Shopsmith Forums

I was working with my young nephew this weekend turning some small bowls on my MkV power pro. He said you know it sure vibrates and is noisy. I hadn't noticed it when I was turning myself but he was right.
I came up with an inexpensive solution. I took some "gripper pads" that I'd bought at Lowe's to put on the bottom of lamps to keep from marring tables, cut four squares and used the self adhesive back to glue them to the metal feet on the legs. Problem solved. It dampened the vibration and lowered the noise. The material is thin enough that when I lower the wheels down to move the unit there is plenty of clearance. The pads cost just a couple of bucks.

Since I use ear protection I don't notice the noise but I'm sure my wife does since the garage/workshop is attached to the house. I'm going to try your suggestion to see if it lowers the noise factor since I'm been turning a lot of bowls lately.

Happy that trick worked for you!:D I don't do much turning so don't have that issue, but have floor pads I bought for foot comfort. Think they are easily available. I like them when lowering the heavy end of the Shopsmith after moving it. Here's what they look like.
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I thought about bigger / heavier floor pads. But I didn't want to lift up my unit every time I move it on to the pad. I agree about not liking that clunking sound when lowering the heavy end. I would love to be able to put industrial rubber floor mats over my entire shop floor but it is a little out of my budget. Hello lotto!!!!

Hi Tex! Gotta tell you - - using standard wheels - the shopsmith will roll onto those pads when the wheels are in their lowest orientation. When rolling on the half low position, the Shopsmith won't go onto the pads without lifting. The pads are 1/2" thick.

Good to know, where did you find the mats? I found some at Tractor Supply but the don't interlock.

Mine were a present from my Son. Think he found them at Harbor Freight, but I couldn't find them in a quick search. mine are 1/2"thick and have a diamond finish top. Like the steel decks and steps on fire trucks. I think HF gets a supply of these every once in awhile. I know I've seen them last year.

Found some that might be the same at Home Depot's site. HDs are pretty expensive, but at least they re the right size (2'X2'). I wouldn't buy from HD without first seeing them.

try to let google find some for you. They are really the cat's meow! I now have six tiles interlocked with straight edges.

texomawood wrote: MkV power pro. He said you know it sure vibrates and is noisy.

Surprised to hear that.

charlese wrote:Mine were a present from my Son. Think he found them at Harbor Freight, but I couldn't find them in a quick search. mine are 1/2"thick and have a diamond finish top. Like the steel decks and steps on fire trucks. I think HF gets a supply of these every once in awhile. I know I've seen them last year.

These don't look exactly the same but they do interlock FWIW:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-anti-fatigue-foam-mat-set-94635.html

I also saw these at Costco.Com - more expensive but perhaps (key word - I have no firsthand experience with any of these items) a case of you get what you pay for:

http://www.costco.com/EZ-Flex-Interlocking-Recycled-Rubber-Floor-Tiles.product.11623616.html
http://www.costco.com/5'-x-7'-Coverguard-Garage-Floor-Rubber-Mat.product.11762614.html

The above 5'x7' mat from Costco seems like it would be big enough for a SS with room to work in front of it.

tomsalwasser wrote:Surprised to hear that.

I think he said the LATHE vibrates and is noisy!

Like legs making noise on the floor.