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Fox Super Shop

20K views 90 replies 15 participants last post by  DanKrager 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
#2 ·
I used to be a dealer also, in northern IL. Sold about 10 of them before he went "down". Had the privilege of visiting personally with Tony Fox. I still use one and have it decked out with all kinds of accessories. Have a spare stand, ways, and tail casting with spring. I was offered a complete one in good working order, but he wanted more than I could afford at the time.
Would you know anything about getting more parts and putting these into working order? What kind of issues getting them to southern IL in U.S.?
Let's at least talk.
DanK
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have communicated with them only through Lumberjocks, so you have what I have.

Just FYI, there's an entire machine looks to be in good shape for sale on Ebay. It says local pick up only, so you would have to have a contact in the area to pick it up and prepare it for shipping.

Good luck.
DanK
 
#10 ·
Hello Dan,

Thank you for Link. The machine seems pretty dead: no under cover for motor, no other parts for wood plate holding ect…

Can I ask you as experience Fox Shop user, how stable is the Super Fox Machine for Wood Turning operations,
because some colleagues says that even some usual Wood Turning Lathe (Jet ans other from China) are not enough stable, Frame (Frame Rails) and Headstock are not enough solid. A special for big plates, wood pices >30…40cm can be a stability problems?

Super Fox has one in one "pipe" structure and only one bearing - for Drill Press is ok but how it for Wood Turning?

For small and long parts i have no doubt…

Tank you.

George.
 
#11 ·
I didn't notice the missing cover. The original Fox Supershop is a very strong machine I'd say comparable to most midrange 17" (its official rating) lathes. The maximum diameter over the carriage is 12". It was (and is) used extensively for metal work, lathe and milling, so yes it's very strong. I have a milling table, a 6" three jaw and an 8" 4 jaw metal working chucks. I watched a mechanic machine one head of a big block V8 using a Supershop. Tony Fox used them to expand his own manufacturing capabilities. The two pipes upon which the headstock rides have a 3/8" wall thickness, so there is no flexing and the spindle has four large ball bearings two in the quill and two in the splined driving quill. The idler shaft has two ball bearings. The quill has the longest extension of any homeowner type drill press at a full 6". The base machine weighs in at something like 600 lbs if I remember correctly. I know it is all I could do in my younger days to lift one end with all the stuff removed and the head at the other end. The head by itself (with motor) is more than one wants to comfortably lift, so that is why there is an enormously powerful coil spring to counterbalance that weight. The casters retract, but I've never had one "walk" away from me even on the casters. In my demos, I would balance a USD quarter on edge with the machine at idle and run the RPM from 0 to 3600 and the quarter might spin a little, but never fell over or walked away. Any information to the contrary is from a knockoff where shortcuts may have been taken. 2 HP (zener diode controlled DC motor) is a little weak for professional turners doing large stock stuff. But by using the lowest of 3 ranges (max 900 RPM) there is sufficient power to get the job done. As the stock becomes balanced, the mid range (1000-3600) can be used effectively. It's a solid mid-range lathe, but if you're a professional, spend the money for a professional lathe. This multipurpose machine is designed for the serious hobbyist with limited shop space. Don't expect to haul steel with a VW!
Almost all the parts are available off the shelf in US industrial suppliers. The ones that aren't are readily made in a machine shop. I have replaced my lathe tool rest (which I snapped) with a Delta cam operated tool rest and I like it much better. I have a custom tail stock that I really like, and have rigged my router to be carried by the slotted carriage so I can do flutes, tapered flutes, template following and the like. Using parts from another Supershop, I can extend my lathe to 96" between centers with no middle supports.
It's a great lathe for learning to turn because of the speed control and power combination. One can learn the skew cut at 32- 50 rpm and if the tool catches, the lathe momentarily stops preventing a serious accident. And so on, so on, so on, so forth.
DanK
DanK
 
#15 ·
I bought a used fox supershop but I do not have the lathe chucks, collets etc and have been unable to locate on-line. I read where someone said the Delta parts are interchangeable and so on as well as other machines too. Do you have any specifics for those that are interchangeable which can be used such as size, model etc? My machine is a model ss 20; serial:1222
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have not followed the various models that developed after the demise of Tony Fox's operation where I was a dealer.
These machines, regardless of model, use R-8 collets in the headstock. "R-8 collets"http://http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-pc-Precision-R-8-Collet-Set/G1646 are available everywhere on the buying sites. In addition, there are many useful R-8 accessories like tapered receivers for MT-1 through MT-4, end mill holders, various other milling and boring tools. All of the standard SuperShop accessories used a 3/4" R-8. The only part you would need to turn to Delta for is the mortising chisel holder. The standard chuck for drilling was a 5/8" keyed Jacobs with a 3/4" tail, but I have added a keyless chuck integrated with R-8 stem inexpensively. Very handy. Any lathe drive center can be used…I like these. I use a SuperNova chuck with a #2 MT adapter for bowls. I would recommend, as I'm going to do shortly, have a machine shop turn an adapter with a 3/4" stub shaft on the headstock end and 1" x 8 tpi thread on the other to the chuck. By the time the other multiple adapters mentioned above get put together, the chuck is hanging quite a ways from the headstock. I want it closer, though it seems to work fine. Ideally there would be an R-8 adapter with 1×8 threads. Somewhere…someday.
Keep in touch. It will be fun to see this develop. I'll send pictures to email if you want. What part of the world are you in?
DanK
I had a custom tail stock made (by a machine shop) that holds an arbor whose external threads and R-8 collet capabilities match the headstock. Very useful.

All the moving parts like bearings, belts, tooling are off the shelf hardware. Even the motors and electronics are available.
 
#17 ·
Thank! I will check out the parts. I am interested in both metal and wood usage. The machine I have didnt have the band saw or any of the collets or chucks and I have had a hrad time finding anything specific to the Fox SS on Craigs List or ebay. I live in the Appalacian area in KY near the Red River Gorge.
 
#18 ·
OK, that's about 5-6 hours away from here. My son lives near Nashville TN. Even that may be a little far for coffee!

Don't bother trying to find stuff that's not out there with Supershop brand on it. Face plates for wood turning are about the only tooling think I can think of that were made in the SS factory. It was simply a 3/16" thick disc welded to a a 3/4" shaft and turned true. You could make a dozen in a day if you have metal working capacity. I broke the wood lathe tool rest casting, but replaced it with a Delta tool holder which I like better anyway.

I have a 6" 3 jaw Yuasa metal working chuck and an 8" four jaw chuck. Both required custom back plates, which is not uncommon. Milling is easiest in the upright position, so a 90° angle plate under the X-Y table is useful. I haven't found an x-y table that can be used for lathe tooling and milling, but I'm sure it's out there. I'll have to review some of the literature I've saved from Tony. They used to sell the metal working accessories, all of which were third party. One thing that may help is that you can find standard machine nuts that fit directly on the head stock spindle. That's a good start for back plate adapter.

I don't think the Fox 3 wheel band saw ever made it into production. I saw the prototype at the factory and I was anxiously awaiting it's release, but got an "out of business" notice instead. Had some great features. I have a bracket that adapts to all Shopsmith tools, and it wouldn't be hard to make one. Jointers were produced, but I have no interest in any jointer. There might be all of 20 that were ever made by Tony. A few might have been added from third party when the reproductions were being made.

You have a very fine base tool that uses universal tooling that is readily available. Some may require minor mods, but pretty open opportunities.
DanK
 
#19 ·
Good deal. I am looking forward to getting it going on. I have the 90' table plate and the disc for the sander as well as the positioner for wood work/lathe. It needs belts and so forth. I think the motor is 3/4 hp but I am not sure and I am away form the house. Any pics you have of the items you've mentioned such as the adapter plate etc would be nice to look at. I am very new at the tool/die and/or wood lathe projects. Thx again!
 
#20 ·
Dan/anyone, can you tell me what spindle thread is on the Fox Supershop? When I measure mine, I don't come up with something realistic. I also have a Smithy Supershop and it's spindle thread is 2 1/4" x 8 TPI.

For accessories for these machines, I've adapted a number of Shopsmith items by making a 5/8" "spindle" out of drill rod. By filing a tapered flat on the end (similar to the Shopsmith spindle), I can mount anything that fits the Shopsmith 5/8" spindle.
 
#21 ·
Yes, Ted, that's the way to use ShopSmith Accessories on the main spindle. BTDT. As far as the main spindle thread, they should be the same as the Smithy I would think. I'll have to go measure mine again. It's odd, I know that for sure, and I've had custom back plates machined with the thread. I even had a custom tail stock made with the same thread so I can put the big chucks on either end, powered or stationary. I have found that there is a large Acme nut that will screw directly on the spindle and that's how one chuck plate was made. They are not likely at your regular hardware store though.

Measured: 2" x 4 TPI Acme.
 
#22 ·
Thanks, Dan. When I measured the threads, I got something like 1.9" so wasn't sure if it was 2" or 50mm. I don't have the owners manual for the Fox, so couldn't check there.

The thread on the Smithy spindle is 2 1/4" x 8 TPI. I've got a 3 jaw and faceplate for it. But the Fox has the motorized carriage and it would have been nice if the spindles were the same.
 
#23 ·
I got a nice Nova chuck last year and I need to get an adapter made. They don't mount up like metal cutting chucks, so it's gonna end up on a threaded 3/4" stub. But that will cut 2" off its current mounting through three adapters!

I use the lateral feed often for turning. I have a router holder that will follow a template and that opens up a whole new class of options.

DanK
 
#25 ·
Hey Dan, Ted or anyone, would you care to post or email a pic of the chuck set-up for the metal lathe function for the Fox Super Shop? I am going to order a 4 or 3 jaw chuck and 6" adapter plate from The Little Machine Shop. The plate must be fitted to my machine and it seems like I will need to have someone thread it for the spindle with 2" x 4 TPI? I will need a back plate as well it seems to fit the chuck in order to get the machine running. If you have any pics or advice please let me know. Thx
 
#26 ·
This is a good shot of the chuck plate I had custom made for a 6" three jaw Yuasa chuck. This picture shows the chuck on my custom tailstock. I had a similar plate done for an 8" 4 jaw. You might be able to locate a machine nut that fits the spindle. I used to have a couple but used them elsewhere. But in all honesty the best thing is to take the spindle to a machine shop and let them fit the plate to it. It's trivial to take it out. Remove the set screw on the top of the headstock. Release any depth stop setting. Then advance the spindle until the gear disengages, and HOLD ON TIGHTLY counting the turns to release the spring tension. The spindle should slide out as a unit. It's a lot easier if you have another pair of strong hands.
Milling Machine tool Engineering Machine Auto part


Couple other setups for free. :)
Machine tool Engineering Motor vehicle Toolroom Gas


Gas Motor vehicle Auto part Cylinder Machine


DanK
 

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