Tablesaw disillusionment...

ddvann79 · Post by **ddvann79** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:15 pm

Stitch wrote:You must have one with a small table. Maybe you should consider upgrading.

I echo Foxtrapper and Wannabe's sentiments regarding the table saw. Not only is the small size a problem but so is alignment and trying to straddle the fence between the main and extension table. It's just not a pleasant experience with a 500. As for upgrading, you can purchase a decent stand-alone for less than the upgrades cost. Shoot, you can buy a used 510 for less than the upgrades cost. I found one 510 upgrade on eBay the other day for $400 including shipping but who knows if you will get all the parts you need? And I hate having to lower two tables for cross-cutting longer pieces.

Still, I love the rest of the machine and it's capabilities.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:41 pm

ddvann79 wrote:I echo Foxtrapper and Wannabe's sentiments regarding the table saw. Not only is the small size a problem but so is alignment and trying to straddle the fence between the main and extension table. It's just not a pleasant experience with a 500. As for upgrading, you can purchase a decent stand-alone for less than the upgrades cost. Shoot, you can buy a used 510 for less than the upgrades cost. I found one 510 upgrade on eBay the other day for $400 including shipping but who knows if you will get all the parts you need? And I hate having to lower two tables for cross-cutting longer pieces.

Still, I love the rest of the machine and it's capabilities.

An upgrade will add 'moving connecting tubes' to that task!;)

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:09 pm

Stitch wrote:You must have one with a small table. Maybe you should consider upgrading.

No need to upgrade to an inferior saw. I have a perfectly fine Delta stand alone saw that gets the job done without any muss or fuss. I love my Shopsmiths but the tablesaw will be used almost never as it is just too much trouble than it is worth. By the time I get it all setup and ready to cut I could of done 10 cuts or more on the Delta. I guess with the 520 table system it might be a nice tablesaw setup but you still have to screw around when changing blade height I assume. Do all of the tables move at one time with a 520 system or do you have to make all kinds of crazy adjsutments to everything just to make a saw blade depth of cut adjustment??? Every other function on the machine really is quite simple to change over to and get right to work but the saw man what a nightmare.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:18 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote:No need to upgrade to an inferior saw. I have a perfectly fine Delta stand alone saw that gets the job done without any muss or fuss. I love my Shopsmiths but the tablesaw will be used almost never as it is just too much trouble than it is worth. By the time I get it all setup and ready to cut I could of done 10 cuts or more on the Delta. I guess with the 520 table system it might be a nice tablesaw setup but you still have to screw around when changing blade height I assume. Do all of the tables move at one time with a 520 system or do you have to make all kinds of crazy adjsutments to everything just to make a saw blade depth of cut adjustment??? Every other function on the machine really is quite simple to change over to and get right to work but the saw man what a nightmare.

To deal with your issue, I use floating extension tables on both sides of the main table. Doing this allows the extended main table to all be adjusted simultaneously.

However, this can introduce a problem not previously discussed.

Too much weight on the floating extension tables can overcome the table tilt lock. If this happens while performing a cut, it could degrade into a safety issue.

When I setup this way, I use the adjustable table legs (attached to the extension tubes). This stabilizes the main table and eliminates the propensity for the main table to tilt.

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:53 am

dusty wrote:To deal with your issue, I use floating extension tables on both sides of the main table. Doing this allows the extended main table to all be adjusted simultaneously.

I am in the process of converting over to my Shopsmith as a full time table saw. The motor on my craftsman is acting up. I will be sending in out for repairs but in the mean time I'm really curious to play with the SS saw. Some things I noticed right off the bat.

The power of my 20 year old SS motor is awesome. It probably hasn't seen an hour of use in those 20 years (I bought it second hand 10 years ago from a guy who never used it, then I never used it for 10 years

I think my craftsman motor has been on the decline for years and I just didn't notice.

The dust collection of the SS is so much better than the old craftsman, which was not designed for DC. I just had an open tray with hose attached below the blade. Sure it caught some but it missed more than it caught. The SS really catches a lot more dust. I hate dust.

I want a second fixed extension table. It will make my saw table area larger without going to the telescoping legs and floating tables as much. I bought one off ebay, should be arriving today!

I miss being able to raise and lower my blade on a whim. Once I've locked in a setup, it takes a bit of time to change blade height. There was a guy over in the Shopsmith Yahoo group (does anybody use that forum anymore?) who once said "If setups on the Shopsmith are too time consuming for you, perhaps you need another hobby?" That made me think. Now I don't really worry about setups anymore, I just relax and enjoy my time in the shop.

I do wish people would post photos of their favorite and most creative table saw setups. A picture is worth a thousand words. I'd really enjoy seeing the setup you describe above Dusty!

Best,
Tom

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:04 am

tomsalwasser wrote:I am in the process of converting over to my Shopsmith as a full time table saw.

oops, I meant to say that I will be using the Shopsmith as my only table saw for a while.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 9:02 am

Table saw??? There is a table saw function on these things???

OK, I have at times used my 510 as a table saw over the years but rarely now. I really love my Ridgid TS3650 for table saw work and have enough other smaller table saws that I can (empty off

) and use for an odd cut if I have a setup on the TS3650 I don't want to disturb. I do though sometimes choose the 510 when I have some set-up that I want to make that requires setting up a little differently just because of how flexible it is for special set-ups. I also "can" but haven't yet use any of the other SS's in the shop as a table saw if I ever want to make a whole series of different setups for some kind of production run. The Delco compound miter saw has taken over as the saw of choice for an awfully lot of simple cuts. I still plan to move my RAS to the new shop too. Right now the shop just isn't ready for it until I move more irrelevant stuff out. That and it would take a half a day to clear its table to move it.

Now if circumstances dictated that I return to doing all table saw work on the 510 I used it long enough that while it would be different, it would not be awful, just different. I think it is generally a "good" tablesaw.

.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 9:24 am

tomsalwasser wrote:.....

I do wish people would post photos of their favorite and most creative table saw setups. A picture is worth a thousand words. I'd really enjoy seeing the setup you describe above Dusty!

Best,
Tom

Ask and you shall receive. I have attached photos for the 520. The same setup can be done on a 510. I don't know how or if this can be done using a 500.

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Some folks complain about the Shopsmith table being too small. I certainly do not have that complaint about the 510/520 tables.

Tom, Please consider filling out your profile so that members can determine a bit more about you and your shop - like what major equipment do you have. Example 500, 505, 510 or 520.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:18 am

I'll admit neither of my Shopsmiths (a 500 and an ER) are my primary table saw. I have an older, larger Craftsman that is my primary table saw. But I do use the Shopsmiths as secondary (and tertiary) table saws. And they are fantastic in that role.

But I also think that if you're having trouble making a cut with the SS in table saw mode, then you might be using the wrong tool. I don't think you should be wrestling full sheets of plywood on a table saw. Use a handheld circular "Skil Saw" to cut plywood sheets down to more manageable pieces. To crosscut long boards, a miter saw, RAS or even a hand saw might be best. For ripping long boards, you'll need some outfeed and maybe infeed support. I think that applies to all table saws, not just the Shopsmith.

You really just have to understand the limitations of your machines and what they excel at and where they may be lacking, figure out a way to compensate for that, and then just relax. This is supposed to be fun.

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:03 am

dusty wrote:Ask and you shall receive.

Thanks Dusty...nice extension table too! Did you make that from some available plans?