Shopsmith Forums

Well folks, Here's the link to this weeks reading assignment(us edjicaters have to use certain terms so everone unnerstans that this is werk!) http://www.shopsmith.com/academy/routing2/index.htm
This is something I do very little of and plan to do more of in the near future. I might even try it on the Shopsmith.

This chapter makes me wish I were a speed reader. Anyway some good info here for learning or refreshing.

Mark

The way I count - this is actually chapter 23 - written for the old style Overarm Router Set-up. The Mark V mounted system is very similar to this one. It is a very specialized chapter. Very interesting, but very specialized.

Did we skip over the chapter on the Strip Sander?

Yes, the Mark-V-mount Overarm Pin Router system being sold these days has almost all the features of Mark-V headstock routing (plus a true high-speed router) and/or the older Overarm router system. Notably absent is the miter-slot. On the other forum, reible explained to me that most people doing routing these days will opt for a shop-built sled riding against the fence, rather than needing a miter-slot and miter-gage for routing. Everything is still possible, and you have your built-in backing board that way too, to minimize tearout.

charlese wrote:The way I count - this is actually chapter 23 - written for the old style Overarm Router Set-up. The Mark V mounted system is very similar to this one. It is a very specialized chapter. Very interesting, but very specialized.

Did we skip over the chapter on the Strip Sander?

Last week was the Thickness Planer, and the host said Chap. 21, so I lazily added one to each. The Strip Sander was 2 weeks ago, I think. I remember reading it late as I was on the road. BTW has anyone seen the curved and 1/2" platens for mine. I can't find them anywhere.

SS has a special on this OPR right now. Is this a good deal on a machine that we might use. Where is it most useful? Is it better than a regular table set up? deal ends Friday. Thanks

charlese wrote:The way I count - this is actually chapter 23 - written for the old style Overarm Router Set-up. The Mark V mounted system is very similar to this one. It is a very specialized chapter. Very interesting, but very specialized.

Did we skip over the chapter on the Strip Sander?

CHUCK: Realize we are going through the ONLINE PTWFE. There is NO Chapter 16! The chapter numbers are ONLY indicated by the captions under the illustrations. The chapter numbers do vary from the different versions of the printed PTWFE.

dlbristol wrote:SS has a special on this OPR right now. Is this a good deal on a machine that we might use. Where is it most useful? Is it better than a regular table set up? deal ends Friday. Thanks

Probably a lot of arguing could be done both ways (Overarm vs. normal Routing Table). I did get a new OPR system this year and I do like it... I've got it mounted semi-permanently on a chopped old Mark V that had a burnt-up headstock motor.

The actual Arm and rack that moves the router up and down is mighty stout, and as has been pointed out, is the same type of mechanism as in earlier models.

For the new OPR Table itself, some have pointed out that it's not feature-rich in terms of a fence, and it doesn't have a miter slot. And as opposed to the old days, there's no room for an underside-mounted router in this setup.

It probably comes down to what type of tasks you want to do with a router. Nick did promote the OPR heavily on the Sawdust Sessions for its unique abilities. You just need to decide for yourself whether that's what you have in mind for your own projects.

Good luck!