Simple Maintenance avoids Major Problems

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:07 am

Today I believe I accidentally avoided what could have become major headaches.

I was in the shop early and just sorta putting things away when I moticed that the saw arbor was sloppy on the shaft. I could grasp the saw blade on the teeth and rotate it slightly without moving the shaft. This should not happen even in the slightest.

I grabbed the allen wrench with the intention of tightening the arbor set screw. I did but suddenly I heard a snapping sound and the wrench slipped in the set screw.

Something was rounded - either the set screw or the wrench.

I tried to back out the set screw - it just slipped.

Oh boy. The arbor is secured to the shaft with a damaged set screw and my allen wrench is rounded rather than hex shaped.

I ground down the tip on my allen wrench, pushed it firmly into the set screw and twisted. Fortunately, the set screw came loose. It was immediately removed and discarded. Don't even want to take a chance.

I then dressed the tips on all of my Shopsmith allen wrenches while thinking about what incidents might have just been avoided.

It gives me the chills to think about what could have happened if I had attempted to cut something with the arbor loose on the shaft.

This is to say nothing of the nightmare if I had not been able to remove that stripped set screw.

STOP NOW and if you haven't just done so...check the tips on your allen wrenches. If they are not crisp, clean hex shaped tips...grind off a little bit.

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:05 pm

Great tip Dusty!

I make a habit of checking my Allen wrenches regularly for the same reason that you have started doing the same. Unfortunately I was remiss in not posting about it at the time. It might have prevented your problem. I apologize for being lazy and inattentive.

You have now "fixed" the problem making all forum members that much smarter. Thanks.

skou · Post by **skou** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:15 pm

Dusty, while the good allen wrenches do round out eventually, cheap ones do instantly.

Get GOOD ones, guys.

steve

J R in MO/TX · Post by **J R in MO/TX** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:14 pm

X 2:D
I have the experience drilling out one on tthe banjo and in a long process of removing the back drive lug.

maggeorge · Post by **maggeorge** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:10 pm

Great reminder.
Thanks for sharing your valuable lessons.

______________________________________________

http://www.sawblade.com

bosox · Post by **bosox** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:37 pm

Thanks for posting this!

algale · Post by **algale** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 2:39 pm

Ok, I'll bite. I've got one that needs attention. What method(s) are to be used to sharpen up an Allen Wrench that is starting to go out of shape? Free hand filing? Grinder? Sharks with laser beams on their heads?

Seriously, do you just push the end straight into the belt/disc sander or do you try to do each facet separately?

Al

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:46 pm

algale wrote:Ok, I'll bite. I've got one that needs attention. What method(s) are to be used to sharpen up an Allen Wrench that is starting to go out of shape? Free hand filing? Grinder? Sharks with laser beams on their heads?

Seriously, do you just push the end straight into the belt/disc sander or do you try to do each facet separately?

Al

Seriously, I do. I use the miter fence to hold it square to the belt sander platten and move it back and forth to prevent gouging the belt while keeping very slight pressure on the allen wrench. Takes about 2 minutes.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:24 pm

dusty wrote:Seriously, I do. I use the miter fence to hold it square to the belt sander platten and move it back and forth to prevent gouging the belt while keeping very slight pressure on the allen wrench. Takes about 2 minutes.

I should probably check all of mine. I'm pretty sure that it will also likely (like many of my simple projects) require the acquisition of several new "special tools"...

.

griffmeister · Post by **griffmeister** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 12:39 am

dusty wrote:Seriously, I do. I use the miter fence to hold it square to the belt sander platten and move it back and forth to prevent gouging the belt while keeping very slight pressure on the allen wrench. Takes about 2 minutes.

Make sure that the end you're grinding stays cool, quench it if necessary. Getting it too hot and letting it slow cool may re-temper the end. If this happens it will just round out again a lot faster than before.