Sawsmith 2000 Value?

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

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pinkiewerewolf
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Post by pinkiewerewolf »

Cadman, I'd be interested in hearing how the SS2K works for you.
It sounds like a unique piece of equipment.
John, aka. Pinkie. 1-520, 1-510 & a Shorty, OPR. 520 upgrade, Band Saw, Jig Saw, scroll saw, Jointer, Jointech Saw Train.:) Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.
Squire of the Shopsmith. ...hmmmm, maybe knave, pawn, or wretch would be more appropriate for me.:D
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dusty
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Sawsmith 2000

Post by dusty »

Here is another Sawsmith to contemplate: ebay# 300202576592 (complete with Incra)
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
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perryobear
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Post by perryobear »

CADMan,

First, congratulations on your new saw. I hope it gives you many years of service!

Second, I thought I would share some info I developed a while back on Shopsmith arbors (when a Sawsmith 2000 owner on another forum was having trouble getting a dado arbor for his Sawsmith as it was no longer available from Shopsmith). I have also included a link to some photos of Mk V vs. Sawsmith arbors.

http://picasaweb.google.com/perryobear/ssarbors

Since I own both a Sawsmith 2000 and a Mk V (and saw and Dado/Molder Arbors for each) I have done a little investigating. Here are my results for your consideration:

Spindles:

1. The main spindle on the Mk V and the Sawsmith motor shaft appear to be the same; 5/8" diameter with the same reverse taper flat area for seating the set screw on the arbor. This means that the mounting hole and set screw arrangement on a Mk V arbor and a Sawsmith arbor should be the same.

2. The Mk V main spindle and the Sawsmith motor shaft are on the same side of the saw table and are rotating in the same direction (CCW).

Dado Arbors:

3. Shopsmith sells a 5/8" molder/dado arbor for the Mk V (p/n 505506). I removed the dado stack from my Sawsmith arbor and assembled it on the Mk V dado arbor following the instructions that came with the Mk V arbor (relief washer, dado stack, relief washer, tongue washer, hex nut). I fitted the arbor/dado assembly to the Sawsmith. It seated properly on the motor shaft and the set screw tightened without problem. I noted that the original Sawsmith dado arbor does not have the tongue washer that the MK V arbor has, so the MK V arbor may in fact be an improvement over the Sawsmith original.

4. The Mk V arbor/dado assembly positioned the dado slightly farther out from side edge of the table opening (less than 1/8" different from the that of the Sawsmith arbor) The dado was set up for a 23/32" wide cut and it cleared the Sawsmith's lower saw guard and the slot in the factory dado table insert with space to spare. I cut several dados in some scrap pine without problem.

Saw Arbors:

5. The currently available MK V 510, 5/8" saw arbor is the same as the original Sawsmith 2000, 1-1/4" saw arbor except for the 1-1/4" boss (see photo link). It appears to me to be an easy way to use saw blades with 5/8" arbor holes on a Sawsmith 2000.

Maybe I have missed something in this analysis that another member of the Group can comment on. Or maybe your saw came with all the arbors you will ever need! :o

Again, all the best with your new saw,

Dennis
charlese
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Post by charlese »

perryobear wrote:...
2. The Mk V main spindle and the Sawsmith motor shaft are on the same side of the saw table and are rotating in the same direction (CCW)...

Maybe I have missed something in this analysis that another member of the Group can comment on. Or maybe your saw came with all the arbors you will ever need! :o

Dennis
Dennis - Loved your review, also learned a bit about arbors!:)
There is one correction to your number 2. (above)
Agreed - the spindle shaft and the other two shafts of the Mark V operate in the same direction. The top of all three shafts rotate toward the operator, when standing in front of the machine.
However I think you will find the two shafts on the accessory side of the headstock rotate clockwise. Only the spindle shaft rotates counter clockwise. One needs to face the shafts to see this.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
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cadman84
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Post by cadman84 »

This weekend I made it as far as to clean, wax and adjust the table. Due to the size of the table approximately 3’ x 6’ I ended up using a scotch bright type pad made by 3M on my corded drill. It worked so well I ended up cleaning and waxing the surfaces of my old Mark V. It never looked so good. While cleaning inside the base of the 2000 I was shocked to find that there is no motor housing. Can anyone with a 2000 tell me if this is the way they were made? I planned to take a picture of it but I haven’t had time yet. My wife and I had our first child three weeks ago (a happy and healthy little girl) so my time is limited to a couple of hours in the shop on Saturday and Sunday.

One thing I noticed on my 2000 is when I move the blade to the full down or full up position it moves to the left. This seams odd but as long as I remember not to have the blade in the full up position it shouldn’t be an issue. Is this normal?

Next weekend I plan to test the blade position to determine how much play there is when pulling the blade forward. I also have a dado for my Mark V that I will try putting it on the 2000 and see how it works. Many thanks for all the information on the dado arbor Dennis.

Till next weekend…………..

Andy a.k.a. Cadman
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cadman84
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Post by cadman84 »

Sorry, I need some sleep. The blade moves to the right when full up or down.
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pinkiewerewolf
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Post by pinkiewerewolf »

Cadman, congratulations to you and your wife on the new addition to the family!
John, aka. Pinkie. 1-520, 1-510 & a Shorty, OPR. 520 upgrade, Band Saw, Jig Saw, scroll saw, Jointer, Jointech Saw Train.:) Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.
Squire of the Shopsmith. ...hmmmm, maybe knave, pawn, or wretch would be more appropriate for me.:D
Len
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Post by Len »

[quote=" My wife and I had our first child three weeks ago (a happy and healthy little girl) so my time is limited to a couple of hours in the shop on Saturday and Sunday.
Andy a.k.a. Cadman[/QUOTE"]

Andy, take it from an old man, your main job, for just a little while, maybe 5 years, is to let Mama rest as much as possible. Doesn't mean you can't go to the garage to make a changing table, a toybox, and laundry basket, and other sawdust, but that poor girl just did a BIG job, and will be truly tired for about a year.....
and I know you got a GOOD thing going, so go have a quiver full o' kids!
Anniversary Model 505 to 520 Up grade, with Band saw, Jointer, Strip & Belt Sander, and a catalog of wishes.
PTWFE
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Post by PTWFE »

Thanks Dennis, for your excellent post. I've thought about attempting to summarize this myself just for my own edification for sometime, just haven't gotten around to it. But I didn't realize the difference in the "large body" arbors until reading your post and viewing your photos. Thanks much.

BTW, last year I believe, Shopsmith offered an email special closing out their SS2K molding head and arbor. I think there was a feather board for it on that close out as well. Paying attention to those email specials is worthwhile to say the least.
Thank you, Dr. Goldschmidt
From a Shopsmith activist since 1983 ;)
billr64
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SawSmith 2000

Post by billr64 »

Wow I found out more about atoo I am interested in than I ever thought would exist. Thank you all for the great post and all of the helpful information.

Thank you all

Bill
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