Shopsmith Episode 2: Shopsmith 101

Shopsmith 101

Before we continue any further in this epic journey, let us pause for a bit of reflection on the beauty and elegance of this great machine.  The following brief tutorial will initiate the uninitiated, will make believers of the non-believers, and will give me something to do while the tubular ways are soaking in an evapo-rust bath. Pay attention as there will be a pop quiz at the end.

Below is a diagram of a vintage Shopsmith unit.  

The main components are:

• The Headstock.   This is the primary unit as it includes a motor which spins the pulley, and turns a shaft inside the headstock.  This shaft can be connected to a variety of tools converting the machine into a table saw, drill press, cheese slicer, what have you.

• The Carriage.  The carriage allows various amenities to be mounted on the unit, such as a table for the saw.

• Tubular Ways...or Way Tubes.  The headstock and the carriage slide back and forth on the “Tubular Ways”.  For those really in the know, they are referred to as "Way Tubes", which I suppose is short for Wayular Tubes.  But that would be too hard to say, besides its stupid.  So Way Tubes it is.

• The Baseplate, Headrest, and Tie bar support and align the Way Tubes.

 The Shopsmith is the swiss army knife of power tools, and can be configured in countless ways for hours of fun.  The diagram below shows the unit as a lathe for turning stuff, a sander, a table saw, and a horizontal drill press.

For those whose religious beliefs considers working perpendicular to the earth’s gravitational pull as the work of the devil, the Shopsmith can be rotated vertical for up and down activity in complete harmony and in parallel with the gravitational pull.

POP QUIZ:  From the list below, name the five uses of the ShopSmith

Drill Press	Horizontal Boring	Disc Sander
Table Saw	Lathe	Routing
Jointer	Drum Sanding	Compound Angle Cutting
Jig Saw	Coving Cuts	Edge Shaping
Rock Cutting/Polishing	Printing Press	Tool Sharpening
Adjustable Drafting Table	Paint Sprayer	Engraving
Dado Cuts	Miter Cuts	Vertical Sawing of large pieces
Glue Press	Paint Mixing	Egg Mixer/Beater
Drilling the little holes inside Olives	Sanding off the burnt toast	Margarita Mixer

ANSWER:  It is a trick question as the Shopsmith is capable of doing all of the above, plus many more.