Shopsmith Forums

I had a couple more shopsmith tubes coming up to be cleaned so I figured it might be fun to try an idea I had. The idea was to take a piece of the bread boards I get at Sams Club and use the plastic to make a bearing that fits in a tail stock and lets the tubes ride on that while I turned/cleaned them.

In the past I've used a V-block for the tail end and while it worked I felt like trying something different this time around. The set up looks like this:
The plastic insert fits right in and the tube slides in/through. Drilled the hole first then mounted the part on the chuck and turned the out side down until it was a very tight fit in the tail stock.
Did four tubes with it so far. It does leave a small mark on the tubes but hay nothing is perfect. I used some wax on the inside to provide some lubrication but I don't know if really needed it or not. I see no wear yet, not something I do every day so I think it will last me for as long as I need it. Besides it was a fun lathe project.

Ed

Very clever idea!

Mike

Might this cause wear in the tailstock over time?

jmoore65 wrote:Might this cause wear in the tailstock over time?

Bearing:
Machinery. the support and guide for a rotating, oscillating, or sliding shaft, pivot, or wheel.



The bearing is the wear point. Bearings are replaceable.

Where there's a Shopsmith, there's a way...

If you extend the quill and polish out the witness mark from your bearing, does it make a new mark?

Very good input, Ed.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:If you extend the quill and polish out the witness mark from your bearing, does it make a new mark?

Only if someone is there to see it ....

My polishing rig with the plywood end does the same thing. I get rid of the witness ring by hand after it has been replaced on the rebuilt machine ....

Nice application Ed!

BuckeyeDennis wrote:If you extend the quill and polish out the witness mark from your bearing, does it make a new mark?

Of course, but the duration is much shorter so the new mark is greatly diminished.

Same for rollers etc..

A piece of tape will prevent the second mark.

Thanks Ed ! I have a project coming up where I need some 8 foot tubes and have been contemplating how to polish them.
Paul