Shopsmith Forums

Perhaps someone has some experience this this and can help me out. I recently ruined a very nice cherry piece I had been working on because when I thought my main table was square to the the drill press, it wasn't. Trying to root out the issue I found that the torque applied when tightening the main table tilt pulls the table out of alignment. Before you accuse me of being an animal and cranking down too hard, it doesn't take much to pull the table off. I note there are two washers behind the handle. Cleaning them up didn't seem to help. Any ideas?

Out of square in which direction? About the trunion pivot or front to rear? i.e. Assuming the way tubes are 'vertical' in both planes, the table should be horizontal both parallel to the miter gauge slots and horizontal perpendicular to them. Which is changing as the tilt lock is tightened?

The main table, in the drill press mode, should be square to the axis of rotation of the main drive shaft in all directions.

If the table is either high or low to the left or right sides, that is corrected by adding shims on the trunnion bolts between the trunnion and the table. Once done correctly this should never change.

The table should also be square to axis of rotation front to back. The table tilt adjustments can adversely effect this alignment. If the tilt lock is not secure, the normal pressure of drilling can cause the table position to change.

The back side of the table can go down just so far and it is then stopped by a table positioning bolt (part of the alignment procedure). On the other hand, there is nothing built into the table system that will absolutely prevent the front edge of the table from sagging.

When drilling something where the entry angle is critical, I use the adjustable legs to secure the table. I don't believe you can tighten the table tilt lock tight enough to prevent the table from sagging in this manner.

[ATTACH]7927[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]7928[/ATTACH]

These adjustable legs came out of our old fifth wheel. They were accessories used to secure the expansion room in place when we were traveling. I sure am glad we didn't leave them in the fifth wheel when we traded it.

Hey Dusty,
What up with the pictures here. Your machine looks Dusty. Finally I see your machine looking like mine lol. In the past your machine has always looked emaculate and never dirty. Sweet. Oh and please don't take this the wrong way I am playing around I love your documentation and pictures just thought I would make this comment today.

Jim

kd6vpe wrote:Hey Dusty,
What up with the pictures here. Your machine looks Dusty. Finally I see your machine looking like mine lol. In the past your machine has always looked emaculate and never dirty. Sweet. Oh and please don't take this the wrong way I am playing around I love your documentation and pictures just thought I would make this comment today.

Jim

I've been real busy in the shop lately and I often don't have time to cleanup before evening quitting time. As we move into spring and summer it stays light later and I won't shut down so early.

I live on a well traveled path to the watering hole and the critters at night are something I don't want to deal with anymore so I seldom work outside when it is not daylight.

Besides that, I am sorta losing my self discipline. I don't vacuum the shop and dust the equipment as much as I used to. I read this as a sure sign of age.

I better go clean the shop.

I have discovered that I need to support the table with Telescoping legs from shopsmith (see item 555627) that hook under the edge of the table or I also run good hardwood. Jim

As I was working out the Push-me Pull-me drillpress I was trying to figure the best way to brace the tables to avoid flex under normal pressures. What I intend to try is pretty simple.
Unfortunately it is hard to describe or at least it is tonight.
I guess I'll just make one and take a picture.
One of my criteria is that I be able to move the unit around and still leave my setup undisturbed.

Thanks for the replies, machine is adjusted to be square according to the set up procedures, the movement or sag about the trunion pivot is the problem. Initially I thought it was just the act of tightening the hold down that changed the tilt angle of the table. But judging from the use of additional supports here, it sounds like I'm not the only one with this problem. I look forward to seeing what Robinson has in mind to brace this. and Dusty, when your done there.....