Shopsmith Forums

HOWDY FOLKS LOOKING FOR SOME IDEAS FOR A DRILL PRESS TABLE DIY ON A MARK V. PICTURES PLANS....ETC. ANY FEEDBACK MUCH APPRECIATED

What model Mark V do you have and what capability are you looking for? I would characterize the Mark V as a very good woodworking drill press, with incremental improvements depending on the table system. Most of the DIYs that I like are modeled similar to a Woodpeckers DP Pro. For woodworking purposes that's a huge improvement over a traditional DP, but not so much when compared to a Model 520 IMO. If you have a Model 500 I'd say consider upgrading to a 505/510/520, or at least a main table and carriage, that has the SS style T-slots and then consider adding DIY fixtures for whatever capability you're after. My two cents.

- David

If you plan to Make it yourself? Maybe something like this in the link below.

Link: https://www.rockler.com/clamping-table- ... 20Products

shugy,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

As David already said the Shopsmith is a great Drill Press. The Shopsmith as a Drill Press differs in that conventional Drill Presses have a smaller table that tilts left or right. The Mark 5/V, any model, has a larger table that tilts forward allowing angles not easily done on a conventional Drill Press.

No matter which model Mark V you have there is a lot you can do with it. There are some differences in how you can set up in Drill Press operations depending on which model you have. The original table system for the Mark 5/V 500 can do almost all the same setups as the later Models 510/505 and 520. Below is a 1956 Mark 5 Greenie with the original Table System (the same as a Mark V 500) set up in Drill Press mode.

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With the Floating Tables of the 510 & 520 you can expand your work surface. Sorry I don't have a picture of that. Do notice the Rip Fence in use in the picture above. It is your first accessory that can be used in Drill Press mode. The Miter can also be used to position material to be drilled. The Miter has a set screw in the middle of the bar to lock it in place in the Main Table's Miter Slot. As already said there are more options if you have a 510, 505 or 520 Model Mark V. One example is a vice (shown below) that locks directly into the Miter "T" Slots. The Mark 5/V 500 original Table system does not have "T" Slots in the table, but the Vice can be used with C Clamps holding it in place through the Insert opening.

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It can be seen here on the Shopsmith website at the link below.
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https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/ ... g-hardware
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Jigs can be made for not only the vice but for direct use on the table to suit your needs.

Extra support can be added to the Main Table for all Mark V models. The 510 & 520 can use the Floating Table Connector Tubes and Adjustable Legs to provide Extra support to the main Table. The same can be used for the 505 but because the 505 doesn't come with the Floating Tables or the Connector Tubes and Legs (the difference between a 505 and a 510) they would have to purchased separately. The 500 original table system and the 505 can use the Table Support Leg shown below which clamps to the edge of the Table to provide extra support.

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It can be seen here on the Shopsmith website at the link below.
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https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/ ... upport-leg
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The Main Table of the Mark V for any model is a great work surface for the Drill Press. I recommend using some scrap wood under the item to be drilled to avoid drilling into the table surface as the bit passes through the material being drilled unless the entire bit will go into the Table Insert opening with the insert removed. That was not done in the case below. That Insert was almost "drilled" into two pieces.

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If you know which model Mark V you have, we can be more specific as to ways to better use it.

Some helpful things to read are the Owner's Manual, the Self Study Guide and the book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone for more in using the Drill Press mode. Hopefully you already have these.

As others said, Shopsmith is a great drill press with a great drill press table which tilts. It also accepts a fence and a miter gauge. (Useful to put a piece of scrap on the table so you don't bore into it or the insert.)

Now, two other words: horizontal boring. When drilling edges or ends I never put the Shopsmith in drill press mode. I just drill horizontally with the workpiece flat on the table (backed up by fence or held with miter gauge. Far easier than any traditional drill press set up.

algale brought up Horizontal Boring. Another great feature of the Shopsmith Mark tools. Essentially a Drill Press laying down as seen below. It can be done on any model Mark V. A plus is if you have long stock you need to drill into the end of, with the Horizontal Boring you can. If you can support the stock, you can drill into it. Shown drilling into the end of a short piece of stock in the picture the Headstock can be moved to the left side, the Main Table positioned properly and even the Extension Table used for support. For even longer stock additional supports can be used. I once used the Horizontal Boring to drill into the ends of 4x4 fence posts to add solar lights on top. There are so many drilling options you have with a Shopsmith tool.

The Miter in the picture below is being used to keep the stock inline. The set screw in the Miter Bar locks it in place.

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Here is a recent drill press table I built for my Mark 7. The table has a miter guide to hold the unit in place or to allow movement in an overhead router application. The fence I built can be oriented in various positions to use for drilling or horizontal boring. The sacrificial wood base is a 1x4 pine so can be rotated, flipped over, or easily replaced when it has served its useful life.