Shorty ways tubes; how short did you cut them?

[P89DC]

Just finishing up rebuilding a Mark V basket case (more literally a box case) and I'm fixing to cut down the way tubes.

How short did you cut them?

[jsburger]

Just finishing up rebuilding a Mark V basket case (more literally a box case) and I'm fixing to cut down the way tubes.

How short did you cut them?

I guess it primarily depends on what you are going to use the shorty for. There are many many different opinions from the members here and none of them are wrong. For me, I wanted to retain the carriage so I could use the main table, so I cut 18" from the tubes.

[reible]

I opted to go with a 2/3 size machine meaning that I cut 16" off. I did this so the two old shopsmith red cabinets can fit under if I so choice to put them there.

Ed

[P89DC]

Thanks for your responses!

I'm planning to just run:
- Scroll saw or jig saw (not both, just one or the other)
- Belt sander and disc sander with table (at the same time)
- jointer
- bandsaw

It looks as if 18" is where I should start.

[jsburger]

Thanks for your responses!

I'm planning to just run:
- Scroll saw or jig saw (not both, just one or the other)
- Belt sander and disc sander with table (at the same time)
- jointer
- bandsaw

It looks as if 18" is where I should start.

I would start there. You can always make it shorter. I use mine mostly as a sanding station so 18" has worked fine for me. The disk sander with the main table and lower saw guard for dust collection and then either the strip sander or belt sander on the left end.

[P89DC]

I cut them 16" to start and now I doubt I'll bother to cut them any shorter. Maybe I could lop another 3" but it hardly matters with respect to smaller footprint. I purchased an adjustable length coupler so that shouldn't be an issue when running two SPT at once.

[wa2crk]

I would suggest to start by removing 16" and if that proves to be too long you can re cut. You can always take more off but you put any back on.
Bill V

[P89DC]

Final outcome. I cut them 16" using the 2 hose clamps as guides trick to make sure the ends were properly parallel. I don't see the value in cutting them much shorter.

[JPG]

Final outcome. I cut them 16" using the 2 hose clamps as guides trick to make sure the ends were properly parallel. I don't see the value in cutting them much shorter.

Smaller foot print, but that reduces the potential uses.


P.S. the ends are 'square'.

[dusty]

If you expect to ever use the Shorty as a drill press, you don't want it shorter.

With it at this length, mount the table and check for clearances when to attempt to tilt the table. There is very little. None to spare. I too cut 16" and occasionally wish it had only been 14".