If you had (have) 2 Shopsmiths, how would (do) you set them up?

2manband · Post by **2manband** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:23 am

I found a deal that was too good to pass up, so I'm now the proud owner of two Shopsmith machines - both model 510's. This has two important benefits, in my mind:

-It allows me to run two setups at a time, decreasing changeover time.
-If one ever breaks, I can borrow a part from the other until I receive a replacement part, and keep on working.

I think that I'll keep one set up as a table saw. This seems to be the feature that takes the longest to change to/from. It's also probably the feature that I use the most. The other will be a "miscellaneous" machine that is set up for whatever non-table saw feature I need.

How do you other multi-Shopsmithers do it?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:44 am

2manband wrote:I found a deal that was too good to pass up, so I'm now the proud owner of two Shopsmith machines - both model 510's. This has two important benefits, in my mind:

-It allows me to run two setups at a time, decreasing changeover time.
-If one ever breaks, I can borrow a part from the other until I receive a replacement part, and keep on working.

I think that I'll keep one set up as a table saw. This seems to be the feature that takes the longest to change to/from. It's also probably the feature that I use the most. The other will be a "miscellaneous" machine that is set up for whatever non-table saw feature I need.

How do you other multi-Shopsmithers do it?

As a general rule:

I would use one to support the jointer and all table saw (horizontal mode) operations. Why, because the jointer can remain in place for nearly all other functions that would typically be directed to this Shopsmith.

I would use the other to support most all other operations. Why, because change over for these functions are quick and easy. This setup would be used most for sanding functions and bandsaw.

I have a standalone Pro Planer for that thicknessing operations.

If you do a lot of turning - well, that is an entirely different discussion. I will leave that for others to debate.

2manband · Post by **2manband** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:53 am

dusty wrote:As a general rule:

I would use one to support the jointer and all table saw (horizontal mode) operations. Why, because the jointer can remain in place for nearly all other functions that would typically be directed to this Shopsmith.

Agreed 100%. I do plan to leave the jointer on the dedicated table saw machine.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:13 am

Last year I took a second Shopsmith to the U.P. It was a mid '80's vintage machine that had been upgraded to Pro-Fence. It was purchased from a local widow.

The shop can be seen on my Lumberjocks blog, http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/8iowa . By-the-way, my Shopsmith shop, which I have rather blatently promoted, has now been seen by almost 600 "other" woodworkers, including newbies.

During the summer, I made the SPT cabinet for the second Shopsmith, and an 8' long general purpose workbench/cabinet with two shelves and 4 doors. I used both Shopsmiths extensively. One was set-up in saw mode most of the time. However I placed the jointer on the end only as needed, because of the changes from ripping to cross cutting with the sled. the other Shopsmith was used with the dado blade, and also set-up vertically, for drilling and biscuit jointing. My MKV mtg type planer is now on it's own power stand, and I also have a power station that is used mostly for the bandsaw, but will also accomodate the scroll saw, Jig saw (old model), strip sander, and belt sander.

There is a tremendous amount of flexibility with two Shopsmiths, giving the "stand alone guys" few or no advantages over us. Since I sometimes have a family member with a project, two Shopsmiths also make it possible for them to do their thing without interrupting my work.

My shop here in Gainesville is 1/2 of a two car garage, giving me only 250 sq ft to work in, so I can only accomodate one Shopsmith. However, the Pro-Planer is on it's own stand, and I have added a power station, so I have a lot of flexibility here also.

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:09 pm

2manband

I go along with what Dusty says about leaving one set-up in the saw/jointer mode and depending what else you enjoy doing, the other set-up could be the band-saw/disc sanding mode. I do more turning than sawing, so I leave mine in the band-saw/turning mode with the Universal Tool Rest.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:29 pm

Not having two but one and a power station, I set them up depending on what I am doing. The important thing to me is to be able to put any spt on either tool. Most of the time the band saw sits on the power station and is always ready to work. The ss becomes the 'flexible' tool, but has the jointer mounted most of the time. In addition to pairing with the saw function, it also makes a good counter balance when in 'drill press' (verfical) modes[often].

The belt sanders can be mounted on either ps or ss as conveniency dictates.

In other words I flow with the need at hand.

mtobey · Post by **mtobey** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:33 pm

#1 has the table saw with Incra Miter Express and usually the bandsaw on it. The flex machine which will be a shorty as of tonight has jointer on left end and usually the old style jig/scroller on the right. The strip sander is always on the right end of the #2 so that it spins away-I use it for power honing.mt

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:36 pm

It is sort of interesting to reread this thread and try to picture everyone's shop based on their preferences.

It sorta makes me think that most of us would really, deep down, prefer to have standalone tools.

I have alway been an advocate for the Mark V (5in1 tool). But in my shop, I don't really practise that. I have a power stand for the belt sander, the jointer on my Mark V, the band saw on the Power Station, the scroll saw stands alone and a Pro Planer. There is not much sharing going on there.

2manband · Post by **2manband** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:55 pm

The more I think about it, I'm probably going to go with the table saw/jointer setup on one machine, and the lathe/band saw setup on the other. I have a stand alone drill press, so my shopsmith seldom goes vertical. When it does, it would be easy to put the chuck on the lathe-configured machine. Or put on the sanding disk and swap out the tool rest for the table when I need to sand. My new machine also came with a biscuit jointer, so that would be fairly easy to use on the lathe configured machine as well. With the bandsaw mounted on the offset tubes, I should be able to flip the second machine upright without having to remove the SPT.

otee453 · Post by **otee453** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:03 pm

dusty wrote:It is sort of interesting to reread this thread and try to picture everyone's shop based on their preferences.

It sorta makes me think that most of us would really, deep down, prefer to have standalone tools.

I have alway been an advocate for the Mark V (5in1 tool). But in my shop, I don't really practise that. I have a power stand for the belt sander, the jointer on my Mark V, the band saw on the Power Station, the scroll saw stands alone and a Pro Planer. There is not much sharing going on there.

I have built my shop with the SS functioning as a drill press, disk sander and bandsaw, with occasional use as an overhead router.

I have a separate TS, a 6" Shopsmith (magna)belt sander on a power station, and stand alone planer and jointer. So far I have no complaints, other than I don't use my beltsander (I thought I would use it quite a bit!).

If I have only one tool when I die, it will be my SS. Or would that be considered 5 tools?:rolleyes:

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If you had (have) 2 Shopsmiths, how would (do) you set them up?

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