essential upgrades

jayp413 · Post by **jayp413** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:40 pm

Hello everyone. I was hoping to get some opinions from those who have upgraded thier SPT's. I have, new in the box, all from 1986
• bandsaw
• stand mounted planer
• joiner
• stand mounted scroll saw

I was wondering what upgrades you guys consider a MUST have for each. I am getting ready to crack them open and figure upgrading now before use would be ideal. Thanks for all and any input!

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:04 pm

I'd say USE em for awhile. Then ya might have a better idea as to what ya want.

jayp413 · Post by **jayp413** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:11 pm

I hear you. I just didn't know if there were issues or upgrades that greatly improved performance that were worth jumping into.

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:45 pm

jayp413 wrote:I hear you. I just didn't know if there were issues or upgrades that greatly improved performance that were worth jumping into.

I have all of those from 1981 and the only upgrades I have made is regarding dust collection. I've added the port to the band saw and the update to the jointer. Other than that I have not found a need for any other "upgrades."

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:48 pm

jayp413 wrote:I hear you. I just didn't know if there were issues or upgrades that greatly improved performance that were worth jumping into.

There's the PowerPro Headstock - but other than that - I'd go with the same advice Beeg gave you.

jayp413 · Post by **jayp413** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:34 pm

That's the answer I was looking for. Thank you!

texomawood · Post by **texomawood** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:43 pm

I would upgrade the scroll saw to the quick change blade change sys. It was relatively cheap.

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:57 am

I'm not sure when the change occurred, but if your bandsaw has the cast iron table, I'd consider the upgrade to the aluminum table. It's a bigger table and allows you to use a rip fence, as well as the extension table and circle cutter accessories.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:11 am

Now I'm just the opposite I love my cast iron table on my bandsaw. I use the miter gauge for a fence and it works perfectly. As far as a bigger table the aluminum one isn't that much bigger.

If I wanted a bigger table I would build an aircraft carrier sized one around my bandsaw and have a large table.

Also with the new magnetic tools coming out for band saws it is nice to have the cast iron. There is a new magnetic fence out that is the cat's wiskers for working nice.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:17 am

Ed in Tampa wrote:Now I'm just the opposite I love my cast iron table on my bandsaw. I use the miter gauge for a fence and it works perfectly. As far as a bigger table the aluminum one isn't that much bigger.

If I wanted a bigger table I would build an aircraft carrier sized one around my bandsaw and have a large table.

Also with the new magnetic tools coming out for band saws it is nice to have the cast iron. There is a new magnetic fence out that is the cat's wiskers for working nice.

I recently ran across some magnetic featherboards, but the magnetic fence is news to me. Can you point me in the right direction?