Shopsmith Forums

Has anyone used 2 headstocks and tables on a single set of bench tubes? Would they even fit? I thought I saw a thread on that a while back but could not find it. I would have them each permanently set up with dado blades that I use a lot, a 1/4 inch and a 3/4 inch. I would also have my jointer attached. Love the SS jointer on appropriately sized projects.

tomsalwasser wrote:Has anyone used 2 headstocks and tables on a single set of bench tubes? Would they even fit? I thought I saw a thread on that a while back but could not find it. I would have them each permanently set up with dado blades that I use a lot, a 1/4 inch and a 3/4 inch. I would also have my jointer attached. Love the SS jointer on appropriately sized projects.

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I have posted pictures, in a thread long ago, that depict dual carriages and main tables along with the headstock. I was configured this way because I had taken on a project that required "a lot" of work with sheet goods. I thought that the extra table space would make the task at hand safer and easier.

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... tical+mode

I don't think it worked well enough to warrant the extra effort to install a second carriage and main table.

The floating tables, supported by 5' extension tubes and two extension tables, work just as well.

Someone posted a picture a while back of a SS with extended length tubes - I can't remember how long they were but something like twice the usual length…I also can't remember how they joined the tubes end to end smoothly to make it work. Anyway, point being that I think in order to have two headstocks and two tables/carriages, you would need longer tubes…don't know that for sure but seems almost inevitable. I don't think all of that would fit on standard length tubes, and if it did, you would have minimal or now room to adjust anything.

Thanks Dusty and dgale. You're right. On further reflection I think it's a bad idea too. A shorty would be nice for this purpose. I could have blades set up for the 1/4 and 3/4 dados and grooves that I do frequently.

A while back there was a modified Mx(CL/EB?) that had two headstocks on an extended bed. IIRC, it was used to bore gun barrels.