3 "Shop Shorts" Before Turning on Your Shopsmith Lathe 

A little back story on the original lathe tool post. My dad used to make those in a machine shop back in the 1970's in Dayton Ohio. The thread was cut on a Warner & Swasey No. 4 turret lathe with a geometric die head in a single pass, and it was done. He made 100's of those tool posts a day.

Scott's bunched up shorts....🤣🤣🤣 Oh you! Thanks for sharing.

Scott… I figured out that the direction of the vertical post lock screw was variable, by accident. After owning two different Shopsmith’s over thirty years, I was always irritated that the new 520 locks were backward from what my old 510 had been. But, I just lived with it. A couple of years ago, my 8 year old grandson was helping me wax the unit. I asked him to install the end support table. While he was fiddling with it, the lock came out. So, he handed it to me. Somehow it got turned around in the exchange. As I was attempting to snug it, I ended up loosening it. That’s when I had the Eureka moment. Ever since, they’ve operated the direction I wanted. A small discovery… but it did remove one more thing that made use of my SS more intuitive and less ‘Fiddle Reliant’’!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I'm surprised we didn't see sparks flying when Scott used the belt sander on the post... I don't like sanding metal or using a grinding wheel in my basement shop, so I simply filed an old post by hand-worked fine. And Happy turkey day to all-we're eating apple pie tonight! jim

I have the the locking handles set up so they tighten by pulling up. It puts less strain on my wrists. I think the big thing is to have both ends the same so that you don't have to remember which end is which.

Amazing, as I have owned my shopsmith for 30 years and never gave it any thought as to how the post locks worked, sometimes turning it too far and causing it to drop out. Sure make sense doing it the way you showed. Thanks for sharing this useful information.

No cheap shots here!!! Great video as always!!!

Thanks Scott. Your shorts are full of......usefully info😅

I have adjustable handles vs the set screws they’re really handy. I noticed that (may well be the post was not in the correct location, as I never noticed the post flat) the carriage split was not really split was not as wide as it once was. Resplit it and it works. No doubt it was my lack of understanding - the flat. Never noticed it. So - thank you again!

Even though my 520 has both the through-cut on the carriage and the flat on the tool rest, I found the tool rest still moved and caused problems while turning. The expensive solution was the universal tool rest that Shopsmith sells as an accessory.

I've been turning for 2 years and never thought to push the tool rest towards the work before tightening! Great tip!

just a pleasure as always

Cured my moving tool rest. Very helpfull. Can you do a vid on the banjo style tool rest?

Nice video Scott!

Thanks for the great tip on the old tool rest post. I sold a SS to a friend several years ago, and I will certainly pass along that tip. Seems to make a world of difference. Blessings, Glen

While doing an inspection of my shop Smith 50th anniversary I noticed a hairline fracture on the opposite side of the far side of the carriage and I had to take the shop smoke apart to take the carriage in and have a wielded because the fracture giving of small went all the way through from top to bottom so yeah they're paid to pay attention

Great video. It's the little things that make a difference. Happy Turkey Day to you and yours.

3 times I paused this video to walk out to my shop. Where I compared the 2 Shopsmiths I have. One is 20 years old and the other is 10 years old. So, it was interesting to see the changes that you discussed in this video. Thanks for a great video! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Scott, I always thought the post locks rotated towards the head stock. I feel I can also get more leverage when tightening

Great tips as always Scott!

Great Shorts Scott, always appreciated. Wishing you and your bride a Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, that just checked off the first question I was going to ask at our next Board meeting: how do I get the ‘play’ out of my lathe tool rest when I’m turning? Great info!

Thanks for this informative information. I have been turning a lot of pens since i got my power pro headstock, aka "Smart Motor', i will definitely be checking this to see. I have not noticed any movement but that does not mean its not there.

Thanks

Scott, I have the newer belt sander. Came with my Mark 7 as a freebie. In the vertical position, the cams are perfectly aligned. When I go to the horizontal position, the cams are out of alignment. Is there a way to prevent this, or should I find a happy medium between the 2 and call it good. It's always a great day.

Very interesting on the carriage cuts. Is it worth cutting them if they didn't come that way?

Lol I always have my tailstock table lock to crank up. I think only one ide of it is left hand threads. I do not know if my 510 has the slot cut in it. I am betting so it locks pretty good and I use the newer style with the rack. Interesting though I thought I knew most things about it. I seen a certain newer channel that ha a old shopsmith and he ha not figured the table lock out yet as he rolled it off in his hand.

Regarding tailstock locks, what is the default “factory” position?

"Scott's Bunched Up Shorts". 😂

Sir I have a question . I have a Shopsmith I love it. I have issues with out of round wood vibrating my machine apart. I’m not talking anything huge. 6 inch max diameter. I replaced all the bearings. I’m terrified something is going to come off and hurt me. I’ve watched your videos. I’ve been very careful

Scott, can you point me in the direction of the tail stock that you use? I have the original fixed one, but I see yours moves. Wondering which to get and where from. Thanks

Great tips. You'll have to cut those up into RU-vid Shorts.

I've been looking for a shopsmith used, I looked at new ones but my main use will be the lathe and because shop smiths has such a big swing compared to the other lathes in the same used price range. But I found a wood master that I almost bought because they sure do look like a shop smiths. Do u know if they have compatibility with shop smiths accessories

Off topic but I am trying to resaw on my bandsaw without any success. I have had my Shopsmith since 1982 so it is getting a little long in the tooth. I have a 5/8” resaw blade, guides adjusted, rollers working but when I cut 6” thick stock the top cuts straight but the bottom drifts significantly to the right. I have built a fence that accommodates for the drift. How do I make the bottom track as it should?

Scott's bunched up shorts is a great joke

Well, bless your heart, Scott. As always, I have learned a couple things. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 😊