A tale of two molders

[ibskot]

So, i found out I have 2 molding heads and two different kinds of cutters. One head is marked Magna and the other is branded Shopsmith. There is a bit of a visual difference in the heads and the cutters but what about function? I have never used one and don't intend to keep both. FWIW, i have way more cutters for the Magna one then the SS.

[dusty]

I would keep the one that provides the most options; unless the cutters are dull or you don't expect to do a lot of molding.

[ibskot]

I have no clue if I will ever use or not... but there is a chance so I do want to keep one. There isn't any better? Old vs new?

Thanks

[dusty]

I have no clue if I will ever use or not... but there is a chance so I do want to keep one. There isn't any better? Old vs new?

Thanks

I am not the one from whom you want to get this advise. I am hard pressed to dispose of anything. I would keep them both even though there is little chance that you will EVER need both at the same time.

Are the cutters interchangeable between cutter heads? Hopefully, the forumcrew will come to the response of this question. A little research within Shopsmith may answer that question too.

[ibskot]

Interchangeable? The site lists new style vs of style so I doubt it but maybe somebody will correct me.

[beeg]

How about a pic of what ya have?

[algale]

Photos would help but the one you have marked "Shopsmith" is probably what is now considered the "old style." The "new style" uses thicker knives.

The one you have marked "Magna" was not even produced by the current Shopsmith company and isn't on their radar.

Having never had a Magna version I don't know if the knives are interchangeable with the Shopsmith "old style" head.

[ibskot]

How about a pic of what ya have?

Duuuh....my bad.

[JPG]

Photos would help but the one you have marked "Shopsmith" is probably what is now considered the "old style." The "new style" uses thicker knives.

The one you have marked "Magna" was not even produced by the current Shopsmith company and isn't on their radar.

Having never had a Magna version I don't know if the knives are interchangeable with the Shopsmith "old style" head.

IIUC, the older versionS are compatible. The currently available version is not according SS.

The original older version used screws to directly secure the knives. The version recently replaced used 3 ball bearings in addition to the 3 set screws.

Any one having the original version and later versions would be doing us all a service by taking pix of both the knives and the holder.

There was also an aluminum version.

I will post some pix as time allows unless someone beats me to it.

[ibskot]

Having never had a Magna version I don't know if the knives are interchangeable with the Shopsmith "old style" head.

When I get home I'll look. Just for kicks here is a pic of the different cutters. Left is Magna and right is SS.