Shopsmith Forums

Can a pro planner be removed from its stand and be mounted to a Mark 5 / M7 Power Pro chassis and be used as a Mark mounted planner?

Thanks Steve

Yes, but you would need to get the mounting brackets that hold it in place. Also, the Pro Planer is heavier than the Mark Mount Planer so additional consideration.

You will also need a hub for the coupler to attach to.

chapmanruss wrote: Sat Mar 28, 2026 11:56 am Yes, but you would need to get the mounting brackets that hold it in place. Also, the Pro Planer is heavier than the Mark Mount Planer so additional consideration.

Thank you Russ.

I believe the Mark Mount Planer uses the same Clamp as the Speed Increaser and Speed Reducer uses to mount them to the Way Tubes.


Yep as well as to the pro planer base.

I decided to post some pictures to help. The first is from a Pro Planer showing the points on the side (called the End Frame) where it would sit on the Way Tubes indicated by the arrows.

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Below are the clamp sets to attach the Planer to the Way Tubes.

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The picture below shows the underside of a Mark Mount Planer. The arrows show where the clamps attach to the Planer. They are the same threaded holes used to attach the Pro Planer to the Stand with bolts.

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Many of the parts are the same for the Mark Mount Planer and the Stand Mounted Pro Planer. The End Frame (right and left) panels are the same for both the Mark Mount and Pro Planers. The Cutter Head is driven differently for the Mark Mount Planer using a Power Coupler Hub and opposed to the Pulley and Belt Drive of the Pro Planer. Early Planers had different ends for the Mark Mount and Pro Planers on the Cutterhead Shaft. Mark Mount Planers have a flat spot on the end of the Cutterhead Shaft for the Hub to attach to. Pro Planers have a Key slot for the Pulley on the end of the Cutter Shaft. Later Cutterheads have both the flat and key slot making it the same Cutterhead for both Planers. The picture below shows the keyed and flat shaft ends.

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What has been discussed so far in this thread is using a Pro Planer as a Mark Mounted Planer. A reason I can think of to do this would be the motor powering the Pro Planer going bad. It would cost far less to buy the Clamps and a Hub to convert it to a Mark Mount than replacing the motor. A downside to this is the Pro Planer is heavier than a Mark Mount Planer because of the Table difference. The Pro Planer has a Cast Iron Table as opposed to the lighter stainless-steel covered Aluminum Table of the Mark Mount Planer.

It is far more common for a Mark Mount Planer to be converted to a stand like a Pro Planer. That requires a Power Stand, a Motor, Pulleys, a Belt, Belt Cover and hardware. The Pro Planer uses a larger HP Motor than most SPT's mounted on a Power Stand.

Now the downside for either option of going to Mark Mount or Stand Mounted is both Planers have been discontinued and new parts from Shopsmith are becoming less available. As remaining stock runs out it is out. Some parts for either change would have to be found on the used market. The Clamps which were also used on the Lathe Duplicator, Speed Increaser and Speed Reducer are apparently no longer available from Shopsmith.

Thanks for the update & explanation Russ. It clears up questions I had.

I’ve been looking for a (second) reasonably priced planner (either pro or mark mounted), to experiment with. I’m thinking of modifying it to become a drum sander by replacing the blades with sandpaper and using the feed table/rollers. I enjoy modifying & tinkering with different Shopsmith alternatives & options to perform various tasks.

I also am looking for a set of the Way Tube clamps you pictured, Shopsmith only had 1 available and I need 2. So I’ve got my eye out for them.

Turning a planer into a 12" Drum Sander is an interesting idea. Using the Cutterhead wrapped with Sandpaper would require adding material to increase the diameter to equal the additional diameter the Knives add to the Cutterhead when rotating. An issue to consider is dust created by sanding. With all the moving parts of a Shopsmith Planer dust accumulation could become a problem. The planer normally throws out small pieces of wood as opposed to fine dust from sanding.

Another way I have seen to have a long Drum Sander is on a Mark. Using it in the Lathe mode and a long shaft covered with sandpaper. That would not be self-feeding like the planer but is an option. I have seen that enclosed in a "box" to provide dust collection.

cooch366 wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 3:26 pm I also am looking for a set of the Way Tube clamps you pictured, Shopsmith only had 1 available and I need 2. So I’ve got my eye out for them.

If the planer is mounted at the very end of the way tubes, one clamp may be enough to hold the planer "down", as it is not going to be able to slide.

When I got my planer, it came without clamps, so I made two using some dense SYP and a knob from the hardware store. I had a clamp from a speed reducer to use as a template.

chapmanruss wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 2:14 pm Turning a planer into a 12" Drum Sander is an interesting idea. Using the Cutterhead wrapped with Sandpaper would require adding material to increase the diameter to equal the additional diameter the Knives add to the Cutterhead when rotating. An issue to consider is dust created by sanding. With all the moving parts of a Shopsmith Planer dust accumulation could become a problem. The planer normally throws out small pieces of wood as opposed to fine dust from sanding.

Another way I have seen to have a long Drum Sander is on a Mark. Using it in the Lathe mode and a long shaft covered with sandpaper. That would not be self-feeding like the planer but is an option. I have seen that enclosed in a "box" to provide dust collection.

I have done something like that a while back and just used the bed sander option to make my first segmented bowls, and it worked just fine. In my tinkering I’m thinking of a Version 2, keeping the bed sander & sand flea concept but using an arbor/drum & top from Stockroom Supply. I would also like to modify the conveyor system/height adjustment (haven’t thought of how to redesign it yet). And dust collection needs to be improved. I think these modifications would definitely improve it, but I’m really pleased at how it works for a first attempt.

Agreed that dust collection is an issue on a Mark mounted modified planner, but am thinking that the vacuum attachment on the planer would help.
I have also considered “drum height” as you mentioned, and agree that some “modification” would be needed. I like the idea of a modified planner which would help with the conveyor/height & some of the dust issued, but it could mean the loss of the “sand flea” option. Have to do some more thinking on it.