Shopsmith Forums

Beautiful pen set.

oh those are beautiful pens. I've turned a couple too and just love the way they turned out.
I read someone's review of a shopsmith's poor pen turning abilities. I think the main problem is only that the machine was not set up correctly.

skou wrote:Paul, you need to weigh everything you read on the internet with a pound (maybe a ton) of salt.

steve

You are of course very correct.
I wasn't clear that my post was intended to be humorously sarcastic. If I believed 1/10th of the negative comments I've read about the Shopsmith I would never have bought one. The pens above are another great rebuttal to their arguments.

dasgud wrote: I read someone's review of a shopsmith's poor pen turning abilities. I think the main problem is only that the machine was not set up correctly.

The biggest problem I have is that it's hard to get the tool rest in a good position when the headstock and tailstock have to be so close together to mount the pen mandrel. I was considering making a custom tool rest specifically for pen turning. Does anyone have a commercial tool rest that they like?

cml wrote:The biggest problem I have is that it's hard to get the tool rest in a good position when the headstock and tailstock have to be so close together to mount the pen mandrel. I was considering making a custom tool rest specifically for pen turning. Does anyone have a commercial tool rest that they like?

You could buy a #2 Morse Taper extender. That would move the head and tailstocks apart another few inches or so. I believe you can get one from Shopsmith by calling customer service, or they are available from many turning supply houses.

Here is one example

beeg wrote:SS has a small tool rest.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/l_4toolrest.htm

Bob, I was not aware that existed. That would help allot when turning pens. Thanks.

paulrussell wrote:You could buy a #2 Morse Taper extender. That would move the head and tailstocks apart another few inches or so. I believe you can get one from Shopsmith by calling customer service, or they are available from many turning supply houses.

Paul, after installing a Lift Assist kit on my Mk5, I had to get a MT Extender in order to turn pens. The lift assist kit keeps the tool rest carrage from sliding all the way down the way bars, and without the extender, you couldn't get the toolrest to go all the way down to the live center. An extension fixed that up just fine.

Chris

I have the universal tool rest system 555868 from shopsmith and have no problem mounting my pen mandrel between the headstock and tail stock with a live center. I believe the universal tool rest gives one more flexibility compared to just a tool rest mounted on the carriage. I either use the short tool rest mounted on the banjo and will do one side of the pen then relocate it to get the other side or I have also used the longer tool rest without having to make any adjustments. With the longer tool rest, you can only get about a 1/4" gap between the work and tool rest which has never caused a problem for me. You want to be able to have the tool rest as close to the material as possible to prevent the possibility of the chisel getting down between the tool rest and work. Like I said, it has never been an issue for me.[ATTACH]9148[/ATTACH]

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