Shopsmith Forums

Presenting: a tip for mounting jigs or other stuff to an Extension (or aux) table. I've searched the forum and did not find this. The idea comes from Incra, btw.

There's a built-in capability in a 510/520 style ext. or aux. (floating) table for an easy mod to add 2 well placed mounting holes with captive nuts, ready for a 1/4 x 20 bolt.
Underside is a structural web or grid that creates 2 "X"s. A few inches from each end, at the center of the X is a small circle (tapered cylinder). This circle can be used for two things: 1) an "automatic" centering device for a 1/4" drill bit, to drill a clean and nicely positioned set of matching holes up through the table top, for mounting of some 'base' with appropriately positioned 1/4" bolt holes; 2) holding a 1/4 x 20 nut while a bolt (w/washer of course) is fed thru the top and into the nut, then tightened, w/ socket or wrench, drawing the nut very tightly- effectively permanently- and squarely up into the tapered cylinder.

Viola! The table is now set to hold any jig or whatever (specifically the Incra TS-LS SS Positioner) that has two mounting holes at matching positions, or slots. The nuts are captive and locked.

As far as I can tell the holes don't do any harm, and actually look good. They're made at what appears to me to be the strongest part of the table. With carefully sized and drilled holes in the 'jig' base, the device mounts with zero slop.

Besides the Incra, I've found the holes to be quite handy as "dogs" when using the Ext table as a Stop for horizontal boring (which happens to be how I do most of my "Drill Press" work).

Hm, I haven't drilled and 'nutted' my Aux tables yet, but probably will- can't think of why not to. (Now. I was a little hesitant at first, about making holes in my tables.)

I hope that description is not confusing. If need be I can post a pic.

Please do!! Post a pic that is!!
Bill V

Okay. The basic idea.
De pics depict position on the Ext table centered left to right (really!) and insync with the arbor front to back, give or take more or less, which is a function of the jig anaway. (The Positioner slides f-t-b on its base mount.( those 1/4 screws, 4 per side, into nuts riding in the T-slots)
[reminder that while the tables are not centered on the arbor the arbor is centered on the Ways.]

From under one can see the nut captured by the web-center cylinder which of course aligns the bolt perfectly. The nut is captured virtually permanently.
This arrangement is what allows removal and reinstallation of the Positioner in a matter of seconds, along with the table post locks on Main & Ext., without any alignments save Zero-to-blade.

Note: On the matter of the cylinder centering the drilling, memory failed me. Seeing it again upclose reminds me a 1/4 bit will not be auto-centered, so another method (larger bit?) must be used to "find" the start point for the 1/4 drill. Doing so was so easy I don't remember it.


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