'd love ya to share and with pics too.