Shopsmith Forums

I have 2 extra tubes and would like to save my original bench and way tubes so can I cut my 2 extra ones down and use them for both the bench and way tubes? In other words, are the bench and way bars identical other than the length?

Depends how old it is. Some of the earliest Greenies, had slightly wider bench tubes.

See the post below in this thread , linked from the Everything Mark 5 / V - Technical info, documentation, links thread.

SDSSmith wrote: ↑Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:20 am The way tubes (uppers) are all 1.75 in. The bench tubes (lowers) on most machines are also 1.75 in. However, on some of the earlier machines the bench tubes were 1.875in. diameter.

For a dedicated drill press, consider leaving the way tubes full length, and you can get a galvanized (chain link) fence post to cut short for the bench tubes.

I already have a total of 6 tubes. My thought was to cut 2 of the tubes down to 10” or 12”, reverse the headstock and use the rest of those tubes for the upright tubes. That way, I keep my 4 original tubes intact.

TPat23 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:07 am I already have a total of 6 tubes. My thought was to cut 2 of the tubes down to 10” or 12”, reverse the headstock and use the rest of those tubes for the upright tubes. That way, I keep my 4 original tubes intact.

There are several good designs for a dedicated drill press. You could use your current approach AND full size way tubes by just using the original way tubes unmodified in lieu of the 10" or 12" shortened cutoffs. This may not work if you have plans for the originals, but if you're just storing them it will.

Also if you include your location someone here may have some cutoffs you can use for the short bench tubes.

- David

There are two differences between the bench and way tubes besides the length. The first Ed covered above. The other is the finish of the tubes. Early bench tubes were painted and later chrome plating was used. Way tubes are polished metal.

It sounds like you want to set it up as a Drill Press similar to what John Burger has done. Below is a link to a thread he showed it in. The bench tubes are quite short so you wouldn't loose much cutting off the needed section from a pair of way tubes for the bench tubes. Or you could use the current way tubes the way they are and cut the needed lengths for the bench tubes from one of your extra tubes. That way you keep your 4 original tubes intact.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24388&p=277420&hili ... ss#p277420

Thank you all for your guidance. I am in Knoxville, TN. My shop is so small I am just trying to make the smallest footprint possible and I have a separate table saw, band saw and radial arm saw. I don’t currently turn wood. I just need the drill press/verticals sander.

If you use the John Burger concept from the link above (I did it using a Model 500), you may want to switch the the table lock and height controls to the right side. Also as shown you will want to have tubes mounted in the forward SPT holes as table supports. I added some HDPE plastic blocks under the table and load transfer ball bearings on top of those tubes so I can move the table forward and back with those support tubes in place.

It is fantastic having a dedicated drill press with dial-in speed control, and it's on wheels too. The table tilt and fence are bonuses also.

This is actually the one I wanted to copy.

I followed that design. You can see the details in this thread. benmcn provided the details for the dimensions. You can see initially in the photo at the end I used the extension table for the main table support. I worried about the legs being in the way in front but as I was advised there it is not an issue.