Shopsmith Forums

robinson46176 wrote: . . .

Just some thoughts.

Good uns!!!!

backhertz wrote:No bites on the last post, so I will try to 'splain what I understand after speaking to the seller....

I wanted to jump in and guess "inner tubes" but I was traveling and couldn't find my password.

...I contacted a member of the 10E/ER Yahoo forum who has replaced his thick 10E/ER way tubes which are .22" walls with .25" DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubes which has met his needs. I've read DOM tubes are far superior. The Mark V tubes are roughly .125" which helps keep weight down and the flex is acceptable for most wood workers- including myself....

Here's an on-line metal supplier that has 0.25 wall thickness, DOM, 1 3/4" tubes. I wonder if the lathe function would work much better if the upper way tubes were stiffer:

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... op_cat=197

Lathe issues are not due to rigidity but weight.

Have you done the SS lathe dance?? I have, it's not fun.

terrydowning wrote:Lathe issues are not due to rigidity but weight.

Have you done the SS lathe dance?? I have, it's not fun.

I would say that in the case of the super lengthened special lathe I was rambling about that it is both but I believe that you are right regarding the stock Shopsmith as a lathe. It simply could use more weight... Especially in the early stages before the item becomes round.
That is why a lot of guys much prefer the 10 series (like my 10-ER) for lathe work. I was amazed when I bought my 10-ER and started loading it. I had already bought and hauled a big bunch of Mark V's and was really surprised at just how much heavier the 10-ER was... I don't recall the actual weight difference and I know it isn't really huge but when lifting the stuff it felt like it was about double. The tailstock assembly is much heavier too.
A lot of taller guys find the SS a little short to work at. There is a good opportunity to mount it up on a heavy sled and lash it down like with ratchet straps. In my case I might consider building a platform big enough for me to stand on and lash the SS down to that which would put my weight to work holding it down. I make pretty good ballast... When not needed the platform could sit up against the wall behind the SS.


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Yeah, I've chased my lathe across the floor. If the legs were pinned down and the way tubes were stiffer things might be better?

Here is one that is not quite as long, but claims to handle 46" between centers.

robinson46176 wrote:... In my case I might consider building a platform big enough for me to stand on and lash the SS down to that which would put my weight to work holding it down. I make pretty good ballast... When not needed the platform could sit up against the wall behind the SS...

But where would you store the unneeded ballast?

shaun wrote:But where would you store the unneeded ballast?

I always keep it close.


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I was looking for something else Shopsmith and saw this post from 2013. I recognized it immediately. I purchased that same machine. I had it in pieces for awhile while still west of Chicago until we moved just south of Knoxville TN in 2015. After I built a nice shop, that sits along one wall. I sold off one headstock and one Barracuda chuck and use this machine primarily at this point for cleaning the Shopsmith tubes. The steady rest works great for this. I will use it more as a lathe in the near future when I get fully retired. I also purchased the upgraded universal tool rest- this thing is a beast at over 35 lbs! The guy that made it was a machinist and he turned metal inserts to fit the tubes and used threaded rod and couplers in the middle then capped and used nuts on the ends. The bars themselves are right around 10' long. There is a little flex in at the junction which could affect the accuracy of long turnings but I suspect with some trusses tying the bars all together and to the floor would stop that. Adding weight was also mentioned in some posts.
I have not turned anything long on it yet cause I have too many other projects plus I also repair/refurbish Shopsmith tools for over 16 years now and am getting busier as people find I moved to TN. It is a very unique tool and I almost didn't buy it. The guy & I were $50 apart and I left. My brother had come with me and he said "You'll never see another like that!". We turned around and I coughed up $50 more to make the deal.
I really need to get on the forum more and share the information I have garnered over the years. I have used mostly Shopsmith (and other tools) for over 40 years making stuff and repairing them over 16 now. My first Shopsmith was a 10-ER with a speed control and jigsaw. It ended up with a friend of the family after my dad couldn't use it anymore. I gave it to my dad after I purchased my first Mark V in 1983 (my oldest son has that as a mini set up as a saw).
I saw we lost our dear guru Bill Mayo in May 2017 (RIP Bill). He had tried to get me to buy his inventory and business but I knew we would be moving and I just couldn't do it at the time. I wish I could have spent more time learning form him. He was truly a genius. I work in the high tech industry repairing computers for over 40 years now so it is hard for me to want to sit at a keyboard when I get off work- I want to make saw dust or burn metal! I try not to do both at the same time as that can get a little dicey.
I'll try to be better about getting into the forum and answering questions or giving input to questions. I can also be reached at danimal713@aol.com but I do not check it as much as I should because I am on email all day long. Feel free to ping me and if you are close to Maryville TN, contact me and if I am around, feel free to stop and check out my shop. I run 5 Shopsmiths regularly. thnx,, Dan