Shopsmith Forums

billmayo wrote:At my Labor Day Home Show, I have a "jerk" loudly proclaim that only a tilt arbor table was worth buying and Shopsmith would never have or could be adapted for one. So, I am almost done with my 10" tilt arbor fixed table 510 table saw. It mounts like the thickness planer (uses the same clamps). I am using a auxiliary shaft in place of the motor and with a pulley on the quill shaft (Link belts). I made an adapter plate to mount the casing and tilt arbor assembly to the 510 main table. The 510 table lines up with the 510 extension tables and looks like a factory unit. I plan to permanmently mount this setup on a shorter Shopsmith for use in my shop.

The only major problem is this unit weights around 80 pds so I need help to mount/unmount it on the way tubes. I plan to display it in my booth at future Home Shows. The complete tilt arbor part is cast iron and very well built (from a Rigid TS2424). I hope to switch from belts to a flexible type drive system in the future.

I have no pictures of the finished unit yet as I disassemblied it for painting and have not reassembled it at this time. Too many other projects on-going at this time.

billmayo wrote:At my Labor Day Home Show, I have a "jerk" loudly proclaim that only a tilt arbor table was worth buying and Shopsmith would never have or could be adapted for one. So, I am almost done with my 10" tilt arbor fixed table 510 table saw. It mounts like the thickness planer (uses the same clamps). I am using a auxiliary shaft in place of the motor and with a pulley on the quill shaft (Link belts). I made an adapter plate to mount the casing and tilt arbor assembly to the 510 main table. The 510 table lines up with the 510 extension tables and looks like a factory unit. I plan to permanmently mount this setup on a shorter Shopsmith for use in my shop.

The only major problem is this unit weights around 80 pds so I need help to mount/unmount it on the way tubes. I plan to display it in my booth at future Home Shows. The complete tilt arbor part is cast iron and very well built (from a Rigid TS2424). I hope to switch from belts to a flexible type drive system in the future.

I have no pictures of the finished unit yet as I disassemblied it for painting and have not reassembled it at this time. Too many other projects on-going at this time.

dusty wrote:This discussion always amuses me. If you don't like the tilt feature of the Shopsmith, just don't use it. If you need a bevel cut, do it somewhere else or some other way.

Just how often do you need the table tilted? I can think of only one person on this forum who can rightly say he uses it (needs it) frequently.

The last time I tilted the table was when I built the last version of the outfeed table - maybe six months ago.

damagi wrote:I agree that its not a huge deal, but I'm also an engineer by trade...so I'm going to think about these problems and how they could be solved by looking at the component parts. If you believe that the overall system has significant value (small space, precision, single powerful variable speed motor, etc) then its natural to consider how to keep all of that while solving one of the perceivred "problems". A number of members on this forum have a tilting arbor saw, then use the shopsmith as a 4-in-1 plus SPTs.

Its simply a question of "given a fixed motor and table, how can I tilt the arbor to mitigate the concerns.

damagi wrote: . . .
Its simply a question of "given a fixed motor and table, how can I tilt the arbor to mitigate the concerns.

cincinnati wrote:I never thought the tilting table was any problem. I learned woodworking on my Shopsmith. I think it has to do more with what one is use to using.

You often hear "Try cutting miters on the ends of an 8ft 2x4" with a Shopsmith.
That may be true but who cuts mites on the end of 8' stick of wood with any table saw. One would use a miter saw for that.

cincinnati wrote:I never thought the tilting table was any problem. I learned woodworking on my Shopsmith. I think it has to do more with what one is use to using.

You often hear "Try cutting miters on the ends of an 8ft 2x4" with a Shopsmith.
That may be true but who cuts mites on the end of 8' stick of wood with any table saw. One would use a miter saw for that.

I own a JET cabinet saw. I use my Shopsmith as a Dado saw.

I think any kind of tilting arbor saw that would mount on the Shopsmith would cost more to manufacture than a self contained unit. You could just buy a Bosch job saw and mount it on the way tube.

robinson46176 wrote:I had wondered about having a miter saw stand that instead of sitting there using floor space would attach to a SS with long formed mount arms. It would drop down behind and a little under the Shopsmith then when needed you would just lower the main table and reach over and pull the miter saw up and into position above the main table where you could use a couple of extension tables at the ends for work piece support. Then just release a couple of latches and lower it back down behind and under the SS. Maybe made with a couple of lift cylinders to assist lifting and to avoid damage if dropped while raising and lowering.

Right now I use my Delta miter saw mounted on a small wood table that is attached to an extra set of SS extension table post. I either use it dropped in one end or the other of one of the SS's or clamped by the post in a B&D Workmate if not working in the shop.