Greenie Belt Sander - Undersized Miter Slot?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:55 am

I just measured 3 miter gauge bars and 2 brand new miter bars and they all measured 0.724 to 0.726 or 0.725+- 0.001. Only one new miter bar measured over 0.725. Most of the measurements were 0.724. The miter gauge bars all measured slightly more at the tapered screw hole but no more than 0.727. .
A digital 'fractional' caliper wil indicate 46/64(23/32) from 0.71093 to .72656, 47/64 from 0.72656 to 0.74218, and 45/64 from 0.6953 to 0.71093. The values have common values and those are measurements that may indicate either one. These are theoretical values and do not take into consideration the resolution of whatever the the actual incremental resolution is.

Since its output resolution is +- 0.007812, the readings can mislead one.

The other possible 'error' is how consistent are inside/outside measurements? i.e. If an object with identical inside/outside dimension were measured, how much would the measurement differ?

I would suggest a vernier caliper capable of accurately measuring to within 0.001 (using the vernier scale) or a micrometer that reads directly to 0.001 or with a vernier accurate to 0.0001. The slot measurement be more difficult without a vernier caliper.

None of this explains why your miter gauge does not fit the slot. More accurate measurements are needed to determine that.

I am curious if the miter gauge bar ends will fit in the slot. This would lead to suspecting the bar is either 'fat' at the tapered hole location, or bent(sideways or twisted).

dkerfoot · Post by **dkerfoot** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:01 pm

JPG40504 wrote:I would suggest a vernier caliper capable of accurately measuring to within 0.001 (using the vernier scale) or a micrometer that reads directly to 0.001 or with a vernier accurate to 0.0001. The slot measurement be more difficult without a vernier caliper.

None of this explains why your miter gauge does not fit the slot. More accurate measurements are needed to determine that.

I am curious if the miter gauge bar ends will fit in the slot. This would lead to suspecting the bar is either 'fat' at the tapered hole location, or bent(sideways or twisted).

I think we may be wandering away from the main point here - the miter bar does not fit in the slot and the problem is not due to corrosion, twisting or anything similar. The real intention of my original post was to find out if greenies were ever made with a smaller slot. It appears I do have a manufacturing defect.

Neither end, nor the middle fits at any point along the slot. I measured again using decimal and the slot, while varying a bit in the 3rd and 4th decimal position, was always in the 0.70xx range, while the bar was always in the 0.72xx=07.3xx range (bowing out very slightly near the adjustment nut, but easily squeezed thinner).

I probably will end up making a 90 degree jig, but it is a disappointment. Every jig I spend time making is a small project that doesn't get made.

I do appreciate all the responses!

-Doug

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:02 pm

I suppose you could take the Belt Sander table to a machinist and have .02" milled out of the miter slot or you could even hog it out with a flat file but first
I would check with Shopsmith.

Lifetime Guarantee on Materials and Workmanship
Any Shopsmith manufactured product failing beyond the two-year warranty period (and for the life of the original purchaser) as a result of defects in materials and workmanship (and not normal wear) may also be eligible for free replacement or repair, based on factory inspection of the defective product or part. Contact Shopsmith for complete details. Included with every MARK V.

Now strictly speaking, you do not qualify but I would check.

If you chose to hog it out, I suggest that you work on only one side of the slot, keeping the other virgin. I would work on the side furthest from the belt

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:18 pm

dusty wrote:I suppose you could take the Belt Sander table to a machinist and have .02" milled out of the miter slot or you could even hog it out with a flat file
If you chose to hog it out, I suggest that you work on only one side of the slot, keeping the other virgin. I would work on the side furthest from the belt

Either way, I'd have it where it JUST fits nicely, no slop in it.

ccmaydew · Post by **ccmaydew** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:24 pm

I also have the Greenie belt sander. The slot is too small for the miter bar to fit. Don't know why, but it doesn't fit. I happened to have a cheap miter bar from an imported router table laying around. It fits fine. Go figure.

dkerfoot · Post by **dkerfoot** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:51 pm

ccmaydew wrote:I also have the Greenie belt sander. The slot is too small for the miter bar to fit. Don't know why, but it doesn't fit. I happened to have a cheap miter bar from an imported router table laying around. It fits fine. Go figure.

Thank you! That is really helpful to know.

So, just to test the theory - does anyone have a greenie belt sander that fits the standard SS miter bar?

dkerfoot · Post by **dkerfoot** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:24 am

If someone has a spare belt sander table that does fit the standard SS miter gauge, send me a PM. I am thinking it might be easiest just to replace the table and someone is bound to have a basket-case belt sander??? It shouldn't matter if it is a greenie or not - the main point would be that the standard SS Miter fits in it.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:32 am

A guy I somewhat kinda know gave me a box of random Shopsmith parts to an old greenie. There was a broken carriage, a saw guard, part of the mortiser attachment, and the belt sander table. I'll check it out tonight and see if my miter gauge will fit it.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:34 am

dkerfoot wrote: . . . .

The real intention of my original post was to find out if greenies were ever made with a smaller slot.
.. .
-Doug

I believe the direct answer is NO!(at least not intentionally)

dkerfoot · Post by **dkerfoot** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:09 pm

JPG40504 wrote:I believe the direct answer is NO!(at least not intentionally)

So far though, the only one who has reported testing a Greenie belt sander table had the same problem. If some people were to report they had a greenie belt sander without this problem (and the original table), then I'd accept it was a manufacturing defect in a limited number of tables. Until then, our sampling of two shows 100% compliance to this problem.