First Stage Complete

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:45 pm

[quote="emagnet"]If I trade you my dial indicator, how will I know if your straight edge is straight? ]

Hmmmm! 1/12 of a degree! I'd like to see a pix of that! Vernier scale?

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:53 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Hmmmm! 1/12 of a degree! I'd like to see a pix of that! Vernier scale?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:00 pm

emagnet wrote:http://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail?k=C359BZ

Thank You!

I see 12 5 minute marks over a 24 degree vernier scale. Correction! 48 degree scale!

Even I could read that!:D

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:13 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Thank You!

I see 12 5 minute marks over a 24 degree vernier scale.

Even I could read that!:D

My first bevel protractor was a cheap Chinese model that compensated for a large vernier scale by putting a magnifying lens on top. All that did was magnify the parallax error. This one's much nicer.

algale · Post by **algale** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:49 am

JPG40504 wrote:Thank You!

I see 12 5 minute marks over a 24 degree vernier scale.

Even I could read that!:D

I see $520. Even I can read that!

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:10 pm

algale wrote:I see $520. Even I can read that!

Yeah, Compared to Starrett prices, Shopsmith looks like a Chinese knockoff. Fortunately, there's ebay. There's one on there now w/leather covered case for a buy it price of $68.39. Search "Starrett 359".

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:33 am

Stage two, the restoration of the SPT's and accessories that came with the Shopsmith I bought, is well underway. The belt sander is finished and fitted with a new ceramic belt. It awaits testing and alignment. The jointer has new bearings but is still in pieces awaiting a resharpening of the blades. The bandsaw has new urethane tires and mostly new bearings. The Torrington needle bearings on the upper wheel were still tight and looked fine so I just repacked them with grease. The lower wheel bearing, however, while also tight and quiet, spins like a top. A search through the threads on this forum seem to indicate that my only option is to wait for failure and then replace the whole assembly. If so, then the bandsaw is also ready for alignment and testing.

Those are the big three. I've got a bunch of accessories that still need some attention but, in general, things seem to be shaping up pretty well.

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:26 pm

Progress on the restoration of my Shopsmith accessories has been sidetracked by the breakdown of my car. The part that's broken is no longer available and cannot be found used on ebay, so I will be fabricating the part, a serpentine belt tensioner mounting bracket, out of a block of aluminum. For this project, I will try, whenever feasible, to use the Shopsmith. To rough out the part, I will use my newly refurbished bandsaw. A search through the threads in this forum reveals that the blade that I just purchased has not been mentioned so I will discuss it here. I found a Starrett Intenss Pro-Die Band Saw Blade on Amazon.com for $26.53. It is Prime eligible so, if you are member, like I am, the two day shipping is free. No tax(at least for a little while longer) to California either. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057GE72O/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

It is an M42, bi-metal blade that, hopefully, will allow me to cut aluminum at slow speed on the Shopsmith. The belt sander should clean things up and the drill press will drill the holes. After that, it's headed to the mill for fly cutting and end milling. This is the only block of aluminum I have in that size and I need to get my car running ASAP so, I will be counting on the Shopsmith to come through for me.

Oops, I just realized while I was typing this that the free two day shipping only takes affect once the product becomes available which, according to the link, is 2 to 4 weeks. This one's in stock:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057GHQVS/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:26 pm

This link is not posted to take away from Shopsmith yet for cutting metal and plastic may be an option.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... arketcode=

emagnet · Post by **emagnet** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:16 pm

Got the holes drilled today. Since this was my first use of the Shopsmith as a drill press, it was mostly an exercise in clamping. To my delight, the Maxi-clamp components came through again. Plus, the dado insert was just wide enough for my Jorgenson clamp. I broke a handle off the clamp switching the table from 0 to 90 degrees but, I now have a Jorgenson I can use in drill press mode. The holes look good. I needed a clearance hole for a 5/16 bolt so, with the runout I have on the quill, I decided to try a 5/16 drill. Worked perfectly.

Another positive development. The Starrett bandsaw blade that was supposed to be on back order for 2-4 weeks, shipped from Nevada yesterday. It showed up today, fewer than 2 days after I placed the order! I put the blade in the bandsaw and placed the bandsaw on the Shopsmith. No additional alignment was required to attach the coupler. Switched it on to test it out and was impressed by how quiet it was. Didn't have time to cut anything. That's for tomorrow. So far, so good.

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First Stage Complete

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