Modification Bandsaw (Cast Iron table version)

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:26 pm

I also wanted to add a bit of feedback on the bearing modification and ceramic guide bushings.

This system works very well together. I had thought about maybe someday buying the Carter guide system but after using this set up I don't think that will ever happen. Glad to save myself $120 as well.

I did some limited resawing using the 3/8" blade I normally use for MDF and I was impressed how well it did.

It also runs very quiet. Keep hearing about how noisy this saw is... well mine is not that way.

All in all I'm a happy camper. The saw was less then $100, now it is maybe nearing $200 with the mods and add-ons but still not a bad deal.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:40 pm

While wishing it were a cooler day outside I decided to work on some small projects so I could feel as if the day counted for something in the shop.

A couple of posts ago I was showing the Carter guide I had just mounted and adjusted. Then the days postings here mentioned this issue of the table and blade being off (from 90 degrees) when measuring front to back.

Reference this post:

http://shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.htm?p=109342&postcount=23

I still had the bandsaw set up with the new guide and all I had to do was re-tension blade and spin a few times to make sure the tracking was back.

When I checked this is the result:

[ATTACH]18337[/ATTACH]

Since the Carter guide requires a little tweaking at the top as part of the setup it just happened to fix the "out of square issue" too. Who would have thought. OK maybe a few people....

Ed

algale · Post by **algale** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:51 pm

reible wrote:While wishing it were a cooler day outside I decided to work on some small projects so I could feel as if the day counted for something in the shop.

A couple of posts ago I was showing the Carter guide I had just mounted and adjusted. Then the days postings here mentioned this issue of the table and blade being off (from 90 degrees) when measuring front to back.

Reference this post:

http://shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.htm?p=109342&postcount=23

I still had the bandsaw set up with the new guide and all I had to do was re-tension blade and spin a few times to make sure the tracking was back.

When I checked this is the result:

[ATTACH]18337[/ATTACH]

Since the Carter guide requires a little tweaking at the top as part of the setup it just happened to fix the "out of square issue" too. Who would have thought. OK maybe a few people....

Ed

This is all due to the Carter guide (i.e the table is not shimmed)?

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 7:15 pm

algale wrote:This is all due to the Carter guide (i.e the table is not shimmed)?

Table is not shimmed.

The Carter guide is set by going from not touching to forcing the blade forward. I do this by feel since I've had and used this system on my other bandsaw. With the top forced forward to what I feel is right also seems to negate the need for table shimming.

Since the design intent was to have the blade on an angle and assuming that is importation when re-sawing one still might want to add or remove shims when using 1/4" and wider blades and standard guides. Or with thinner blades when using the standard guides and cool blocks, and doing deeper scroll cuts.

I still do not have the hours on the shopsmith to have a feel for how much extra tuning needs to be done when changing tasks. Some people here who have had there saw for years probably have a much better feel for this.

Ed

jayp413 · Post by **jayp413** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:49 pm

I just wanted to say thanks for all of the info and pictures! I have an '85 bandsaw in the box and plan on upgrading it quite abit. This will be very helpful!

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:45 pm

I am curious regarding the carter guides for band saw. When they had the special recently the guides appeared as I have always seen them. When I visited their site this evening they look very different. I would be curious to hear others view. Jim

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:23 pm

There are two types of guides for the shopsmith available from Carter for the shopsmith bandsaw.

This

http://www.carterproducts.com/product.a ... &cat_id=13

and this

http://www.carterproducts.com/product.a ... &cat_id=14

My above posts deal with the Stabilizer guide. (The one list just above)

Ed

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:06 pm

reible wrote:There are two types of guides for the shopsmith available from Carter for the shopsmith bandsaw.

This

http://www.carterproducts.com/product.asp?product_id=459&cat_id=13

and this

http://www.carterproducts.com/product.asp?product_id=34&cat_id=14

My above posts deal with the Stabilizer guide. (The one list just above)

Ed

Thanks Ed for a great education on Stabilizers and the varied uses. Jim

wrdavis · Post by **wrdavis** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:59 am

reible wrote:I thought I would do at least this simple post on the dual bearings that I added. First a picture of the "parts"

[ATTACH]13776[/ATTACH]

As you put the bushing in the bearings you might find that they are not quite fitting together like they should. This picture shows one bearing not flush with the bushing and the second bearing both not on the bushing and not adjacent to the other bearing.

[ATTACH]13777[/ATTACH]

There are many ways to "fix" this, I opted to use a bolt, flat washer on first, then the bushing with bearings on, followed by a second flat washer then a nut. The flat washers make sure you not putting pressure in places you don't want to... the bolt head and nut would also work but I elected to add the washers because I've need to do this several time and like the contact area of the washer isolating load.

[ATTACH]13778[/ATTACH]

This should take very little force so a pair of wrenches does very well.

[ATTACH]13779[/ATTACH]

And there you are!

Ed

Are all six bearings the same size? And what size did you use? I'm guessing they are 608-2rs. Where did you find the bushings. I find 1/4id x 5/16od x 1/2w on ebay. Item 350571441771 is the cheapest I find.
A set of three bushings would cost more w shipping ($13.35) than the ten bearings (608-2rs) $9.74 w free shipping from usbearingandbelts. Total $23.09 plus same bolts & nuts.

If I bought the retro kit from shopsmith $27.71 + $8.49 shipping=$36.20. But the idea of the two bearing making a groove seems better than a single bearing approach like SS offers. Any one have opinions as which bearing approach is best?

And last do you have a URL for the Shopsmith logo you printed out for the bandsaw cover? My old bandsaw has the name Yuba on it. How has the logo worked out on your bandsaw? I'm thinking I'd print it, laminate it and use 3m 77 to attach it.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:41 am

wrdavis wrote:Are all six bearings the same size? And what size did you use? I'm guessing they are 608-2rs. Where did you find the bushings. I find 1/4id x 5/16od x 1/2w on ebay. Item 350571441771 is the cheapest I find.
A set of three bushings would cost more w shipping ($13.35) than the ten bearings (608-2rs) $9.74 w free shipping from usbearingandbelts. Total $23.09 plus same bolts & nuts.

If I bought the retro kit from shopsmith $27.71 + $8.49 shipping=$36.20. But the idea of the two bearing making a groove seems better than a single bearing approach like SS offers. Any one have opinions as which bearing approach is best?

And last do you have a URL for the Shopsmith logo you printed out for the bandsaw cover? My old bandsaw has the name Yuba on it. How has the logo worked out on your bandsaw? I'm thinking I'd print it, laminate it and use 3m 77 to attach it.

I have one band saw set up with the original Shopsmith compliment of bearings and the other with six 608-2RSs. I find they they work equally well.

I don't know where this drawing came from but it might help. Use at your own risk.

[ATTACH]18924[/ATTACH]

This link may satisfy your need for a Shopsmith logo.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=31&highlight=shopsmith+logo