Shopsmith Forums

In the past we have discussed this great tool and the potential use of a shorty stand. I recently had occasion to discover a lathe add on from shopsmith does a major job of offsetting the weight issues of using a short stand. Once that option hit me I shortened my tubes so that the lower tubes are 22". If making this change be certian you shorten all four tubes by the same amount. Check the picture to see what I discovered. Jim

If you reverse the carriage 180 deg. or move the table to the other side of the carriage, the table will be over the center of your shorten Shopsmith. I have gotten down to 12" bench tubes and doing this change.

Bill,

Exactly what I thought as soon as I saw the picture.

Jack.

billmayo wrote:If you reverse the carriage 180 deg. or move the table to the other side of the carriage, the table will be over the center of your shorten Shopsmith. I have gotten down to 12" bench tubes and doing this change.

This is fine for the Shopsmith dedicated to drill press duty. However if done to the overhead router, you would lose the ability to use the router in horizontal mode for tasks such as panel raising.

Nice stand, Jim.

SDSSmith wrote:This is fine for the Shopsmith dedicated to drill press duty. However if done to the overhead router, you would lose the ability to use the router in horizontal mode for tasks such as panel raising.

Nice stand, Jim.

Thanks for the nice comments. In that I had no desire to purchase new tubes if I screwed it up. I did try suggested options first. I tend to do most of my work in a sitting position due to my crippled feet. Thus this option is best for me. Jim

Great idea for storing that heavy beast.

fjimp wrote:In the past we have discussed this great tool and the potential use of a shorty stand. I recently had occasion to discover a lathe add on from shopsmith does a major job of offsetting the weight issues of using a short stand. Once that option hit me I shortened my tubes so that the lower tubes are 22". If making this change be certian you shorten all four tubes by the same amount. Check the picture to see what I discovered. Jim

Hey Jim,

I'm sure you told us before but since my memory isn't that great.... what were the tube lengths before the change to 22"?

How are you attaching the "weight" to the lower tubes?

Do you store this in the upright position or do you lay it back down? If you do want to lay it down do things interfere with other things?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm interested in your project.

Ed