View Full Version : "The Shopsmith Olympics"
ryanbp01
08-20-2008, 10:16 AM
"And now for something we hope you'll really like"- Rocket J. Squirrel
Since I haven't seen anything on this, just for fun if there was an Olympics for Shopsmith owners, what events would you like to see? No idea is too outlandish. For example how about setup from one mode to the other in the shortest amount of time? Or how about synchronized wood finishing? This ought to be fun to see.
BPR
fixit
08-20-2008, 11:09 AM
Great idea!! How about these for starters?
Synchronized Pen Turning. (Don't know who would judge - would you need a panel of nine or what?):rolleyes:
Shortest time to make 5 each 3”, 4”, and 5” long pieces from one 8 foot 2x4. (15 Piece Dash):D
Fastest time to make an 8”x10” picture frame (including the rabbet in the back to hold the picture). (Frame Off):eek:
If you want to suggest something that could really be accomplished, we could host these Olympics at the Owners' Weekend next year. (Yes, it appears we'll have one.) My first suggestion, based on the one above:
Shortest time for setups in all five basic modes. Competitor has to start with a Shopsmith with nothing attached to the headstock or the table. He must saw a board, sand it, drill it, bore it, and finally turn a section of it from square to round. Clock stops when he turns off the lathe and he shows that the chisel has removed stock from all four surfaces to form a complete circle.
Here's another -- the Way Tube Slide. Competitors polish and wax their way tubes, then slide the headstock all the way to the headrest and the carriage all the way to the base. We attach the bench tubes to an engine mount and begin to rotate the Shopsmith slowly with a Wixey attached to the table. When the headstock slides all the way to the carriage, we record the angle registered by the Wixey. Low angle wins. Winner has to reveal his secret in order to be awarded the prize.
We are also considering announcing a Scrapwood Contest, with the Grand Prize being the Shopsmith that Drew and I are restroring and upgrading. We could require that the finalists (say 25 in all) either attend the Owners' Weekend or send their projects for a final judging. We would award the prizes at the event.
With all good wishes,
ryanbp01
08-21-2008, 10:57 AM
Nick,
That sounds great. You could call it the pentathalon! How about weightlifting? Getting the headstock from the horizontal to vertical position without the use of a lift assist?
BPR
Ron309753
08-21-2008, 04:51 PM
Nick,
I like the ides of a ShopSmith Olympics, but as a newbie I'd lose. Anyway I'm glad to hear that there will be an Owner's Weekend next year. As I mentioned at last months OW, I will be willing to help in set it up and organize demonstrations for the next one.
Ron
sandyj
08-21-2008, 10:08 PM
I like it. What about penalties for dropping things and/or not using the appropriate safety gear.
Will measurements be in Inches & Fractions or can we use Metric.???
Other events could be Alignment set up times; Smallest turned item, Paired turnings at specific dimensions; Build a 150mm / 6 inch cube with all faces, angles & surfaces true. Sharpening comps
- I'm really getting into this L.O.L
Regards
Sandy
ryanbp01
08-22-2008, 11:45 AM
How about the best way to use "the handyman's secret weapon" (duct tape)?
BPR
woodburner
08-22-2008, 02:39 PM
Most woodturning picnics have what is called "egg cup races". You will be surprised at how fast someone can woodturn an egg cup.
The last picnic I was at it was done in 48 seconds. And sorry to say, it wasn't me. My time was 1 min. 2 sec.. I did get a third place plaque for that one.