Shopsmith Forums

Should be 'upconverting' my son-in-law's 500 to a 510 at Christmas time and, as partial compensation, I am getting the 500 parts from the conversion (i.e. table, carriage, extension tables, saw guards, etc.

Lots of imagination and experience on this forum so I thought I would ask for ideas on what I can do with the parts. Obviously I can just plop them on eBay but what else can I do. I am not inclined to try to build a shorty or anything like that but what else?

I used the table top for my stand alone drill press to make the table larger and have a fence. I just made solid inserts where the saw blade once went. Just bolted the 500 table to a piece of wood using the existing trunnion holes then bolted the wood to the small drill press table.

For absolute top dollar, turn it into "industrial chic" furniture or artwork prior to selling. For inspiration, see examples here: http://www.industrialartifacts.net/.

bobgroh wrote:Should be 'upconverting' my son-in-law's 500 to a 510 at Christmas time and, as partial compensation, I am getting the 500 parts from the conversion (i.e. table, carriage, extension tables, saw guards, etc.

Lots of imagination and experience on this forum so I thought I would ask for ideas on what I can do with the parts. Obviously I can just plop them on eBay but what else can I do. I am not inclined to try to build a shorty or anything like that but what else?

If the fence rail is removable, it is the same extrusion used for the bandsaw fence rail and also for the bandsaw table extension on the aluminum bandsaw fence. The 500 fence can be used with the bandsaw once the rail is mounted. (I have shortened the fence so it does not hang over the bandsaw table.) You will have to file a notch out to allow for the miter slot in the bandsaw table.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:For absolute top dollar, turn it into "industrial chic" furniture or artwork prior to selling. For inspiration, see examples here: http://www.industrialartifacts.net/.

Love that idea! My son is into that style of 'steam punk' stuff also - he has built some lighting fixtures using iron pipe and the like. Solid idea!

SDSSmith wrote:If the fence rail is removable, it is the same extrusion used for the bandsaw fence rail and also for the bandsaw table extension on the aluminum bandsaw fence. The 500 fence can be used with the bandsaw once the rail is mounted. (I have shortened the fence so it does not hang over the bandsaw table.) You will have to file a notch out to allow for the miter slot in the bandsaw table.

Very interested in what you stated can you post pictures of this bandsaw table conversion ?

Thanks

This has been done - adding a second carriage on the back side of the headstock allows mounting a second main table there greatly increasing the available table size. Doing so restricts the headstock movement in that direction, but it is easily removed if necessary. A sanding disk etc. can be mounted on the back end of the headstock, and the added table used for sanding.

2centsworth wrote:Very interested in what you stated can you post pictures of this bandsaw table conversion ?

Thanks

Does this help?

I have found dozens of uses for 500 parts. I have mounted the 500 main table on the bandsaw and jig saw. I am currently using a 500 main table with the legs rewelded to fit in the SPT holes at either end of the Shopsmith. It makes an nice extension table that can tilt for the 500 and for the MINI and islocked in place with accessory mount lock. I currently have welded a short set of legs to the bottom of the 500 carriage so I can use the carriage with the regular 500 main table and legs on either end of the Shopsmith using the SPT holes. This allowing the use of the carriage table raising handle instead of using the accessory mount lock to lock th e table legs. This also gives me a Crafter's Station capability for the Power Station and for use on the end of the MINI to give it sawing capability. I have all the hardware to make a few of each of the above but lack the time now to do this project. Maybe next year.

I had an extra table machined to accept my 3hp router mounting underneath it.

Now I'm able to use a shaper fence, with it as a router table.

(Now I'll have to make other "modifications" because I have a Mark7 and no longer have the 500, it fit on.

Steve