Shopsmith Forums

I've just got my SS to run correctly and am trying to use the vertical drill press. Even though I lock the table down, the weight of it causes the table to move down each time I drill a hole. After 5 holes, the table has moved down 3/8". I looked and can't find anything that I can do? Help!

Carriage locks or Way Tubes. Clean the entire carriage mechanism and then clean and wax the Way Tubes. Once that is done, adjust the Carriage Lock per the manual. There is nothing else to do unless you need new wedge locks in the carriage.

This thread covers some possible solutions to you slippage problem. Main table slipping when in drill press mode

Also the face of the wedge locks can become worn and deformed over time, (they develop a groove where they contact the way tubes.
They can be repaired by filing them flat again.

Or, you can block and brace the carriage. A New Jig 'Necessitated' By My Shorty

rpd wrote:This thread covers some possible solutions to you slippage problem. Main table slipping when in drill press mode

Also the face of the wedge locks can become worn and deformed over time, (they develop a groove where they contact the way tubes.
They can be repaired by filing them flat again.

Or, you can block and brace the carriage. A New Jig 'Necessitated' By My Shorty

This was my solution to possible slippage although I never had any. Plain drilling should not make the table move. I used it for mortising along with the telescoping legs on the front of the table (yes Dusty I know you don't trust them, not sure why, but they work for me). Just two pieces of aluminum angle iron that set the table to the "optimum" height and the telescoping legs on the front of the table. Rock solid.

I tightened up the carriage lock and now it works like a champ! Thanks for all the help.