Question about upgrading bandsaw table/fence??

barsymes · Post by **barsymes** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:53 am

So I have an old Shopsmith Bandsaw magna with the old version cast iron table and was looking at upgrading it.

Looking throught the SS accessory catalog, to upgrade to the aluminum table is around $116, but if I want a fence too, I'm looking at close to $200.

My question: Does anyone see a problem with slapping one of the Rockler Tables on top of the old cast iron one besides losing an inch of cutting depth. Here is the table I was looking at:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... ign=Google

I guess I'm not sure if the original table is big enough to support or if saw is big enough in general. It does require 10.5" throat which the saw juuuuuust has.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:44 am

I don't see anything wrong with doing that except that I would not give the money to Rockler. I would buy some of the materials (miter tracks, table material, etc) and build my own.

By doing this, you get the experience of building the table along with the satisfaction of a table and fence that is tailored to you specific needs.

Fla_Jim · Post by **Fla_Jim** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:02 am

In my admitted limited use of a fence on my band saw, I can't see paying a large amount of my retirement income for a hi-dollar replacement table and fence.
The miter gage with a wood face has worked very well.
I guess if you did a lot of re sawing it might be cost effective. But I think most of us home workshopers can get along just dandy with the stock setup.

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:26 am

With out looking at my bandsaw, I would think that you could remove the cast iron table and use the same mounting holes to fasten the new table with out losing any saw height

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:49 am

I'm of the mind that for the $40.00 difference. I'd go with the SS upgrade. Because you KNOW it will fit correctly and have SS CS for any help ya might need.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:47 pm

It looks like the Rockler table uses the miter gauge slot to align with and fit on the original table. That might cause a problem.

I would combine Dusty's and efmaron's suggestions.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:01 pm

beeg wrote:I'm of the mind that for the $40.00 difference. I'd go with the SS upgrade. Because you KNOW it will fit correctly and have SS CS for any help ya might need.

I don't know just exactly what you are trying to say, beeg.

If I build my own, I know that it will fit EXACTLY and I can provide all of my own CS.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:21 pm

dusty wrote:I don't know just exactly what you are trying to say, beeg.

I'm trying to say. Why BUY something cheaper, that may or may KNOT fit and or work as it should.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:05 pm

beeg wrote:I'm trying to say. Why buy something cheaper, that may or may KNOT fit and or work as it should.

beeg, If I build my own, I know that it will fit EXACTLY as I wanted/needed it to fit. I personally do not believe that you have to give up any functionality just because you build your own.

BTW, I was just sitting out in the shop looking over the band saw table. It would be quite simple to affix a home made table to the existing trunnions and this could be done without losing depth of cut. Further more, the bandsaw fence could be used (with a bit more Rude Goldberg design effort). I even believe a longer fence, made from 510 rip fence parts, could be easily adapted.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:13 pm

beeg wrote:I'm trying to say. Why buy something cheaper, that may or may KNOT fit and or work as it should.

My key word was BUY.