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What are the benefits besides the space savings of making a mini out of a normal length shopsmith? What is the final length the tubes are cut to and why is that length chosen?

wasatch wrote:What are the benefits besides the space savings of making a mini out of a normal length shopsmith? What is the final length the tubes are cut to and why is that length chosen?

There has been much discussion on the forum regarding mini's and shorty's. I think that this thread pretty much covers it all.

Do give some thought to how you intend to use your cut down version. As a drill press, you do loose some drilling capacity. I have a cut down version that is used as a drill press and home for the belt sander.

Yes, it takes up a little bit less floor space but it does not save a whole lot of room. If you plan to use the carriage and table, think hard about how much you cut off of the tubes.

I use my shorty as a dedicated OPR and store my joiner on the other end to keep everything in balance. I can think of no other reason for creating a shorty other than to save space.