Shopsmith Forums

Does or has anyone made longer waytubes? I make bats for my son, but I'm limited to about 32", maybe a little less. Really need waytubes that are a few (4 to 6) inches longer. Looks like there was a guy on here about a decade ago that made them, but I can't find anyone recently.
Thanks!

1-1/2" EMT conduit has an outer diameter of 1.74". That's just slightly smaller than the 1.75" bench and way tubes and can be used to replace them. The metal is not quite as strong as traditional Shopsmith tubes so plugging the ends to prevent crushing has been suggested. I think extending the tubes by 4 to 6" should work fine.

I remember some ideas shown here on the forum for making an extension that mounts in the SPT holes and then holds the tail stock a few inches further out so longer tubes aren't needed.

Maybe!
Steel DOM, aluminum, stainless steel also an optioin.

Thanks! Great info! To prevent crushing, any reason to not just fill the tubes with cement? Seems like it has the added bonus of also adding some weight to the unit, which is good for wood turning.

JPG wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 9:14 pm Maybe!

WAY -BENCH TUBE A.jpg

WAY-BENCH TUBE B.jpg

Steel DOM, aluminum, stainless steel also an optioin.

Do you think the "stronger" "DOM round steel tube" is worth the extra money? Basically $130 for a set of welded, $260 for the stronger ones.

Since the originals are NOT DOM I say not(asuming wall thickness is the same - OEM unknown to me - it varies).

Well cement will eliminate the need for internal painting/de rusting. There is also plaster of paris, lead, grout(cement sans agregate).

Buy the greatest wall thickness you can find and I don't believe you need to worry. There is not enough weigh apply to the tubes to bend them.

Just my unverified opinion. In all the years I have been on this forum I have not heard of a serious problem with "bent" tubes.

JPG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 10:19 pm Well cement will eliminate the need for internal painting/de rusting. There is also plaster of paris, lead, grout(cement sans agregate).

I'd be concerned it might actually trap moisture

If this is a long term solution also consider the steel tubing's corrosion control. Bench (Lower) tubes can be painted, but I don't think this is a workable approach on Way tubes unless we are talking about some fairly advanced finishes. I believe Shopsmith has historically used plating, and recently switched to Stainless. IIWM I'd want to use Stainless on the way tubes. But it may seem cost-prohibitive. Relocating the tail stock seems the most practical to me, though I'm not sure how far you can extend without needing to include a tool rest change in your approach.

Note: I don't think you'll need to worry about crush resistance on 0.120" wall thickness, that is pretty stout stuff.

- David

HopefulSSer wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 8:56 am

JPG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 10:19 pm Well cement will eliminate the need for internal painting/de rusting. There is also plaster of paris, lead, grout(cement sans agregate).

I'd be concerned it might actually trap moisture

That's what I was wondering.

Paint the ends.