Shopsmith Forums

Hello,

I am thinking about ordering the strip sander as it is on special, albeit only 10% off, but I was wondering if it has the sharpening flexibility of something like the Viel with all of its attachments.
Also, can the viel bench grinder attachment fit onto the shopsmith?
That could be a possibility.
Can the sharpening jigs from viel be made to fit the Shopsmith Strip Sander?
Any help or thoughts appreciated.

GSchiela wrote:Hello,

I am thinking about ordering the strip sander as it is on special, albeit only 10% off, but I was wondering if it has the sharpening flexibility of something like the Viel with all of its attachments.
Also, can the viel bench grinder attachment fit onto the shopsmith?
That could be a possibility.
Can the sharpening jigs from viel be made to fit the Shopsmith Strip Sander?
Any help or thoughts appreciated.

I have no experience with the Shopsmith strip sander (I would love to have one), but I have owned a Viel S-5, that I purchased at Lee Valley, for several years. I do not have any of the attachments yet, but I have used it to sharpen knives, lathe chisels, hand plane blades, and even scissors, to grind metal parts to shape, and to sand small wood projects (with some limitations). The drive wheel on the S-5 mounts directly on the motor shaft, so you would need to add some type of (?), (the name escapes me right now , a shaft mounted on bearings), something like this with a 1/2" shaft, also you would need to make something to mount it to the Shopsmith.. I wouldn't think the Viel jigs would work with the SS strip sander but Shopsmith has sharpening jigs made for the strip sander.

There are advantages to having the Viel with it's own motor running on a work bench, ie. resharpening chisels in the middle of a lathe turning project.

An advantage to the strip sander is that it is better suited to sanding than the S-5 because it has flat and curved platens, (or no platen). and an open throat behind the platen that allows access to tight areas on the work piece. For example, when I was sanding the oven rack puller in my avatar I couldn't get to the area between the ear and the neck, and also where the tail meets the back leg.

I am pleased with the Viel S-5, if a strip sander came up locally I would get that also (you can never have too many tools)

Can the motor be reversed? Normally is it running up or down?

Ed

reible wrote:Can the motor be reversed? Normally is it running up or down?

Ed

The one I have is running down, the motor I have is capable of running both ways but I haven't wired it up with a reversing switch yet.
Purchased from Lee Valley it doesn't come with a motor. Sander/Grinder

The Viel Tools web site lists it either without a motor, or with motors of different sizes, they also have more jigs available, Lee Valley only sells one.

The shopsmith kit includes a plastic shield for the top and you run it with the belt going up. For the non reversible machines that means the non quill side of the head stock. I guess this makes sense to me as I would worry about the sharp cutting edge catching on the belt, now I don't know if that is a real world concern or just in my head.

Ed

reible wrote:The shopsmith kit includes a plastic shield for the top and you run it with the belt going up. For the non reversible machines that means the non quill side of the head stock. I guess this makes sense to me as I would worry about the sharp cutting edge catching on the belt, now I don't know if that is a real world concern or just in my head.

Ed

I haven't had a belt catch yet and I have sharpened hand plane irons, lathe chisels gouges and skews, lawn mower blades, and all sorts. The belt is supported full width by the platen so the blade can't really catch the edge, also you just take light passes, not a lot of pressure against the belt.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... N02NIj1oVo[/youtube]

Thank you so very much for the information, and especially the photo.
This was a really helpful reply.
It looks like to mount it I would need to jury rig an arbor or something.
I am just trying to save space.
I have Mark VII that I have set up for various tasks, so I can sharpen sand etc. while turning, and was hoping I could attach it to that.

I believe the viel catalog said it was a 1/2" shaft, could I use a 1/2" arbor either universal or third party?

Like one of these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHOPSMITH-MARK- ... SwUKxYfrnQ

or

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... rarbor.htm

Thank you.

GSchiela wrote:Thank you so very much for the information, and especially the photo.
This was a really helpful reply.
It looks like to mount it I would need to jury rig an arbor or something.
I am just trying to save space.
I have Mark VII that I have set up for various tasks, so I can sharpen sand etc. while turning, and was hoping I could attach it to that.

I believe the viel catalog said it was a 1/2" shaft, could I use a 1/2" arbor either universal or third party?

Like one of these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHOPSMITH-MARK- ... SwUKxYfrnQ

or

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... rarbor.htm

Thank you.

IIWM,I would use the router chuck(1/2" bore) and a short piece of 1/2" shafting.

GSchiela wrote:Thank you so very much for the information, and especially the photo.
This was a really helpful reply.
It looks like to mount it I would need to jury rig an arbor or something.
I am just trying to save space.
I have Mark VII that I have set up for various tasks, so I can sharpen sand etc. while turning, and was hoping I could attach it to that.

I believe the viel catalog said it was a 1/2" shaft, could I use a 1/2" arbor either universal or third party?

Like one of these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHOPSMITH-MARK- ... SwUKxYfrnQ

or

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... rarbor.htm

Thank you.

I think that having the shaft that the lower pulley is on attached directly to the Shopsmith and not fixed to the S-5 would be an exercise in frustration.

A better way would be to use a bearing like the one in the second picture, (or a pair of pillow blocks, see picture below) with a 1/2 inch shaft mounted on the S-5 base where the motor usually goes and then connect to the Shopsmith using the standard power coupler. Have the shaft stick out far enough on both ends that you can mount the hub on either side.
Of course, by the time you have done all that it might be cheaper and easier to just buy a second hand motor, (the one on mine is 1/6 HP). You could still have it sit on the Mark Vii's table.