New SS owner

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:23 pm

I just watched the jig video - I actually made something just like that from an article in Workbench magazine, but it's only 12" long or so (for cross-cutting single boards). It also has a perpendicular piece on the bottom which squares it against the board being cross-cut. One neat thing about it is that both the left and right sides of the jig panel are cut to dimension with both sides of the circular saw, so it can be a guide when cutting on either side of the jig.

Later in the video, the floating tables are demonstrated. Man, that is the coolest thing ever! To be honest, I never saw a 520 in action so I really didn't know the full extent of what I bought. I think I need to watch more of these videos and study up...

Is Shopsmith still doing the traveling academies?

- Chris

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:18 pm

chrispitude wrote:Is Shopsmith still doing the traveling academies?

- Chris

Not in PA:( . They only have one instructor for now. His name is Rick Davis ("ricknwood" here on the forum). He lives in CA and does the "West Coast" as far East as Kansas, OK, and TX]https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=1194[/URL] He is very capable and has recently released a DVD through SS that is worth having; see this thread: https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=1042.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:22 pm

chrispitude wrote:..... I think I need to watch more of these videos and study up.....
- Chris

Right now, it looks like they are still all available for FREE. Do not look for that lasting forever. Some of us are waiting with bated breath for the release of these great video's on DVD:) .

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:33 am

chrispitude wrote:Hi all,

Well I added some things to my 520 upgrade order. I added a new miter gauge (my 500 miter is old and beat up, and I know it would bug me on that shiny 520 table), the pistol grip, and the 24" aluminum miter face extension. I also added a 505/510/520 5/8" saw blade arbor since I was told my 500 arbor would not work (although my dado arbor is reusable?). I added a 520 dado table insert (glad I remembered - this was the whole point of the upgrade, to more safely cut dados in 8ft stock!). The new total is just over $1200. It hurts now, but hopefully it will be worth it when things are assembled and working well.

Tim - thanks for the links! I will have a look over them today, that jig sounds really interesting.

- Chris

Chris, I haven't ordered the 520 upgrade...yet, but I did order the miter guage kit and 24" extension like you. My miter had seen better days and I couldn't get it to stay "square" so I figured it best to start from scratch. I slapped a copy of The Shopsmith Journals on the order and the shopsmith help kit. The help kit is on back order but I was happy to learn that SS doesn't charge extra shipping or wait for the lone item to show up, then ship it all. They are shipping me the rest and will send the Help kit when it is there, at no extra charge.