Shopsmith Forums

can(will) be effected by attaching tubes to extension table.

I know that this seems to be a pretty obvious statement; at least to anyone who has aligned the main table more than one or two times but it sure screwed me up and wasted a lot of my time.

I've spent a lot of time, recently, working on alignments as a possible cause for some unusual table saw performance. I am now convinced that alignment was not the root cause of my problems.

After doing a meticulous alignment of the main table and getting it to within +- .002", I returned to making sawdust. Then I noticed that one of my floating tables was out of alignment (tables were not all at same height).

Rather than do just one, I decided to check them all. With the 5' tubes installed and all my extension and floating tables mounted, I proceeded to check table heights. That done, I went back to normal operations but when I setup, I had the main table connected to the right hand extension table (headstock moved to the right side).

For no real good reason, I checked table alignment to the blade. It was what I consider to be "way off". It was off .009" even though I had recently aligned it to within .002".

To fix this, I had to remove the tubes that were connecting the main table to the extension table.

A check of table alignment, with the tubes removed, was "right on". The main table is not out of alignment at all, except when connected to the extension table.

Obviously, when I was doing the auxillary table alignments, I introduced a situation that pulled the main table out of alignment. Now I must determine what I have done wrong.

The one thing I know is that the main table is fine and the alignment of the main is basis for all other table alignments.

I suspect that I used my one bent 5' tube to do the alignment on the extension tables.

This is a NO BRAINER, dusty. Of course, if you put uneven torque across the front or rear of the tables, they are going to change position with respect to one another. That is exactly what is happening when you insert a bent tube through the rails and try to tie them all together. Remember, please, you are not working on old iron.

dusty wrote:can(will) be effected by attaching tubes to extension table....
Obviously, when I was doing the auxillary table alignments, I introduced a situation that pulled the main table out of alignment. ...

Thanks for the "heads up", Dusty.

I was just getting ready to realign my Ext table and might have had the same thing happen. But now I will make quick checks of the table-to-blade alignment as I tighten things up.

You may well have saved a lot of us a lot of grief.

This brings me to a good question. I have a 4' level. If I was to attach the floating table all the way (or as close as possible) to the end of the 5' tubes. How can I lay the level to get an accurate read? Would a straight 2x4 work?

navycop wrote: Would a straight 2x4 work?

"Straight 2" X 4"... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

navycop wrote:This brings me to a good question. I have a 4' level. If I was to attach the floating table all the way (or as close as possible) to the end of the 5' tubes. How can I lay the level to get an accurate read? Would a straight 2x4 work?

I can not answer that question without asking a question. How straight is a straight 2"x4". My gut tells me that the answer is NO.

I use a 4' level which I treat as though it was a treasure.

dusty wrote:I can not answer that question without asking a question. How straight is a straight 2"x4". My gut tells me that the answer is NO.

I use a 4' level which I treat as though it was a treasure.

Wow two great points. Frankly I don't remember that last time I saw a straight 2 X 4. Is there such an animal?

I purchased a 4' level a couple of years ago. It occupies a place of reverence never far from my 520. I am so impressed with how easy it makes leveling my tables. In fact I have ogled 6' level's several times. Dusty we would clearly be lost without your wisdom. fjimp

fjimp wrote:Wow two great points. Frankly I don't remember that last time I saw a straight 2 X 4. Is there such an animal?

I purchased a 4' level a couple of years ago. It occupies a place of reverence never far from my 520. I am so impressed with how easy it makes leveling my tables. In fact I have ogled 6' level's several times. Dusty we would clearly be lost without your wisdom. fjimp

Thank you, Jim, for the kind words but you would not say that if you had watched me fumbling around with this alignment for the last two or three days.

I suppose I should do these things (like alignments) the same way every one else does them but that is just not part of my makeup. I enjoy doing things "my own way". Sometimes that works and then other times, well,.....

dusty wrote:Thank you, Jim, for the kind words but you would not say that if you had watched me fumbling around with this alignment for the last two or three days.

I suppose I should do these things (like alignments) the same way every one else does them but that is just not part of my makeup. I enjoy doing things "my own way". Sometimes that works and then other times, well,.....

Dusty,

If we each accomplished everything the same way our opportunities to learn would be severely limited. In fact many fine inventions would never be birthed. Your gift for sharing the agony of discovery blesses us often. Personally I feel that is the very gift that we all learn from across this discussion group. Some find great fault with Shopsmith. Others offer them fodder for new inventions that will in time bless each of us.... Unless of course we silence the value of discussion. Jim

fjimp wrote:...I don't remember that last time I saw a straight 2 X 4. Is there such an animal?

Sure! I mean, you need to start with a 4 X 6 timber, then mill it down, but...


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