Shopsmith Forums

Rjent
The PP headstock is about 20 pounds heavier than the conventional headstock. I have not had mine slip while drilling 120 counter bored holes and an additional 120 through holes during a Christmas toy project. But I was running at a much slower speed!
You may want to check that both wedges are contacting each tube the same. You may have to reposition the wedges according to the manual.
Bill V

wa2crk wrote:Rjent
The PP headstock is about 20 pounds heavier than the conventional headstock. I have not had mine slip while drilling 120 counter bored holes and an additional 120 through holes during a Christmas toy project. But I was running at a much slower speed!
You may want to check that both wedges are contacting each tube the same. You may have to reposition the wedges according to the manual.
Bill V

Thanks for that reminder. I had forgotten that little detail. I fought this problem long ago when I learned of the solution only because I had a forum member come visit while I had the headstock removed.

Sorry if I added confusion to your frustration!

I am amazed that the wedges etc. could deform the way tubes.

Perhaps I need experience with 'new' tubes.

With a little luck the markings will reveal the table is slipping.

An adjustment could possibly fix that.

I have one of my powerpro's mounted as a drill press and it stays that way 24/7. I have not noticed any slippage as of yet. It does have resurfaced wedges and I did make sure they were installed correctly.

Now I have not used the machine as a router so that is different.

After testing to see just what is moving you will have a better idea of what area to attack.

You didn't mention your shop temperature which could effect how well you tighten them and how well wax applies and buffs off........ It was sub 40 degrees while I was out doing a few things in my shop yesterday and I noticed how it felt to change the table height in that temperature. Cold metal makes for cold hands in no time.

There are several other temporary fixes that could be tried. Some of which have already been mentioned

If it turns out the headstock is moving..... I know it is pain to check the wedges and even more to replace/resurface them on the powerpro but in my opinion that should be done before resorting to other fixes.

Ed

OK, it is the headstock. I ripped a 34 inch 2x4 (supposed to be a 36" but was too short some how ) on the 10ER into 6 slices, and left my router setup like I had left it yesterday. Used the marker idea on the tube then routed a 5/8's x 3/16 groove the full length on all of them. I would cut a groove on one and then checked the HS. On the 5 one, the HS had slipped about 1/16th. Hadn't moved until that particular piece. Had a knot in it and I really felt the chatter. So it is the vibration like I had thought. Since this is a new machine, I am a little burned that the wedges need to be modified???

I am going to build a stop that was suggested to hold the HS in place for now, but talk to Dave (or someone) to see what they suggest.

Kind of disappointed in ShopSmith right now.

BTW, I have done a lot of drill press work with this machine and it always holds, just when routing (and obviously critical) when this is noticeable.

Maybe Matthias Wandel is right ....

rjent wrote:OK, it is the headstock. I ripped a 34 inch 2x4 (supposed to be a 36" but was too short some how ) on the 10ER into 6 slices, and left my router setup like I had left it yesterday. Used the marker idea on the tube then routed a 5/8's x 3/16 groove the full length on all of them. I would cut a groove on one and then checked the HS. On the 5 one, the HS had slipped about 1/16th. Hadn't moved until that particular piece. Had a knot in it and I really felt the chatter. So it is the vibration like I had thought. Since this is a new machine, I am a little burned that the wedges need to be modified???

I am going to build a stop that was suggested to hold the HS in place for now, but talk to Dave (or someone) to see what they suggest.

Kind of disappointed in ShopSmith right now.

BTW, I have done a lot of drill press work with this machine and it always holds, just when routing (and obviously critical) when this is noticeable.

Maybe Matthias Wandel is right ....

With this sort of problem, I feel that you should talk with someone other than Customer Service at Shopsmith. I would be looking to talk with an engineer.

Forgive me for jumping in here, I'm no expert by far! Is there a way to setup your operation that doesn't require you to router from above? Is this an operation (routing with the headstock above the work) that SS endorses?

Just wanted to throw in an uneducated idea that might help "think out of the box"!

If I'm off track...let me know, and I'll shutup and color!

silenthope wrote:Forgive me for jumping in here, I'm no expert by far! Is there a way to setup your operation that doesn't require you to router from above? Is this an operation (routing with the headstock above the work) that SS endorses?

Just wanted to throw in an uneducated idea that might help "think out of the box"!

If I'm off track...let me know, and I'll shutup and color!

Routing 'from above' is the only way with a Mark 5/V.

silenthope wrote:Forgive me for jumping in here, I'm no expert by far! Is there a way to setup your operation that doesn't require you to router from above? Is this an operation (routing with the headstock above the work) that SS endorses?

Just wanted to throw in an uneducated idea that might help "think out of the box"!

If I'm off track...let me know, and I'll shutup and color!

Yes the PP is advertised as being able to rout from above due to it's 10K RPM.

If all else fails or you need a temp. solution McMaster sells stop collars. They certainly will hold the headstock regardless of the wedges. But don't yell at me this is not an ideal solution.