Shopsmith Forums

Did you see the new euro flip up guard? Kinda cool.

Hi cincinnati,
Yep, got that e-mail offer today too! I wonder if this is an effort to improve the safety features of the Mark V, in order to sell them in "euro"pe?

Now why do you think they called it the EuroGuard?:p

"Shopsmith’s all new, flip-up EuroGuard ..." - emphasis added.

After looking at this guard a bit more, I think that it is a great improvement over the old Router guard in that it allows you to change your bits easier, and I never thought of using the router guard for drilling or sanding, maybe because you can't (I'll have to try that to see), but you can with the new one. In being able to use it with drill bits and sanding drums their claim of improved dust collection is believable, but as a router shield, with the back open, how can it have improved dust collection? The old guard has more of a complete enclosure. But still, I think that the flip-up guard is better, even though it requires the open back.

As I typed this, another thought occurred to me: Used in conjunction with the Shopsmith Shaper/Drum Sander Table Insert 555119, and the Drum Sander Vacuum Attachment 555168 (both of which you wood be using anyway), along with the Utility Vacuum Extension 555582 mounted at the back side of the Flip-Up EuroGuard 522008, you just might have improved dust collection.

I wonder where it is manufactured?

Before I retired from GE as a toolmaker the company required us to install guards like this on all drillpresses in the toolrooms. They also had us put them on all the vertical mills. We kicked and screamed so loud that they let us remove them from the mills. They were the biggest pain in the rear on the drill presses and we were always finding ways to circumvent them. We just set them up for the monthly safety inspections. I believe they had to do with an OSHA requirement or guideline. On the drill presses, it took longer to adjust them than it did to run the job.

Dick

Like you, Tim, I would be interested in knowing where it is manufactured. It does look interesting, but as far as drilling is concerned, do I really need a guard. It seems like it would get in the way.

The guard looks just like the ones on Clark brand drill press from Tractor Supply. I know from some metalworking forums that Clark is a brand sold in England. So the guess it was made available to sell Shopsmith over seas may be right on.