Shopsmith Forums

RFGuy wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 6:52 pm

JPG wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 6:43 pm Ahhh the foibles of buying stuff too long ago! Obviously I stand corrected!

JPG,

No worries. Do you have a different looking arbor wrench that you got from SS? Just curious if the origin of these changed over time.

Yes they have. Just look on eBay to see the different versions.

FWIW, the arbor wrench that came with my new 510 in 1994 is the same as the OP picture and like you I bought a second one on eBay.

I know of at least three Arbor Wrench versions. The newest and around for decades now is the one already referred to shown below.

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The earliest one I know of is from the Greenie era shown below.

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The other is similar to the first wrench made as seen above except both ends are an open-ended wrench like the current one. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it. I'll try to get out to the shops today and take a picture of all three together for reference.

I did get out to the Shop and took a picture of the three Arbor Wrenches I know of. They are from left to right the first Arbor Wrench from the 1950's. The middle is the next version of the Arbor Wrench and the one the right is the current Arbor Wrench.

Something I have noted in trying to use the earlier Arbor Wrenches is how easily they can bend when used on a tight stubborn Arbor. The metal they are made of is not as thick as the current one. If not using the current style Arbor Wrenches I tend to use Crescent Wrenches on arbors as opposed to bending the two earlier Stamped Metal Arbor Wrenches. I have bent one of the middle Arbor Wrenches and had to bend it back into shape. The other problem in using the two earlier Arbor Wrenches is their length when putting a Saw Blade on an Arbor. Watch out for the teeth!

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Russ,

Thanks. My curiosity is satiated now. Definitely looks like the newer arbor wrench is an improvement with regard to the length of the wrench making it a bit easier to break the saw arbor nut free (and minimizes finger to saw tooth contact as you state). Would take more force to do with the shorter wrenches.

Looking on eBay this morning I was reminded of the Arbor Wrench I forgot about when I posted the picture of the three yesterday. Probably because I don't have that Arbor Wrench in my collection. It is pictured below and I believe it would be the third Arbor Wrench making the current one the fourth.

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