Shopsmith Forums

Will it work and has any one else ever tried this idea ?
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To reduce floor space and make a smaller foot print can you reverse the table and motor and put them on the inside ? I know you won't be able to lower the unit but it is a dedicated drill press shorty for now .

Is it total nuts ?

My new shorty ! Dedicated to the ringmaster.
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Trying to make space for all 5 of my Shopsmiths. Rule is wife's car must be in garage at night.

2centsworth wrote:Will it work and has any one else ever tried this idea ?
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To reduce floor space and make a smaller foot print can you reverse the table and motor and put them on the inside ? I know you won't be able to lower the unit but it is a dedicated drill press shorty for now .

Is it total nuts ?

Yes, the carriage and headstock can be rotated 180° on the tubes. I have had mine that way. It did not stay because the horizontal tubes were in the way. If I could throw a leg over the tubes and sit it like a horse, I might have done that but those days are history.

If you did that, you'd want to reinforce the sitting area. Well, maybe not. You are likely not as heavy as I am.

If you really need to clear out space, I could give you a shipping address where there is available space.

If I could get paid by the pound I might could buy another Shopsmith !

2centsworth wrote:My new shorty ! Dedicated to the ringmaster.
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Trying to make space for all 5 of my Shopsmiths. Rule is wife's car must be in garage at night.

If you want to keep it as a dedicated drill press, reverse the headstock and carrige and go to 12" bench tubes. This really makes a nice roll around drill press and any function that you can do in the drill press position. Later, I removed the legs, bench tubes and headrest and then bolted the base using longer studs in place of the bench tube bolts to a metal stand with large casters. This is now my drilling, tapping and milling Shopsmith. I also have a table top 4" belt sander, 8" polisher with 8" wire bushes and a 6" grinder on this stand that takes about the same floor space as the 12" Shopsmith setup did.

Bill can you send a picture. Sounds exactly what I am interested in. as usual asking here is always the best solution !

Happy Holidays !

billmayo wrote:If you want to keep it as a dedicated drill press, reverse the headstock and carrige and go to 12" bench tubes. This really makes a nice roll around drill press and any function that you can do in the drill press position. Later, I removed the legs, bench tubes and headrest and then bolted the base using longer studs in place of the bench tube bolts to a metal stand with large casters. This is now my drilling, tapping and milling Shopsmith. I also have a table top 4" belt sander, 8" polisher with 8" wire bushes and a 6" grinder on this stand that takes about the same floor space as the 12" Shopsmith setup did.

Bill I can use the short tubes I cut off already. Fantastic !

Is there any difference in the size of the tubes once cut ? I know the bottom tubes need to be 3/4 inch longer then the top - but does that still hold if shorten to 13 inches ?Thanks

2centsworth wrote:Is there any difference in the size of the tubes once cut ? I know the bottom tubes need to be 3/4 inch longer then the top - but does that still hold if shorten to 13 inches ?Thanks

Yes! 3/8" longer on each end!:D