Shopsmith Forums

I know to reset the SS to slow speed before turning it off. What if I have to turn off the headstock several times in the middle of a job, like adjusting the rip fence or something? I will be resuming at the same speed right after the adjustment. Should I still go all the way to slow and back to working speed every time?

There's no reason to turn it down to slow between repeating the same operation/mode. If I have to rip five or six pieces to width, for instance, I'll shut it off between cuts but I don't slow it down before turning it off.

The reason to turn it down to slow when you are finished with a given operation and are changing over is so that you don't accidentally start up the new operation (say belt sander) at too high a speed (say table saw speed) from the previous operation.

algale wrote:There's no reason to turn it down to slow between repeating the same operation/mode. If I have to rip five or six pieces to width, for instance, I'll shut it off between cuts but I don't slow it down before turning it off.

The reason to turn it down to slow when you are finished with a given operation and are changing over is so that you don't accidentally start up the new operation (say belt sander) at too high a speed (say table saw speed) from the previous operation.

I totally agree with that. Some people say that if you leave it on high that it will pop the circuit breaker. It does not if you have a properly installed electrical system with the SS on a 20 amp circuit and a properly maintained and lubricated machine. It will start at any speed setting just fine. I have been doing it for as long as I have owned a SS with no problems.

It was more of a problem with the 3/4 hp motors.

As long as the motor gets up to operating speed quickly, it should not be a problem. The steel sanding disk can slow startup considerably.

You folks are very generous offering help. Many thanks.

P.S. Extended startup times convert the motor to a small room heater. Add short on/off cycle timing and . . . .