510 upgrade - 520, or JoinTech or other?

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:29 am

With a little fancy footwork I ended up selling my 1979 Mark V Model 500 and got a newer 510 unit. The main driver was that I was able to sell my Mark V for $150 more than I paid for it and the upgrade kit for a 500->510/520 cost more than what I ended up paying for the 510 + some SPTs...plus I got to keep the best from each of the Mark V's =)

Now I am considering whether to upgrade to a newer fence system. The 510 fence is ok, but I like the more solid look of the 520 fence. However, at $425 for the upgrade it seems pretty steep, especially since most of that cost is the fence.

As an alternative, I noticed the Saw Train for ShopSmiths: http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith.htm
I also saw the Incra® TSIII Ultra Fence System:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... system.htm

Both seem to be leaps and bounds above the standard fence setup. Going with those from a 510 I am assuming I would need to buy front and rear rails somehow, right?

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:05 pm

The Jointech system though originally could upgrade a 500, 510 or 520 is now only available for the 520. You would need 520 fence rails at a minimum for the Jointech.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:57 pm

The difference between the 510 and 520 fence and rails are like day and night. I have a 510 which I upgraded to a 520 and a 520 I purchased new. Yes both machines are now sporting the 520 fence. I truly believe it to be the best solution and far more accurate. Incidentally I have the Incra 5000. Its great but I only use it for angles or extremely accurate work. Admittedly the 520 handles most of my needs very well. Okay I did not like the 510 fence or rails at all. Both 510 fe3nce and rails seem light weight and a PITA to work with in comparison. Jim

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:53 pm

SDSSmith wrote:The Jointech system though originally could upgrade a 500, 510 or 520 is now only available for the 520. You would need 520 fence rails at a minimum for the Jointech.

When did this start? About 6 months ago, I e-mailed Jointech because I couldn't get the 510 system to come up on the internet. They then fixed their program so I could price out the sawtrain stuff for a 510.

Have they changed in the last 6 months?

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:05 pm

As a group of Shopsmith users we are quite diverse!

Just wanted to say my 510 is accurate enough to produce anything I need. Just bought a new 510 fence to replace the original one which had been dropped on concrete many times and has a broken fence base.

Interesting - the old fence is still square to the blade, but the new one is prettier.

I haven't yet found a need to switch to a 520. Maybe some day, I'll want to switch, but I'll very unlikely need to change.

shipwright · Post by **shipwright** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:51 pm

I'm with Chuck. I have a Delta unisaw at home with a unifence system. It's great and lightning fast and accutate. Here in AZ I have a 510. I can be every bit as accurate with it as with my fancy rig back home . It just takes a bit longer with a couple of extra checks before cutting. Once locked down solidly a fence is a fence. The accuracy is in the "software" not the "hardware".

Paul M

jimthej · Post by **jimthej** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:35 am

shipwright wrote: The accuracy is in the "software" not the "hardware".

Paul M

That's "wetware" not "software" The human body is about 2/3 water.

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:54 am

charlese wrote:When did this start? About 6 months ago, I e-mailed Jointech because I couldn't get the 510 system to come up on the internet. They then fixed their program so I could price out the sawtrain stuff for a 510.

Have they changed in the last 6 months?

It was more than 6 months ago. That was according to one of the folks (Ernest) I spoke with at Jointech. That is that they only had the 520 version. On my computer, the website shows only the 520 version (even when you choose the 500/510 version). YMMV

mikelst · Post by **mikelst** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:04 am

I went to the Jointech sight and clicked the online catalog.
next i pulled up a drop down menu under SAW SYSTEMS.
There is a selection for Shopsmith 500 510
When I select it the 510 page flashes then switches to the 520 page.
check this link.

http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith500&510.htm

I'm not sure if that means anything or not, but it looks like the 500 and 510 may still be available with a web issue.

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:26 am

mikelst wrote:I went to the Jointech sight and clicked the online catalog.
next i pulled up a drop down menu under SAW SYSTEMS.
There is a selection for Shopsmith 500 510
When I select it the 510 page flashes then switches to the 520 page.
check this link.

http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith500&510.htm

I'm not sure if that means anything or not, but it looks like the 500 and 510 may still be available with a web issue.

Well, it just seems to be a mystery.]