Shopsmith Forums

Since we are showing custom accessories in recent posts, here is another one (well, two actually) I made last year. I got the idea from references to the 1x8 adapter Penn State sell.
I had collected a lot of chucks and face plates over the years that screw onto the 1 1/2"x8 tpi spindle of my Southbend metal lathe and thought it might be handy to be able to use some of them on the Shopsmith, so I made these adapters:
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The diameter is large enough to allow the 5/8" SS spindle to be inside the threaded portion of the adapter, making for less overhang! The thread is quite big and it took me quite a while to make these, so if Penn State came out with them for $15 to $20 like their others, I would consider them a bargain.
The scroll chucks for metal or wood fit well:
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This big Jacobs chuck will take up to a 3/4" bit shaft but fits with some runout::( : It might have fit better if I had a horizontal register flat like the lathe does, instead of the vertical ring pressed on the adapter back end, but the ring was easier and necessary anyway.
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Here is another type of face plate:
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Overall, I am pleased with these adapters.

Love your work and I agree, If I could purchase adaptors like this for $20 I would be looking at two or three to have around.

The female threads inside the Nova chuck are 1 1/2" x 8 TPI so the Teknatool Shopsmith insert/adapter (Type F) for that chuck ought to do the same thing and save a bunch of machining time. I say ought to because my "F" insert/adapter doesn't fit all that well into 1 1/2 x 8 chuck back plate or an 8" four-jaw chuck I have. The problem likely stems from using the set screw in the Nova chuck to secure the adapter to the chuck. The set screw screws into the threads of the adapter and has deformed them a bit. I expect that with a file and a wrench things would mesh nicely. Nevertheless, I'd take a chuck or faceplate to the store to verify the fit. Woodcraft sells the Nova chucks and adapters.

Peter, I should have guessed what you would be up to if I had known you had a south bend. Just got mine up and running. So, I guess we now need to swap SB stories.

holsgo, thanks for your comment, I sent you a pm.

pennview, could you post a photo of the Teknatool Shopsmith insert/adapter (Type F) or where to find it on the Woodcraft site?............I searched but could not find it.

Peter, here is the Nova insert/adapter at Woodcraft -- http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200519 ... nsert.aspx

Mine looks a bit different. The hex portion on mine isn't as wide as the current model being sold. Woodcraft has them on sale this month for $18.69; that's 15 percent off.

Hi,

I believe that the spindle on a Nova lathe is 1-1/4 x 8 RH for the US. The other size they have is M33 x 3.5 RH.

Now it could be I'm remembering this wrong but you might want to check before you start planning on have 1-1/2 x 8 adapters that are really 1-1/4.

Ed

I am days away from buying a Nova G3. KMS Tools (In Coquitlam, B.C.) has them with a free adapter, and you get to choose. ShopSmith 5/8" Smooth Bore is among the choices, so saves me a separate purchase. Anybody know if the G3 regular jaws have a dovetail profile? If I have to buy an extra jaw set, I might as well do it all at once.

Derek

Those Nova chucks are of a universal type in that the female threads on them are 1 1/2" x 8 TPI, so it will mount directly on a lathe with a spindle of that size. To mount the Nova chuck on lathes with different sized spindles you need the appropriate adapter/insert. The Shopsmith adapter/insert (Type F) has a male threat of 1 1/2" x 8 TPI to fit into the female thread on the chuck and a 5/8" smooth bore to fit the Shopsmith spindle. The "D" insert/adapter has the same 1 1/2" x 8 TPI male threads and 1" x 8 TPI female threads to fit many of the popular lathe models.

Here's a photo of my Nova chuck with the Shopsmith "F" adapter/insert mounted in the chuck, with the 1" x 8 TPI "D" adapter/insert beside it.

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pennview, thanks for the photos. If I had known about their 1 1/2x8 adapter, I could have saved myself some work, though it was fun making them. I am going to order one from woodcraft though; theirs may fit that big Jacobs chuck better.
A trick I read somewhere: if you have a setscrew tightening down on a threaded item, put a ball of lead in between, The lead ball (fishing sinker?) will deform to the thread and prevent damage.

EDIT:Well, I looked into ordering from KMS ( Nova dealer) here in Canada, where the insert costs $22.95 but with shipping via Purolater (only option offered) and tax here in NS, total was over $46, so.......no go, till I am in either a KMS in Western Canada, or a Woodcraft in the US, which I might be later in the year.