Shopsmith Forums

The hex head screw that is part of the jointer fence broke.
What a mess!
The thread portion was stuck in the portion of the fence assembly that locks the horizontal position. I was able to use left-handed drill bits to bore concentric holes of increasing size until the largest drill bit in the progression caught and the stub backed out.
The part itself is out-of-stock and there is no substitute that I could find. So we had a real challenge.
What I finally found is called an Elevator Bolt. These things have a thin round head (about the size of a quarter) and come in a variety of thread pitches. I picked one up from Ace Hardware.
I had to find a way to shape that round bolt head to a 3/4" hex. I have some 3/4" nuts and took one and slid it one the Elevator Bolt. Next, I used a couple of washers and several 5/16-18 nuts to jam the 3/4" nut tightly against the bottom of the bolt head.
Using my machinist vice I secured the assortment of hardware and started filing down the edge of the Elevator Bolt while using the 3/4" nut as my depth guide.
It took a lot of file work but the result is a perfect success. Keeping that 3/4" nut tight was critical to ending up with the hexagon shape.
So if anyone else gets into a similar desperate need for this part that is how I worked it out.

Jointer Hex Head Screw
SKU: 506720

possumduck,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

You had a nice description of what you did but as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe you can post a picture or two of what you did.

The Jointer Hex Head Screw SKU 506720 is currently listed as out of stock. I don't believe that will continue for long since it is needed in making new Jointers. This is the Jointer Hex Head Screw used on Jointers since late 1955. That one is pictured below.

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For anyone else reading this and needing additional information the earlier Jointers from the 1950's used a different Bolt for those Model 4E (made for the Model 10's) and the Model 620 Jointers. Those are shown below with their Locking Levers. The one on the left, a standard bolt, was used on the first Model 4E Jointers followed by the one on the right used in both the later Model 4E and early Model 620 Jointers. The Locking Levers are slightly different too.

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Russ,
I understand about the pictures. Maybe ... .... we shall see.
But honestly, if anyone is like desperate (as I was) they should be able to follow my narrative and get close.
Those bolts you show would be very easy to simulate compared to what I have.
Maybe along with pictures of the parts I can remember to include a picture of my serial number plate.

possumduck,

You said

Maybe along with pictures of the parts I can remember to include a picture of my serial number plate.

Are you wanting to find out when you Jointer was made?

If so, I can help with that.