Shopsmith Forums

I got a Mark 5 at a garage sale.
I really like this, I have wanted one since high school and that ended in 87. So I found this little gem and I have been playing with it for a bit. I really like it. So I was wondering, you can get a 1/2" router attachment, and I know where I can get some rail-stile router bits for not too much.

My question is this. Will the shopsmith spin the rail and stile router bits fast enough? I would have to use this in the overhead position, which seems like it would work with a bit of thinking before hand.

Thanks
Joe

it should

It'll work, but (1) feed the stock slowly and (2) take small cuts. The reason for this is that most stand-alone routers spin at 10,000+ RPM while the Shopsmith tops out at 5200 RPM (without a speed increaser or PowerPro headstock).

You will need a shaper fence. If you have a Mark "5", you will need to get a used one that was made for it. The current version will not mount to the Mark 5 table.

I have never played with the speed increaser. Is there a significant loss of power ? Another option is to get a rail and stile shaper set. You can get them in fairly large diameters which will increase the speed of the knives and give you a better experience. Do they make a rail and stile set of cutters for the moulder head ?
Paul