Shopsmith Forums

I've moved into a townhouse with a one car garage which is for my woodshop plus some household/kitchen storage. The space for the shop is just under 200 sq. ft. The space is tight in the shop with tools, workbench, cabinets, etc. I have a 1985 Mark V (originally was 510) with all the upgrades to equivalent of new Mark 7. Also, I have a Mark V 500, shorty that I use primarily for Band Saw and Drill Press. In addition, I am considering, using parts that I have, making a Shop Deputy to be a dedicated sanding station. I also have a separate router table that I built with storage under the table.

I don't make large furniture but usually smaller objects. I am considering converting the shorty into a dedicated drill press or should I leave it be. It is useful as it is and easily converted back and forth for band saw or drill press. I use both functions equally. However, a dedicated drill press provides some additional floor space and can put band saw on the full Shopsmith.

I am asking for advice/recommendations. Leave the shorty as is or convert it to dedicated drill press for some space considerations? Will the floor space make a real difference? What is a good height for the cabinet under the shop deputy? I have a rolling base cabinet to mount the shop deputy on top, but it might be too high.

Probably not what you want to hear, but I would not make the deputy much higher, if any, than 'standard.' My thinking is belt sander and/or strip sander (any SPT?) shouldn't be much higher than they are on a Mark.

Personally I would not give up the shorty in favor of a dedicated DP unless floor space was a real issue.

- David

David,

Thanks for the reply as I needed the reinforcement of my next steps. I've attached a copy of my floor plan and a couple of photos of my messy shop. It really needs cleaning.
In the upper right of floor plan, I plan to put the Shop Deputy sanding station. Everything is on casters and moveable to rearrange position is needed. Next attached is one of my latest projects which was primarily bandsaw work:
I'd appreciate any other comments and/or suggestions for improvement. Thanks.