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Table Saw guards old versus new help

billboyle2

Brand new to the forum.

My father, Bill Boyle, purchased his Mark V system in 1981. He added some accessories that included the band saw.

My dad was a very skilled woodworker and was involved with industrial hardware for many years. He was also a Shopsmith "Good Neighbor." In 2002, he passed away and as the eldest son, all his wonderful woodworking tools passed to me, including the Mark V.

As a child he was quite willing to show me how things worked, however, once I became an adult and went my own way, I had little opportunity to see him operate the Shopsmith equipment. "His" Shopsmith has been covered and moved around in the garage by me since his death and I have not been ready to get into it until now to figure the system out. The old manual was not helpful very much. Why did it take so long. Well, my dad made jigs for so many things and toiled making them precise that I've been reluctant to toss them out not knowing what they were used for. Some may have been for specific projects--unknown to me--and others may have been designed to facilitate Shopsmith operation. Not sure. He was a man that created tools and modified existing ones. He left me with puzzling "pieces parts." ;) I have often muttered, "what the heck is this for." :confused:

The Mark V unit is in great physical shape. The aluminum top guard, splitter and under table guard are not in place for lack of the extension that ties it all together. That piece is missing.

I'm reluctant to use the table saw without a guard system. I see that there is a new version that is a retrofit for that old unit. Will someone please tell me about the two systems, the pros and cons between the too as I either need to get a new extension piece to assemble the old guards or update the Mark V to today's standards. Thanks you.

Bill Boyle

dusty

I really want to be of assistance but I am not absolutely certain I understand your current dilemma. Hopefully the attachment to this message will help. I think you might find related information on page 10 of this PDF.

Page 10 details the upper and lower saw guards and includes the splitter. You have not said what Model Mark V you have so these images may not be exact; however, the differences from model to model are usually not significant for this sort of discussion. If you want to be certain, post the serial number of your machine and the forum members will know exactly what you have.

If not, please repost your question. Possibly adding some photo images would help.

rkh2

Welcome to the forum Bill. You will find that there are many folks here that are going to be more than willing to help you with all the questions you may have. So glad to hear that you are keeping your dad's tools. Sounds like a treasure trove of jigs and such that he passed on. The Mark V is a well built, quality and precise machine which can produce blue ribbon winners. As you learn more about it from this group you will cherish it more each day. By the way, fill out your profile and let us know what part of the country you reside in. Who knows, there may be a SS owner close by who can offer hands on assistance.

Ron309753

Bill,

I understand your reluctance to use it without the upper guard. If the piece that you are talking about is the unpainted stamped steel (or was it aluminum) piece that connects to the upper and lower guards, you won’t find it anywhere. You would have to buy a replacement upper guard from feEbay.

Assuming you have a 500 table system, I strongly recommend you replace the old aluminum guard with the new plastic guard (ShopSmith part # 513483). It is much more convenient and you can see where the saw is cutting the stock as you make the cut. You can also find the plastic guards on feEbay, but make sure it comes with the mounting block. The new upper guard works independent of the lower old aluminum saw guard, so the two will work together.

Tell us where you are and maybe a nearby user can offer local assistance.

Sincerely,

Ron309753

a1gutterman

Hi Bill,

ShopSmith will probably have what you need. A call to customer service (800 543 7586) will get you the help to identify what you need and they will fill your order too.

billboyle2

My dad's Mark V 500 was purchased in Feb 1981 and bears serial number 81652.

mickyd

billboyle2 wroteMy dad's Mark V 500 was purchased in Feb 1981 and bears serial number 81652.

FYI - Feb / Mar 1981 date of manufacture. See bottom of this page:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm

billboyle2

To make a long story short, I haven't been able to figure out how to use the table saw guard system on this 1981 machine.

The PDF previously provided in this thread was of a newer Shopsmith Mark V. The diagram doesn't illustrate the guards upper and lower that I have.

The pieces in question are not plastic but cast aluminum--the color of the Shopsmith.

From what I can tell from my research, there is a bracket missing that attaches to the splitter which has the anti-kick-back fingers. The bracket attaches to the lower guard that is mounted on the quill.

I've taken a few photos to display. Perhaps this will be helpful to visualize what I am talking about.

I contacted tech help this morning and the fellow led me to the exploded view on the SS website. That exploded view is also a new guard system.

Now, I am not thrilled with the guard pieces that I have. Not being able to see the blade as would be the case with the top guard--isn't very good IMO. Finger protection is key, but so is making precision wood cuts and I can't see how that could be done with these pieces. My dad used this machine for many years, yet I believe he didn't bother with the top guard and splitter. He was quite the experienced woodworker and was expertise with large industrial table saws. Anyway, this guard system is what I currently have in my possession. The table saw has been left idle for well over 10 years at a minimum. The band saw is operational.

I was told by the SS tech that the clear plastic guard that SS now sells will mount on my machine. This may be the case. However, I would like to get this old guard system and the puzzling aspect of it resolved. Any assistance would be appreciated. I reside in Plantation, Florida. Anyone local to me?

Bill Boyle

MikeG

I think that you are looking for the part called "extension bracket" part number: 507183, shown in fig. 2 of the manual:

It attaches with the button head screws, part number: 506176. I hope this helps.

Upper Saw Guard.pdf

reible

Hi,

I will try to get the paper work for the old guard out and scan it for you.

Yes you are missing a part, any chance you might have over looked it with the other things you have? I might be able to dig mine out this weekend and get a picture of it, or maybe the paper work will give you an idea of what to look for.

Unless someone else posts the information before me look forward to it later tonight.

Ed

reible

OK looks like it is posted already so that is done....

Ed

billboyle2

MikeG--that literature is helpful. Thanks. I didn't have that paperwork in any of the loose leaf binders my father kept.

It is certainly possible that the extension bracket is still in the garage somewhere. It may have been overlooked, not knowing what it was. I'll continue to look for it.

Reible--A close up photo of the extension bracket will be helpful. If worst comes to worst ...I'll fabricate one. ;)

billboyle2

Well, I'm certain after reading the literature provided above the missing extension bracket is PN 507183. The Company doesn't offer them according to the catalog. So, I've been searching on-line and came up with nothing--not even Ebay. :(

I've also looked in every draw, cabinet and shelf in my garage and can't find this bracket. I conclude that it's long gone.

If I'm going to use the table saw, I may be relegated to getting the newer see through guard system.

Have any of you done this with you older Mark Vs? How does the see-thru plastic top guard compare to the older cast aluminum version (506167)? Does the splitter work smoothly? Thanks in advance.

Bill

terrydowning

I installed the upgrade system several years ago. The installation wasn't too bad as I recall drilling and tapping is required though. IMHO, the splitter is a hassle. It is part of the mounting system and attaches at the back of the table on a plastic dovetailed mounting bracket that sticks easily and doesn't slide well and makes it is difficult to align. The hold down screw sticks out and is easily bent. I've straightened that bolt numerous times and replaced twice. I never had the aluminum one so I can't offer a comparison. But at $227 it's bit on the pricey side. If you are planning on using the SS regularly as a table saw, my advice is to pursue used components for a 510/520 upgrade. Larger table, better fence, better design on the safety components with a riving knife (rather than a splitter) directly behind the blade, better design on the guard mounting and better dust collection. Just my thoughts on it, take this free advice for what it is worth.