Help me understand.....

[rcplaneguy]

Have y'all considered the annual demand for that part? It has to be very small. How long ago was the CI table replaced with the aluminum table?

At $25 shipped I bet you are right about the number of incoming orders.

[teacherman]

At $25 shipped I bet you are right about the number of incoming orders.

It seems a little plastic thing could be stamped out for little cost. Like the insert on a power miter box, I consider it something that gets messed up over time.

[charlese]

Shopsmith does have an advantage in that the basic design has changed very little over these many years. Excluding the tables, rails and saw guards, what has really undergone major change?

Yes, the headstock but you can't buy spare parts for that even though it is new.

That's funny, my friend! I sounds like you're saying the legs and supports (tubes) are the same. The only thing that's changed are the working parts.

You can't buy parts for the new headstock (PowerPro) - true! But repair parts aren't needed. They are covered by a warranty. Any way, what kind of repair parts do we need? I've had several replaced under warranty. Which of the 5 major parts should be available? Do you want to buy the parts and assemble your own? That option is already available.

Other things included with the PowerPro such as a new quill and power cord are already available. Oh! I guess the longer poly-v belt is needed, but might be available.

[teacherman]

So how long is teh new headstock warranted? I am suspicious of it, actually, although having a wider range of RPM would be great.


I figured out the insert. I ran one sharp little projection on some sandpaper, then tapped it in place with a screwdriver handle. It's in there tightly.

I greased teh top wheel rollers with Mystik JT-6, and installed a new SS 1/4" blade. Tightening it to the 1/4" mark sure seems tight, as in tight enough to place undue stress on things. I got SS blades because I figured they would be accurately sized. I wish I knew more about bandsaws.....

I'm ready to start cuttin some stuff up!

[teacherman]

I now have my very first functioning bandsaw. I resawed a cedar 1x3 into four pieces, the thinnest of which is about 1/8" thick. It's hard to keep it straight against the miter gauge, but I will be able to figure it out. Using the 1/4" blade was not the most precise, but I now know I can do these things. A dovetail jig, and I will be able to make actual drawers.

[rcplaneguy]

I now have my very first functioning bandsaw. I resawed a cedar 1x3 into four pieces, the thinnest of which is about 1/8" thick. It's hard to keep it straight against the miter gauge, but I will be able to figure it out. Using the 1/4" blade was not the most precise, but I now know I can do these things. A dovetail jig, and I will be able to make actual drawers.

Great!
You might enjoy his video about resawing
http://youtu.be/JNsLNJsMj0o

[charlese]

So how long is teh new headstock warranted? I am suspicious of it, actually, although having a wider range of RPM would be great.

5 years for the motor and 2 years on the electronics, 2 years on belts and bearings, lifetime on materials and workmanship.

["Wild Bad Bob"]

25 years ago a buddy of mine said he was only going to buy "Made in the USA" till he could not buy much, if anything any more!!! I am going to be 62 in a month, I remember junk being made in Japan when I was a young en, then they started to get it, heck I have owned many a Toyota's with over 200K on them. Now it is China, but remember this, it is not were its made, it is the specs, inspection/quality control and set price point of the product that a US owned company puts on them and over sees.
Example, HF sez we want this wiget made and shipped to CA for X$ they will do it. If Milw Tool, which plant is 1 mile from me and there parking lot is full and cars are in there on Saturdays, so not is all made in China, BUT sez to them, I want this widget made to these specs, at this price point, has personnel there to over see the manufacturing of the product and testing, you have a good product, no matter where it is made. The difference is labor cost. In China it is the cheapest at the moment, 10-15 years ago it was the Pacific Rim, prior to that it was Japan, it is all about labor cost. Mexico is another factor, 20 years ago, all the Tool and Die business went there do to shipping cost and NAFTA, if the companies did not have in house inspectors it was junk at first, now most of US car manufactures part/sub assemblies come out of Mexico.
Its all about labor cost, then over seeing quality control for the standard/specs you set. obviously HF has a lower standard then lets say Delta, Mikita, Bosh or Milw Tool.

["Wild Bad Bob"]

Do you realize how many free standing power tools you can buy used on CL for this!!!??????????
556176 New PowerPro Headstock ... $1,979.00
Not to bash SS, but there are just something a specific tool does better, has more specific features.

[teacherman]

Do you realize how many free standing power tools you can buy used on CL for this!!!??????????
556176 New PowerPro Headstock ... $1,979.00
Not to bash SS, but there are just something a specific tool does better, has more specific features.

My garage has room for one SS, 1 big table saw, 2 Harleys, two big rolling shelves, and all the other stuff crammed into it. I wood not be a wouldworker were it not for Shop Smith. I've designed a great SPT/accessory cabinet, and now I need to build it. I love the idea of Shop Smith. I actually get to make and fix things with wood, at a level I have never before experienced.

However, I am still suspicious of the electronics. Our new stove's "keypad" went out yesterday. We paid for that warranty because I did not trust this fancy stuff. It is a cook stove not a computer, for heaven's sake. Let's see if they honor the warranty......

Sophisticated switchery in a dusty environment? I understand and trust analog much better, except on cars..