Shopsmith Forums

Hi, All.

I am new to the Shopsmith forum so please forgive my ignorance on the double tilt base. I must be missing something. If you have two shopsmiths, can't you set one up to perform under table functions and one to do above table functions (i.e. shaper, moulder, router and sanding)? What am I missing?

Thanks,

Jeff

Under table 'functions' require the ability to tilt to vertical towards the opposite(left) end. That is only possible with a double tilt machine. That is how the headstock/arbor... gets positioned under the table. It also requires reversing the table orientation in the carriage.

It can be done with two machines. I did this project for fun and to have a shorty bench that tilts both ways to work on headstocks. Even that function is not that useful with conventional headstocks but nice to have on a PowerPro head. Otherwise I have a 510 machine with a PowerPro headstock set up the normal way and another machine dedicated for sanding that tilts the other way with the headstock, carriage and main table reversed. The only under table function I've used that reversed machine for so far is drum sanding. Otherwise, I have a practically unused Mark 7 double tilt bench I have no real use for because I keep a bandsaw mounted on the left end of the 510 and with a double tilt a tilt on that machine I'd have to remove the bandsaw to tilt it in either direction. In addition I rarely tilt the 510 machine into drill press mode anyway because I have another machine that's been modified to be a dedicated drill press. So there's a lot you can do with multiple machines. I consider a dedicated drill press the best use of a 2nd Shopsmith, saves having to tilt at all and takes up less than 4 sq.ft. of floor space.

OK so I missed something! You initially asked about setting one up to perform under table functions(rearranging headstock/carriage/table).

The answer is yes, but. The operator position moves to the other side of the base. The table height controls need to be reversed end to end.(The carriage orientation stays as it is so the under side of the table 'hovers' over the tilted up headstock). The tilt base stays where it is. Headstock quill shaft rotation may be a problem for some functions. I have considered making a shorty into a routing station. I have a headstock with a reversible motor.

I neglected to say above: slide headstock and carriage off the tie bar end of the way tubes, reverse headstock and reinstall onto the way tubes first with the quill facing tie bar end, then slide carriage back onto the way tubes in it's normal orientation.

Those are my thoughts regarding this - have not actually done any of it.

All above refers to Mark 5 parts.(V 500 for thee newbes)