18"Jigsaw 505644 parts?

[fishrman]

Glad to find this forum! I have had my Mark V for about 40 years. I have the old grey colored Jigsaw that is in pretty good shape except for a broken Split Tube (part 502249). I have no idea when they came out with the newer Jig Saw but have a feeling they haven't made mine for a few and maybe many years. Does anyone know if this part is available anywhere? Thanks for any help.

[rpd]

Shopsmith doesn't show the part as being available.

Could you make a replacement? Looks to be tubing with a slot cut in it.

That part has been discussed in the past, Here are links to the previous threads.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... 16067.html

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maint ... 12298.html

[chapmanruss]

Some parts for the Jig Saw are still available from Shopsmith but as Ron said this one is no longer available. You can follow Ron's suggestion and get some aluminum tubing and make a replacement or look for used parts.

This is most of what I know about when the Jig Saw was being made.

The Jig Saw was made from early 1954 (first Serial # on Shopsmith’s records 50001, Sept. 1954) until Magna American discontinued the line in (approx.) 1967. They had “Greenie”, “Goldie” than gray paint. Back being manufactured by Shopsmith Inc. in 1973 (earliest Serial # on their record 03065 Jan. 1978) and continued past date coding December 1987. The Jig Saw is shown in the 1987 Christmas Catalog. The Jig Saw was eventually discontinued and replaced by the grey version of the Scroll Saw which was already being made. The Grey Scroll Saw began in 1987 (new in the 1987-1988 Winter Catalog) and the Teal Scroll Saw began in 1993, both have only date code serial numbers.

[fishrman]

Thank you both! I gave some thought to what I may have laying around that might work to try to make such an animal. Thought about some new break line I have never used. Well, turns out it is the exact same size. I have cut it and now will attempt to put a slice in the end of it. Not sure there is any reason to have such a long cut in the end as shopsmith had. I think a cut just long enough to accept whatever the width of the blade would be enough?

[BuckeyeDennis]

Thank you both! I gave some thought to what I may have laying around that might work to try to make such an animal. Thought about some new break line I have never used. Well, turns out it is the exact same size. I have cut it and now will attempt to put a slice in the end of it. Not sure there is any reason to have such a long cut in the end as shopsmith had. I think a cut just long enough to accept whatever the width of the blade would be enough?

The long slot in the tube is so that the front set screw can squeeze the two halves closer together. You adjust it so that the tube halves are just kissing each side of the blade, right behind the gullets. This helps stabilize the blade, like the guide blocks (or rollers) on a bandsaw.

[fishrman]

Thank you both! I gave some thought to what I may have laying around that might work to try to make such an animal. Thought about some new break line I have never used. Well, turns out it is the exact same size. I have cut it and now will attempt to put a slice in the end of it. Not sure there is any reason to have such a long cut in the end as shopsmith had. I think a cut just long enough to accept whatever the width of the blade would be enough?

The long slot in the tube is so that the front set screw can squeeze the two halves closer together. You adjust it so that the tube halves are just kissing each side of the blade, right behind the gullets. This helps stabilize the blade, like the guide blocks (or rollers) on a bandsaw.

I wondered about that. Thanks! I have a feeling my brake line won't work to well for this as it will probably not spring back once it is compressed.

[fishrman]

Ya, well, I got the part made using brake line. That isn't going to work as the steel doesn't spring back into the original position after compressing it with the set screw. Guess I will see if I can find a piece of aluminum tube and hope for the best. I would like to use stainless but don't think I can cut it.