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Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:34 am
by gac5ss
I purchased an older used Shopsmith 520 yesterday and this was in one of the boxes. Not sure if it all goes together, or if there are multiple tools here. The round part in the second picture is magnetic and it spins.
Thanks for any help.
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Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 4:47 pm
by gac5ss
Wow! 217 views without one guess. I have looked through the old SS catalog on this site, but have not seen anything remotely like it. I think I have an old SS catalog in a box in storage from about 2001. My SS has a 2000 build date.
My first guess was it has something to do with tracing or pattern drawing. Don't get the rotating arms and chrome poles with holes in them. Then there is the base which somehow ties it all together. Plus there is the magnetic whirly disk. The two blocks appear to be set up angle templates. Too many moving parts to make any sense to me.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:06 pm
by stew
I believe this is an old Sears router follower of some sort. You attach your router to that tray looking thing and the arms are attached somehow with a pointer at the end of one of the arms. You attach it to your workbench, slide a picture under the point and as you trace the picture with the point your router is cutting the same picture on a piece of wood. That is my best guess, it kind of looks like something I had over 40 years ago. If I remember it did not work very well or maybe it was just user error why it didn't.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:32 pm
by gac5ss
Thank you Stew. I was thinking along the same idea as a pantograph. I did a Google search and Amazon provided a similar device, except the router holder is slightly different. The brand is "Milescraft"
My mystery solved. Now I can put it in the dumpster.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am
by dusty
gac5ss wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:32 pm
Thank you Stew. I was thinking along the same idea as a pantograph. I did a Google search and Amazon provided a similar device, except the router holder is slightly different. The brand is "Milescraft"
My mystery solved. Now I can put it in the dumpster.
OH NO
No tool should ever go in the dumpster. One never knows what the future needs may be.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:49 am
by Hobbyman2
dusty wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am
gac5ss wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:32 pm
Thank you Stew. I was thinking along the same idea as a pantograph. I did a Google search and Amazon provided a similar device, except the router holder is slightly different. The brand is "Milescraft"
My mystery solved. Now I can put it in the dumpster.
OH NO
No tool should ever go in the dumpster. One never knows what the future needs may be.
------------------
+1 !! I can see a lot of use for it all ready .
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:22 am
by edma194
dusty wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am
gac5ss wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:32 pm
Thank you Stew. I was thinking along the same idea as a pantograph. I did a Google search and Amazon provided a similar device, except the router holder is slightly different. The brand is "Milescraft"
My mystery solved. Now I can put it in the dumpster.
OH NO
No tool should ever go in the dumpster. One never knows what the future needs may be.
I agree completely. On the other hand there's a router pantograph sitting way in the back on a shelf somewhere that I've never used. I fished it out of someone's dumpster but never used it. There are plenty of tools and materials I did use though. I can confidently say out of all the tools, parts, and materials I've stocked up over the years I've easily put to good use almost 10% of it. OK, not that much really, I have to periodically throw crap away to make room for more crap, but when I look at the current prices of those things I obtained for free it's been well worth it.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:13 pm
by BuckeyeDennis
edma194 wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:22 am
dusty wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am
No tool should ever go in the dumpster. One never knows what the future needs may be.
I agree completely. On the other hand there's a router pantograph sitting way in the back on a shelf somewhere that I've never used. I fished it out of someone's dumpster but never used it. There are plenty of tools and materials I did use though. I can confidently say out of all the tools, parts, and materials I've stocked up over the years I've easily put to good use almost 10% of it. OK, not that much really, I have to periodically throw crap away to make room for more crap, but when I look at the current prices of those things I obtained for free it's been well worth it.
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2023 6:34 am
by gac5ss
Okay, I will wait until I get the Shopsmith cleaned up and running. I might get inspired. Don't want this to evolve into a time of regret. I had an idea yesterday on using the pantograph router platform, but I have already forgot what I was thinking of using it for. Inspirations are like that with me.
Waiting on some missing parts from eBay, Shopsmith, and Amazon. Meanwhile I think I will take out my power washer this weekend and give my new toys a bath...
Re: Tell me what this tool does
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:24 am
by rlkeeney
It is a Sears/Craftsman Router pantograph. I have one in my shop. I have played with it but never built a project with it.