If you had (have) 2 Shopsmiths, how would (do) you set them up?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:28 pm

a1gutterman wrote:Hi 2manband,

I have a single Mark V with table system 510. I also have single purpose tools, which are listed in my public profile. If I had an additional Mark V, it wood be a mini or shorty and I wood set it up as a sanding station. If I had three, one wood be a permanent lathe. On that one, I might consider letting Bill Mayo (I think it was he that does this?) fix my strip sander to run backwards so I could leave it on the "left" side of the headstock for sharpening. I wood make sure that it was placed on "blocks" to the exact height for comfort, sandbagged down and leave it there. So with three, I wood use the main one for all other functions.

With respect to table systems, the mini/shorty and the lathe set ups could be 500, 505, or 510 models, and the main one wood be a 520, as the only real benefit a 520 table system has over the others is in table saw mode.

Of course, if I buy the new model 530, I wood just have to push a button and the conversion to whatever set up I want wood instantly materialize and I wood only need one.

If your primary expansion need is a sanding station - you might want to give serious consideration to a Power Station or Crafter's Station (if one ever happened to become available). Whenever I get into a project that required a lot of sanding, I set up the Power Station with Belt Sander, sanding disks and drums.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:39 pm

[quote="jpg40504"]Would be a good trick if he does. Making the motor run backward would do it, but then the lathe would be backwards. Too bad your SS isn't a Mark VII.

Might be possible to get SS motor to run backwards, but you would have to get inside the motor to rewire Capactior/windings(assuming necessary leads are there). KNOT your Saturday morning mini project!:D Then there is the extra switch..........]

Originally Posted by a1gutterman
. . . I might consider letting Bill Mayo (I think it was he that does this?) fix my strip sander to run backwards so I could leave it on the "left" side of the headstock for sharpening. . . .

I have added a second 5 spline hub to the shaft on the inside of the drive wheel and cut a hole in the cover for the couplin for a couple strip sanders. Some versions does not have the drive shaft extending pass the end of the drive wheel. If you have at least a 1/2" of the shaft beyond the drive wheel, I cut one side of the 5 spline hub real close to the set screw (made a 3/4 size hub) so the hub and set screw has good contact on the shaft. I filed a flat on the shaft for the set screw.

I have converted a Mark VII motor to fit in the Mark V motor pan with a FWD/REV switch on the side of the motor pan. Requires special motor mounts and new holes drilled in the motor pan for the motor mounts.

Yes, converting the Mark V motor to operate in either direction is quite a delicate job. So far, I find the GE 1 1/8 HP motor is the best motor to convert for FWD/REV operation. You need a steady hand, very low reading ohm meter, a good soldering iron&solder and lots of insulating varnish to do this job. Not recommended unless you have a electric motor shop available or have done it previously.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:10 pm

dusty wrote:If your primary expansion need is a sanding station - you might want to give serious consideration to a Power Station or Crafter's Station (if one ever happened to become available). Whenever I get into a project that required a lot of sanding, I set up the Power Station with Belt Sander, sanding disks and drums.

Those wood be good options too, Dusty! I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the idea.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:50 pm

dusty wrote:If your primary expansion need is a sanding station - you might want to give serious consideration to a Power Station or Crafter's Station (if one ever happened to become available). Whenever I get into a project that required a lot of sanding, I set up the Power Station with Belt Sander, sanding disks and drums.

Keeping in mind that a Strip Sander will not work as a knife sharpener on a Power Station. This is because when knife/chisel sharpening on a strip sander, it has to be run from the spindle side of a Mark V so the belt moves upward. The Crafter's Station will reverse rotation, but the Power Station only revolves in one direction - Clockwise!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:10 pm

charlese wrote:Keeping in mind that a Strip Sander will not work as a knife sharpener on a Power Station. This is because when knife/chisel sharpening on a strip sander, it has to be run from the spindle side of a Mark V so the belt moves upward. The Crafter's Station will reverse rotation, but the Power Station only revolves in one direction - Clockwise!

Very true and that is why, after doing a "Bill Mayo modification", I wood keep the Strip Sander mounted to the left side of Mark V #3 (permenant lathe).

Now that you made me think more about it, I think that a mini or shorty might work out better then a Power Station, as you can keep the disk sander and the belt sander on at the same time. How many output shafts does a Crafters Station have?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:41 pm

TWO But one is off the end(no spt mount or table etc.). Good for drum sander or FREE HAND disk sander.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:55 pm

jpg40504 wrote:TWO But one is off the end(no spt mount or table etc.). Good for drum sander or FREE HAND disk sander.

More and more, I am thinking that a mini/shorty will make the best sanding station!!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:14 am

a1gutterman wrote:More and more, I am thinking that a mini/shorty will make the best sanding station!!

More versatile for sure and greater speed adjustment range.

BTW NOW I understand Bill 'Reversing direction'. I went back and reread your original post. You were referring to reversing strip sander drive. I was thinking reversing SS drive direction. Bill's post had me confused for a while(Couldn't figure what 'Drive Wheel' on the SS he was referring to)! DUH!:(

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:52 am

charlese wrote:Keeping in mind that a Strip Sander will not work as a knife sharpener on a Power Station. This is because when knife/chisel sharpening on a strip sander, it has to be run from the spindle side of a Mark V so the belt moves upward. The Crafter's Station will reverse rotation, but the Power Station only revolves in one direction - Clockwise!

I don't have a strip sander so that requirement slipped right past me. Just didn't think that through.

mtobey · Post by **mtobey** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:37 pm

I frequently use the leather-belted Strip Sander to strop. I teach some sharpening a couple of times a year- In spite of firm and straight forward safety warnings, I'll have one student too lazy to walk around to the other side of the stand to strop. So far no serious injuries- laundry bill may have gone up for that student and those in the line of fire of the flying gouge. Lots of blue lightning in the air-Much from me.mt