Time for a new main table?

[tbolish]

Got a fancy Kinex straight edge to verify flatness on some things are noticed this today:

Right side of table, flat as can be:


Left side, uh oh...


Really wish I had checked this out more when I bought this “fixer upper”.

Anyone else ever notice their tables being complete out of wack like this?


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[garys]

I can't see the right side of the second picture. What is the staight edge laying on at that side? If it is just sticking up off the table, then your problem might not be as bad as it looks on the picture.

I checked mine with my big square and it is flat in all directions so yours should be flat too.

[tbolish]

I didn’t clarify as much in the second picture - I’m holding the straight edge down on the left side of the saw blade and you can see all that light shining through. Like we’re talking at least an 1/8” from the outfeed side to the infeed.

To the right of the blade the table is dead flat. Probably just have to deal with it. Sucks when you buy a lemon!


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[JPG]

Check by holding it tight on the front. I think a smaller area on the back will look less dramatic.

Check from the right rear corner to the front left corner.

Do same from right front to left rear corner.

I predict only the left rear corner is 'low'. Not a high use area(typically).

[tbolish]

I’ll check it out tomorrow and send in a pic. I was in the process of making my crosscut sled and screwed up my runners so I angrily had to take a break. I think I may just be a terrible woodworker. ha. Very frustrating.


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[JPG]

Is it possible you were holding the end of the straight edge 'in a groove' and the straight edge is riding on the top(out of the groove)?

Getting the runners 'just right' is not easy if there are two of them.

[tbolish]

I wish it was just in an groove - I slid it all around, seems like there’s a bow a couple inches to the left of the throat plate right in the middle of the table.


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[DLB]

I had much the same thing, maybe a bit smaller magnitude, on my first 520 I bought from an alleged 'refurbisher.' On mine the bow was worst nearest the blade opening and gradually improved as I got closer to the left edge. Front to back, it was worst at the center of the opening. I gradually worked most of the bow out. I'll recreate how I worked the table for a photo and followup post.

- David

[BuckeyeDennis]

I had much the same thing, maybe a bit smaller magnitude, on my first 520 I bought from an alleged 'refurbisher.' On mine the bow was worst nearest the blade opening and gradually improved as I got closer to the left edge. Front to back, it was worst at the center of the opening. I gradually worked most of the bow out. I'll recreate how I worked the table for a photo and followup post.

- David

I'd be very interested in that as well. My 520 table has a significant dip in the vicinity of the table insert.

[Ed in Tampa]

Back in the days of the 510 upgrade ( worst product in Shopsmith history) the first table was warped like yours. I complained to SS and they sent another main table it was better but still warped. I complained again and they sent a third table it was better than first table but worst than the second. I gave up, shoved my Shopsmith into a corner and used it only to sharpen my lawn mower blades for about 20 years.

The SS came out with the 520 and I upgraded and it fixed a whole bunch of things. Then there was a video by Nick that he says use a $20 bill as a shim before you tighten the trunion bolts. Did that and it removed almost all the warp from my table.

I am now convinced, you should setup the machine as described in the setup procedures and no more. Do not look for trouble just use the machine. If things do not turn out “perfect” it is your problem not the machines. If there is a real problem with the machine it probably because you messed up the basic setup trying to reach “setup perfection”.