Shopsmith Forums

There sure are a lot of little mods you can do to your shopsmith for better access, performance or usability. I'd like to try and consolidate what you guys think some of the essentials are here and maybe even get a small central resource together for mods that people do. This is definitely a thread that'll need to be organized better to accommodate the various models. I've started with what I've come across for the Mark 500 (which is what I own). Feel free to add your thoughts for other models!

For starters I think the following modifications are immensely helpful and not too difficult to do with simple tools:
- in older Mark 500's there is no access hole; make one!
- upgrade the pork chop to use Bill Mayo's nut & bolt solution
- in older mark 500's, there are no easy-access oiling holes in the sheaves, drill them in!

For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have an outfeed table.
For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have a sliding cross cut sled.

calvin wrote:There sure are a lot of little mods you can do to your shopsmith for better access, performance or usability. I'd like to try and consolidate what you guys think some of the essentials are here and maybe even get a small central resource together for mods that people do. This is definitely a thread that'll need to be organized better to accommodate the various models. I've started with what I've come across for the Mark 500 (which is what I own). Feel free to add your thoughts for other models!

For starters I think the following modifications are immensely helpful and not too difficult to do with simple tools:
- in older Mark 500's there is no access hole; make one!<<A headstock
- upgrade the pork chop to use Bill Mayo's nut & bolt solution <<ALL except Power Pro
- in older mark 500's, there are no easy-access oiling holes in the sheaves, drill them in!<<A headstock

Indeed! Starting with accurate 'model' identifiers.

Model 10/10ER
10
10ER

Mark 5
GREENIES
.....A headstock
.....B headstock
GOLDIES(Brownies)
.....Gilmer
.....Poly-V
Magna American
SS Inc.

Mark VII

Mark V
500
510
520

Mark 7

If agreed, I can create links to separate threads for each of the above and any suggestions to add to the list.

I realize that with upgrades the 'model' distinctions become fuzzy, however many upgrades were the result of newer 'models'.

SPTs????

Anything else???

I have a 510 Shopsmith, which is probably the worst of the bunch for "rip fence creeping during Horizontal boring". I use some wood-blocks and clamps to manage this issue.


Chris

My first mod....hehe. Great thread idea.

dusty wrote:For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have an outfeed table.
For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have a sliding cross cut sled.

Dusty, could you recommend the type, i.e. homemade/store bought, that you find to work the best for each?

silenthope wrote:

dusty wrote:For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have an outfeed table.
For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have a sliding cross cut sled.

Dusty, could you recommend the type, i.e. homemade/store bought, that you find to work the best for each?

For the Shopsmith, I know of only two sources. You either make them yourself (to your liking) or buy them from Shopsmith. I made my own.

Now let me say that neither of them is a high tech project. The only difficulties that I had were brought on by the fact that I wanted my outfeed table to raise/lower along with the main table height adjustment. If you are curious about how I did that, do a search here for outfeed.

nuhobby wrote:I have a 510 Shopsmith, which is probably the worst of the bunch for "rip fence creeping during Horizontal boring". I use some wood-blocks and clamps to manage this issue.


Chris

The first thing I must say is that you are putting too much pressure on the bit; let the "sharp" bit do the work. Very little pressure is required if your bits are sharp.

Yes, for some boring tasks, the 510 fence does not make a good work bench and it requires some assistance. Your solution is the only one a know of.

JPG wrote:

calvin wrote:There sure are a lot of little mods you can do to your shopsmith for better access, performance or usability. I'd like to try and consolidate what you guys think some of the essentials are here and maybe even get a small central resource together for mods that people do. This is definitely a thread that'll need to be organized better to accommodate the various models. I've started with what I've come across for the Mark 500 (which is what I own). Feel free to add your thoughts for other models!

For starters I think the following modifications are immensely helpful and not too difficult to do with simple tools:
- in older Mark 500's there is no access hole; make one!<<A headstock
- upgrade the pork chop to use Bill Mayo's nut & bolt solution <<ALL except Power Pro
- in older mark 500's, there are no easy-access oiling holes in the sheaves, drill them in!<<A headstock

Indeed! Starting with accurate 'model' identifiers.

Model 10/10ER
10
10ER

Mark 5
GREENIES
.....A headstock
.....B headstock
GOLDIES(Brownies)
.....Gilmer
.....Poly-V
Magna American
SS Inc.

Mark VII

Mark V
500
510
520

Mark 7

If agreed, I can create links to separate threads for each of the above and any suggestions to add to the list.

I realize that with upgrades the 'model' distinctions become fuzzy, however many upgrades were the result of newer 'models'.

SPTs????

Anything else???

Here we go, this is someone who really knows their stuff!

Thanks for stepping in and adding some much needed organization, I had the thought at work and didn't want to wait until I got home to forget to post it. I'm going try and hunt down where some of the mods are in the many many posts.

silenthope wrote:

dusty wrote:For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have an outfeed table.
For all models, it is my opinion that you need to have a sliding cross cut sled.

Dusty, could you recommend the type, i.e. homemade/store bought, that you find to work the best for each?

Not to jump on Dusty but IMO there are many options.I use SS parts (not the out feed table they sell) here. The mods Nick made to the one they sell I would do if I had one. For a cross cut sled, the one that SS sells is fine up to its capacity. I have used one for years. As for homemade cross cut sleds they are just fine also and you can make them as large as you want.