Is it a scroll saw or jig saw?

coloradohermit · Post by **coloradohermit** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:44 pm

I recently inherited my fathers old Shopsmith with several attachments that he bought back in 1981. One of them was supposed to be a Scroll Saw attachment. Along with the 18" belt sander, 4" jointer, and the Band Saw. It also has the dado set, router and molding set, and drum sander and disc sander. Some of the manuals for it and some of the paperwork for it has been lost over the years. Overall the machine is practically new. About the only things used much were the band saw and the disc sander. The scroll saw/or jig saw has never been used. The belt sander has only been used a couple times and the same for the jointer. The dado set and the molding &/or router set has never been used either.
I'm a retired machinist with over 20 years of machining metals but I've never done much wood working. I was wanting to get what I thought is a scroll saw tuned up and try my hand with it. I guess its actually a jig saw from one of the pictures I saw posted with some information on a scroll saw.
Any who, what I have has a big black piece of tubing making a big U shape from under a small table out and back. It had a small blade in it that was broken at some time. It had a plastic tube with some blades in it for it but they have also gotten lost over the years. I bought a couple packs of blades for a scroll saw and they are a lot smaller than what was mounted in this thing. So what I need to know is what's the difference between them? Can I use this like a scroll saw and use the same blades in it? Where it had sat on a bench top over the years it had also leaked out a lot of oil. I've looked all over on it and cant find anyplace to add oil to it. Anybody know anything about the old jig saws?
Thanks

letterk · Post by **letterk** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 6:22 pm

What you have is called the jig saw by Shopsmith.

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

It was made up to the mid/early 80's by the time Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone came out in 1989 it was replaced by the larger scroll saw. 5" pinless scroll saw blades should work for it. They also work in the scroll saw too.

algale · Post by **algale** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 6:23 pm

coloradohermit wrote:I recently inherited my fathers old Shopsmith with several attachments that he bought back in 1981. One of them was supposed to be a Scroll Saw attachment. Along with the 18" belt sander, 4" jointer, and the Band Saw. It also has the dado set, router and molding set, and drum sander and disc sander. Some of the manuals for it and some of the paperwork for it has been lost over the years. Overall the machine is practically new. About the only things used much were the band saw and the disc sander. The scroll saw/or jig saw has never been used. The belt sander has only been used a couple times and the same for the jointer. The dado set and the molding &/or router set has never been used either.
I'm a retired machinist with over 20 years of machining metals but I've never done much wood working. I was wanting to get what I thought is a scroll saw tuned up and try my hand with it. I guess its actually a jig saw from one of the pictures I saw posted with some information on a scroll saw.
Any who, what I have has a big black piece of tubing making a big U shape from under a small table out and back. It had a small blade in it that was broken at some time. It had a plastic tube with some blades in it for it but they have also gotten lost over the years. I bought a couple packs of blades for a scroll saw and they are a lot smaller than what was mounted in this thing. So what I need to know is what's the difference between them? Can I use this like a scroll saw and use the same blades in it? Where it had sat on a bench top over the years it had also leaked out a lot of oil. I've looked all over on it and cant find anyplace to add oil to it. Anybody know anything about the old jig saws?
Thanks

Your description of the black tubing in the shape of a U identifies this as the Shopsmith jigsaw. I only recently got one working. Any pinless 5 inch scroll saw blades will work (the Borg sells a small assortment of Ryobi scroll saw blades that work). Not ever having owned a scroll saw, I don't know whether the scroll saw makes "better" cuts than the jigsaw when the same blade is used; however, I believe blade changes are easier with the scroll saw.

The oil fill is a cap screw hidden behind the serial number plate on the same side as the drive hub. Have to remove the plate to access the fill. There used to be a manual posted on line but the links I have are broken.

Others more knowledgeable will probably provide even more info.

Al

coloradohermit · Post by **coloradohermit** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:12 pm

Thank you for the info on this. I'm glad to hear that scroll saw blades will work with it. I've already bought a good variety of blades and a book of patterns for animal puzzles to cut out and some easy box's to make.
A couple other thing, is there a replacement set of blade mounts that make blade changes easier than the old ones and use the plain end blades? Also, with the tension adjustment is looks like it could take a longer blade than the usual 5" blade. Does anybody know if it will, and if it does, how long of a blade can it take?

Billdit · Post by **Billdit** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:18 pm

A couple of weeks ago I bought a "new" in the box, made in 1981, jig saw. Came in original box with everything that came with it new. bought it from the original buyer who got several items then never bought the SS to use them... lucky for me. All original seals on it, and after 32 years sitting around there are no oil leaks and no rust!

I could not make a 6" blade work... not enough tension... so I use 5" blades.

Have fun with your new toys !! if I can copy the owners manual and paperwork and send to you I'd be glad to. I have all of it, including the warrantee paper work.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:45 pm

They 'all' leak(or at least it is a very common problem). There is a very small air bleeder hole in the side of he crankcase. Make sure it is not plugged.

Air compressor oil will work.

The blades need to be 'pinless', but pins can be removed from the 'pinned' ones.

Major difference between a jig saw and a scroll saw is the jig saw back stroke is spring return powered, whereas the scroll saw is powered both directions. Also the jig saw oscillates up/down, whereas the scroll saw has an elliptical path.

burkhome · Post by **burkhome** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:15 pm

I recently inherited my fathers old Shopsmith with several attachments that he bought back in 1981

Must be getting old...I bought mine in 1981 and it doesn't seem like it should be old.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:16 am

burkhome wrote:I recently inherited my fathers old Shopsmith with several attachments that he bought back in 1981

Must be getting old...I bought mine in 1981 and it doesn't seem like it should be old.

Add 30+ more years and it still does not seem 'old'.

cjlink · Post by **cjlink** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 9:36 pm

I've found an older user Manual for the jigsaw on the web; just search for it.

The manual calls for 10wt oil; such as sewing machine oil. I found the oil at Walmart in the sewing section.

I like my saw. The blade changes are a little harder than on a newer scroll saw.

lwedwards · Post by **lwedwards** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:49 am

New to the forum and I just got a Jig saw for the shopsmith and it is missing the table insert. Does anyone know where I can get one and also the owners manual for it. There is limited information on the web, and most of it is for the older 10ER jig saw.

Shopsmith Forums

Is it a scroll saw or jig saw?

Is it a scroll saw or jig saw?

Thanks for the help

Jig saw