Today in the shop (poof) and other adventures

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:03 pm

I got to spend day of woodworking today. But it wasn't without issues.

Fired up the bandsaw to do some resawing. I had cut maybe 10 or 12 pieces when this bang happened followed by some other noise that I haven't heard. I stopped the feed and the noise went away. Started to feed the noise was back.

First thing that comes to mind is the powerpro bandsaw bang issue that I've read about. The machine has never had this problem but hey things happen....

Anyway I turned things off and started to explore. Didn't take but a second and I could see that the coupler was not engaging the powerpro by much if anything. I surmised It was on enough to spin the blade without the load of resawing but as soon as it started to cut it would bump along the splines. What had happen is the set screw for the bandsaw side coupler had worked its way loose. The spring then simply slid the coupled back on the shaft, stopping where it was in limbo.

I've never had the set screw come loose before and I'm unsure why it picked today but at least is was not a powerpro issue.

The next adventure happen several hours late when I was using my thickness sander. For those who own them you know how much dust they create, those who have no idea, lets say it is a LOT.

I hook up my dust collector and it does a good job of containing things, I use a 4" hose from the dust collector to the sander, without it you couldn't use the machine there would just be too much dust.

I must have been sanding on and off for a couple of hours and all was well. Then after taking a break I return and flipped the dust collector on...........

The hood popped off and a dust storm erupted! So there I am trying not to breath or open my eyes but still find the off switch. It seemed like a minute but I'm sure it was more like 10 or 15 seconds before I got it off. I was covered in fine sanding dust, as was anything with 6 feet of the collector.

My dust collector has a top bag that slides over a flange and then a metal band strap with latch and spring assist clips everything tight. Somehow I must have bumped the latch or something.... I've had this machine for a lot of years and this has never happened before. So now I'm adding a check of that clamp to my check list. I never want that to happen again, well at least to me.

So that is how some of my Sept. 12 went.

Ed

jimthej · Post by **jimthej** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:14 pm

Bandsaw hub: I'm not sure this isn't a PowerPro issue. I've had this happen twice. My bandsaw hub setscrew now has purple Loctite.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:16 pm

reible wrote:Anyway I turned things off and started to explore. Didn't take but a second and I could see that the coupler was not engaging the powerpro by much if anything. I surmised It was on enough to spin the blade without the load of resawing but as soon as it started to cut it would bump along the splines. What had happen is the set screw for the bandsaw side coupler had worked its way loose. The spring then simply slid the coupled back on the shaft, stopping where it was in limbo.

I've never had the set screw come loose before and I'm unsure why it picked today but at least is was not a powerpro issue.

Ed

I strongly recommend krunled cup point set screws (5/16" X 1/4" I think) for both coupler hubs as you normally do not take them off often. I have not had a krunled cup point set screw come loose on me in the many years I have used them on the Shopsmiths. They should only be used a couple of times as the krunled cup point flatten out after several tighting. When I can not longer see the cuts, I discard the set screw. I keep a metal file handy to clean up any shaft where I use these set screws. It about the only set screw point type I use these days.

rlkeeney · Post by **rlkeeney** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:54 am

Wouldn't a bit of blue thread locker work?

I don't use lock tight because my hub fits so well I have to use a puller to get it off an a dead blow hammer to tap it back on. It might stay in place with out a set screw.

I can only recall removing it two times since 1981.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:57 am

Reible;
I have had the hub set screws loosen on the rear of the headstock a couple of times when I first got the PP. Blue Loctite solved that problem. I have also had the set screw in the motor pully inside the PP headstock loosen on three occasions. One time I found the screw in the motor cover pan. At the advise of the PP engineer at SS, blue loctite was applied to this screw as well. I don't use the bandsaw on the MK 5 cause it is on a separate stand. I do use the belt sander, jointer, and the strip sander on the Mk 5 and not had a problem with these attachments.
The general consensus is that the speed programming on the PP causes a mechanical "twitching" from the constant adjustment by the controller about
(400 times per second as I recall). The vibration then causes the screws to loosen.
Bill V

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:38 am

That happened to me just this week. Greenie headstock on my 'portable M2'!

I attributed it to just not having tightened the bs hub sufficiently.

YMMV!;)

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:57 pm

I'm pretty sure the Hub loosenes is just a symptom of the PowerPro issue. You can tighten and re-tighten and etc. The banging will return.

The banging is a non-issue with a speed reducer.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 10:18 am

charlese wrote:I'm pretty sure the Hub loosenes is just a symptom of the PowerPro issue. You can tighten and re-tighten and etc. The banging will return.

The banging is a non-issue with a speed reducer.

Huh!!!! I thought all those problems were resolved. Are you saying the power pro is causing a problem?

Makes me want to rush out and spend that kind of money on an upgrade. NOT!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:25 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:Huh!!!! I thought all those problems were resolved. Are you saying the power pro is causing a problem?

Makes me want to rush out and spend that kind of money on an upgrade. NOT!

Ah so! The ignore the 95 percent good because of the 5 percent not so!

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 2:49 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Ah so! The ignore the 95 percent good because of the 5 percent not so!

Do we get a 5% discount?