Shopsmith Forums

When I start computer programming in the early 60s, KISS was Keep It Simple and Short. Programs had to be card punched (80 columns) for the computer so the shorter the program, the quicker it was to enter and needed less time to test and debug. Time was money and not a lot was available. I find that this KISS principle still applys to most projects and tasks today.

a1gutterman wrote:I agree completely, George!!

Gary,
How does Keep It Simple Silly grab you?

Dusty,
I do knot see how the second extension table wood make a difference in accuracy (what Nick demonstrated was a completely stable table top:D ), but if that is what you want to do, it certainly won't hurt anything, except maybe your pocket book! On the other hand, the set up that you are hypothesizing wood be a larger and more stable support for crosscutting...
Between that and your infeed and outfeed tables, maybe you could start cutting large panels on the SS.

a1gutterman wrote:Dusty,
I do knot see how the second extension table wood make a difference in accuracy (what Nick demonstrated was a completely stable table top:D ), but if that is what you want to do, it certainly won't hurt anything, except maybe your pocket book! On the other hand, the set up that you are hypothesizing wood be a larger and more stable support for crosscutting...
Between that and your infeed and outfeed tables, maybe you could start cutting large panels on the SS.

Using the extension tables (I have had two for a long, long time) and the right assistance, I do cut sheet goods on the Shopsmith. But I only do that when I have knowledgeable assistance.

The hazardous part of cutting sheet goods is in how you handle the cut offs. You must have that material under COMPLETE control.

Watch Norm when he does sheet goods all by himself. The materials just lay there supported completely by that huge table surface. When he quits pushing, the materials quit moving!

No, I won't give up my circular saw and saw horse based cutting table. In fact, I need to get new blades for my circular saws. I have abused them lately cutting down sheets of MDF.

dusty wrote:Using the extension tables (I have had two for a long, long time) and the right assistance, I do cut sheet goods on the Shopsmith. But I only do that when I have knowledgeable assistance.

The hazardous part of cutting sheet goods is in how you handle the cut offs. You must have that material under COMPLETE control.

Watch Norm when he does sheet goods all by himself. The materials just lay there supported completely by that huge table surface. When he quits pushing, the materials quit moving!

No, I won't give up my circular saw and saw horse based cutting table. In fact, I need to get new blades for my circular saws. I have abused them lately cutting down sheets of MDF.

Dusty
I'm with you I think anyone that tries to cut sheet stock on a SS or any table saw for that matter without proper and knowledgeable help or full supportting tables is asking for trouble.
Especially when sizing sheet stock with a circular saw is so easy. Particularily now that accurate and easy to use guides and methods have been invented.

About 8 years ago my son in law who is a general contractor and owns a huge table unisaw offered to help me cut up some 3/4 MDF. We decided after one sheet that it was easier faster and far more comfortable to cut it down with circular/guide system than the two of us trying to horse these heavy sheets around.

We setup saw horse and a cut table (2x4 grid) as I marked the sheets on the truck he slide them off and cut them. As he cut the last sheet I gathered up all the components of what we were making and finished about the same time. It was a breeze!

I went home built myself a easy to tear down/setup cut table and have used this method ever since.
Ed

Ditto (having just put up a set of plywood bookshelves). In fact, in many case, it's faster to knock down the sheet with the skilsaw freehand, then cut to finished dimension on the tablesaw or SS (which does have the advantage of precise setup for identical lengths/widths.

I'm alternately amused and ticked at those Shopsmith-badmouthers who claim 'you can't cut a 4x8 sheet on it!' Well, you can't on that Uni or PM66 either without aux tables. But why bother?

"I went home built myself a easy to tear down/setup cut table and have used this method ever since."

For those of you who would like to see what Ed's talking about and would like some free plans for just such a system, see http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... lywood.htm

With all good wishes,

"SILLY" me. Nick, thank you for the link. I've been using sacraficial old doors, and I'm running out of doors. This seems like a great weekend project for the shop.