Are Your Extension Tubes Straight

[keakap]

If you can get a fence perfectly aligned to the saw blade, you better at aligning things than 99.44 percent of woodworkers.

I dunno bout that. Here's a hypothetical: take yer table saw and set it up seriously. Chances are excellent you not be able to get it "perfect". Then change to Drill Press and make a few holes. Change back to table saw. Now don't alter any adjustments or do any fine tuning. Check for 'perfection'. Repeat the switcheroos as often as needed, and I submit that sooner or later you will find that perfect alignment somehow "happened".

Take a picture.
Leave the room.
Seal it off.
Send a letter to the Smithsonian, forthwith, asking for an application.

[dusty]

OKAY now. When we start talking, in the same deep breathe, about drill press and table saw alignment, things are getting serious.

First I would ask how many have actually done a table alignment for drill press operation? Have you really? How many shims did you use? Was it necessary to shim both trunnions?

After doing all of that, did you go back to table saw mode and do a complete table saw table alignment? Did you have to change anything?

Unless you can answer all those questions, based on experience, you have not completed a "Shopsmith table" alignment. I have found that many of us do not.

[reible]

The manual with the information on this that I quoted back in the day is from the instruction manual 845525 dated 11/04 reference page C-29 top right side.

Ed

Originally Posted by JPG40504

I am not even sure there was an intention of being able to do so with the Mark 5 either. Any one seen an 'official' pix of the fence mounted on an extension table at the left end with the purpose of being a rip guide?




Somewhere, I think in one of the SS Training Guides, maybe in PTWWFE, perhaps in other instructional material, but Certainly in SS or SS authorized stuff, I seem to remember at least one instance where I had to say "whoa", backup and re-read a section because it gave the quite distinct impression that the "Normal" arrangement was to have The Extension Table mounted on the Left (see above) as OPPosed to the right. And I DO remember a definite SS note that said (in effect) NOT to expect left-right compatability. (This may have come from Nick. If so it may have been not a declaration but rather an inclusion in a broader subject.)

[JPG]

I do not recall ANY instructions that refer to alignment of the rip fence while it is located on the left extension table.

All instructions I recall have been adjusting the fence while located on the main table.

Extension table alignment procedures have been to align the extension table to the main table or the rails/tubes.

I believe seeking the ability to move the extension table from end to end and maintain proper alignment is indeed an onerous goal, but is worthy of attempting and is not of little 'interest' to the rest of us.

BTW I think using the way tube 'leveling' screw is NOT a solution! It is not an independent adjustment(it affects other things).

[dusty]

I do not recall ANY instructions that refer to alignment of the rip fence while it is located on the left extension table.

All instructions I recall have been adjusting the fence while located on the main table.

Extension table alignment procedures have been to align the extension table to the main table or the rails/tubes.

I believe seeking the ability to move the extension table from end to end and maintain proper alignment is indeed an onerous goal, but is worthy of attempting and is not of little 'interest' to the rest of us.

BTW I think using the way tube 'leveling' screw is NOT a solution! It is not an independent adjustment(it affects other things).

I have never seen the value of that screw. Mine does not even touch the frame. If there was a pair of them, I could see where they might be of value for positioning that end of the way tubes (the tie bar).

[JPG]

I have never seen the value of that screw. Mine do not even touch the frame. If there was a pair of them, I could see where they might be of value for positioning that end of the way tubes (the tie bar).

They should! If the tie bar does NOT set on the screw the left end is 'floating!'

We are referring to #9?

It adjusts the 'twist' of the way tubes relative to the bench tubes.

The 'clamp' only holds the tie bar in position. Support is by contact of the tie bar to the end casting by way of a fixed surface on one side and that screw on the other.

[algale]

They should! If the tie bar does NOT set on the screw the left end is 'floating!'

We are referring to #9?

It adjusts the 'twist' of the way tubes relative to the bench tubes.

The 'clamp' only holds the tie bar in position. Support is by contact of the tie bar to the end casting by way of a fixed surface on one side and that screw on the other.

It is possible for the tie bar to rest on the casting on both sides, i.e. with the screw completely retracted below the casting surface. When I recently disassembled/reassembled mine, that is exactly what I got (don't ask for pictures; I've got it disassembled again for other reasons).

[holsgo]

I've done the drill press alignment. Only to find that everything becomes misaligned because the tubes and the hinge flex. That said, it's fine for woodworking. I did reinforce the tubes with a 45 degree bar to the bench tubes to really hold it all in place.

[emagnet]

Originally Posted by JPG40504

I am not even sure there was an intention of being able to do so with the Mark 5 either. Any one seen an 'official' pix of the fence mounted on an extension table at the left end with the purpose of being a rip guide?

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/500to510.htm

[JPG]

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/500to510.htm

Wonder why that looks familiar.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=121531&postcount=30

#30 this thread!;)