The old OPR system

[reible]

Some of you have no idea about the old system shopsmith use to sell, you might have seen the post on the subject I have done before or some of the current OPR posts... Now see what the old/orginal ones looked like.

I have just finished uploading a bunch of pictures and writing a long posting at:

http://www.ssug.org/forums//viewtopic.php?t=1571

If you are interested take a look... it is only but a start.

As time permits I will post more pictures and even take some shots of an upcoming pin routing project I have in the works.... if you like cool tools then at least take the time to have a look to see if it interests you.

Ed

[charlese]

Ed - Loved your photos! Wow! you have been busy!

I agree - never had less time since retiring!

Noticed many of the parts are exactly the same as the new OPR. Your table was shown in the instructions for mounting the SS fence to the new OPR. Looks like any of these "old" tables will work just fine with the OPR. (I think someone had a question about this in an earlier post.

There is a little difference between the OPR table inserts (the ones below the router bit) and yours. Yours have three ears, while mine are round. But as yours fit into the plate - there's no problem. Don't know why I even mentioned that - It's getting past bed time.

Thanks for the pictures!

[psargeant]

I too have one of the older model OPR units that has worked great over the years. For the past 15 years I have used a Porter Cable 690 router for both the undertable and pin router functions. Needless to say, bit changes and adjustments were a little frustrating in the undertable mode. I recently purchased a Porter Cable 890 fixed-base router and in my opinion this is the best router available to use as the undertable unit in the OPR. This model has exactly the same mounting holes as the 690 so it bolts right up to the same old plate with no further modification. The 890 has a 2 1/4 hp motor as compared to the 690's 1 1/2 hp. It is also variable speed as opposed to single speed. The main feature that I find so useful is this new model has a built in lift mechanism that makes bit changes above table possible and very fast. It also has a fine tuning adjustment for bit height that works extremely well as compared to turning the motor unit in the base. I would strongly recommend that if anyone is considering a new router for their OPR that you strongly consider the features of the PC 890. I would also recommend Tyler Tool as a place to purchase one. I bought a factory reconditioned unit for $169 which carries the same warranty as a brand new one selling for $189 and they ship it anywhere in the USA for $6.95. Their website is TylerTool.com. and they are located in Tylertown, MS.
Sarge

[reible]

If you saw my posting at the other site I mentioned that I was using a Hitachi router for this system and since we are now talking a bit more detailed about the routers....

If you want to look up the Hitachi it is a M12VC, 2-1/2 HP, 8000-24000 rpm,
and a 5 year warranty. I checked the price at Amazon tonight and it is $119 with free shipping. This is not for a reconditioned one... it is for a new one and if you shop around I think you can find it even cheaper.

It has soft start, and it is really quiet.... the last I looked no one had one that was quieter... when I got my first one and started it up I thought I must be running at a slow speed because it was so quiet... I checked again and it was on the highest setting.........

FYI the replacement 690 now called a 690LR is rated at 1-3/4 hp, still the single speed but with a much nicer base now. Amazon has them for $123.45, 1 year warranty. One of the things they fixed over the old 690 is the router will not just rotate out of the base when used under table... I've almost drop my old ones a couple of times when I didn't know how close to coming unscrewed they were... The Hitachi also has that feature...

Ed

[charlese]

I too have one of the older model OPR units that has worked great over the years..... I recently purchased a Porter Cable 890 fixed-base router and in my opinion this is the best router available to use as the undertable unit in the OPR..... The 890 has a 2 1/4 hp motor as compared to the 690's 1 1/2 hp. It is also variable speed as opposed to single speed. The main feature that I find so useful is this new model has a built in lift mechanism that makes bit changes above table possible and very fast....
Sarge

Sarge - I am glad to see someone tell of the many advantages of the PC 890. This is the one I'm using also and am very pleased with its performance. I might add one more thing to the changing bits properties of the 890. When mounted in the new OPR all one has to do is to push the locking button (it pushes a rod into a hole in the outside of the collet) and use one wrench to change bits.

This locking mechanism also locks the router's on/off switch so that if you forget to unplug, prior to bit changing, the router cannot turn on. The other end of the on/off switch is at the back side of the router so all one has to do to turn it off is to slap the end of the router. If one is using the router freehand- just set it down on it's top and it will shut down immediately.

Glad you found the Tyler Tool source for the 890. I paid a bit more at Rockler!!

Now - finally to the reason for this post - The collet/switch locking mechanism that is an outstanding safety and convenience factor has presented an issue when using the OPR. That mechanism doesn't allow for mounting of the chip deflector that is now a part of the SS OPR. The chip deflector has an oval shaped cutout in the bottom, but the 890 can't be mounted to take advantage of this cutout. As a result, I haven't used the deflector. I read in another "Thread" (OPR with Pix) that (reible - aka Ed) bought a deflector and mounted it to his old OPR.

Sarge - do you have a deflector on your older OPR? Have you used your 890 in the overhead position in your OPR? The reason I ask is; I am wondering if it is worthwhile trying to modify the deflector to accommodate the 890. As I am now thinking this would require an additional cutout to allow both the collet and the collet lock to protrude from the deflector. Do you have any thoughts here?

Anyone else reading this - feel free to comment!

[perryobear]

Ed,

Thanks for the photos of the old OPR system.

I am in the process of putting one of these OPR units that I was able to buy locally, back into service. It was in good shape overall but missing some of the small pieces such as the deflector and dust collector hood. I took advantage of the Shopsmith service parts sale to get the needed parts. I have the original manual but your photos will be most helpful.

One question if I may; It appears that you have the OPR stand mounted on a set of Shopsmith casters. Shopsmith recently told me that none of the currently available caster sets fit this stand. Did you find a caster set that fit, or did you modify a set, or are my old eyes letting me down completely?


Thanks,

Dennis

[reible]

Hi,

The item number you are looking for is 555456, that is the same one for both the routing system and the joint-matic stand. I checked just before I posted this and it looks like they have it.

There is some work involved in putting them on. If your stand is as old as mine then the some of the holes are not in the legs so they have to be added. You also need to move braces and you will need to hacksaw off a bit of the ends to get them to fit... anyway that is all addressed in the insturctions that come with the package.

Ed

[reible]

Hi,

For the sake of completeness I wanted to mention that I did some mods to the old systems table routing table inserts so I could use guide bushings that I already own. If you are interested in seeing that information it is at:
http://www.ssug.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1430

And yes more pictures to look at.

Ed