A tale of two molders

[ibskot]

Are the new ones made here?

[algale]

For sometime Corob Cutters has been the supplier. http://corobcutters.com/

[redleg]

Note this warning on there web page. (The knives sold on this site do NOT fit Shopsmith heads.) Have never tried the Corob knives but just saw it
through the link.

[algale]

Note this warning on there web page. (The knives sold on this site do NOT fit Shopsmith heads.) Have never tried the Corob knives but just saw it
through the link.

I have seen that disclaimer but when I purchased molding knives through Shopsmith for the "old style" cutter head, they came in packages marked "Corob."

Perhaps Corob runs custom knives for Shopsmith and has agreed not to sell those through its website.

[dusty]

Read what they said. The knives sold on this site do NOT fit Shopsmith heads. This does not necessarily mean that they do no make knives that fit the the Shopsmith heads.

In situations like this would it not be nice if Shopsmith advertised details.

"Our cutter heads and knives are custom manufactured for us exclusively by 'xxxxxx'."

After all, we all know that much (if not most) of what Shopsmith sells is NOT manufactured by Shopsmith but rather for Shopsmith. Saw blades, arbors, motors, sanding belts, sanding disks, jointer blades, jointer cutter heads, planer blades and planer cutter heads, drill bits. All items shown in their catalog and labeled Shopsmith.

It is somewhat unusual to see a Shopsmith part sold with the manufactturers name on it. Incra is another unusual situation. Maybe times have changed.

[Mike907]

My recently purchased Shopsmith molder head is marked Corob, so hopefully, the knives from Corob will fit. Perhaps the note on Corob's site refers to the previous Shopsmith molder head.

Mike

[JPG]

My recently purchased Shopsmith molder head is marked Corob, so hopefully, the knives from Corob will fit. Perhaps the note on Corob's site refers to the previous Shopsmith molder head.

Mike

Ahhhhh! When we wait patiently and watch much mystery becomes cleared up.(maybe)


I think that clears up the reason for the 'new' version.


Also it appears Carob got weary of different sizes for SS and/or SS decided to not pay a premium for 'special' parts. Most likely, both.


So what size are the new blades, and what does the new arbor look like?

[JPG]

HMMMMM!

carob molder head.jpg (56.44 KiB) Viewed 4128 times

Note the thickness of the knife slot.

[Mike907]

My molder head is the same as the one pictured in Dusty's photo.

Slots are 0.1625" wide, blades are 0.1575" thick.

Mike

[Mike907]

An interesting thing, to me, at least, is that the ball bearings are small enough to pass through the hole in the knives, but when the knives bottom out, the holes are offset, so that the knives are locked similarly to the way the base lock locks the Shopsmith in the vertical position.

You can sort of see that in JPG's jpg.


Mike