Redesigned Miter Bar

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:03 pm

If someone was to develop a new miter bar that could be used to replace miter bars that DO NOT NOW fit in the Shopsmith Miter Track, would you be likely to buy one (assuming it is reasonably priced)?

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Actually I have three different sliding tables included the Incra 5000. That is a tough combo to beat. Interestingly enough I have the Incra 1000SE for my free standing router table and love it as well. I think Incra does a great job with Miter guages and will continue using them. For smple 90 degree cuts I like the Shopsmith sliding table along with the Jig Nick taught us to build on the sawdust sessions. fjimp

gregf · Post by **gregf** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:27 pm

If Incra offered their 1000HD or SE with a bar that fit SS I would buy one in a heartbeat.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:34 pm

I answered No for two reasons: 1) I don't have any "foreign" miter bars; 2) If I ever did need one I'd probably make one from wood.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:23 am

dusty wrote:If someone was to develop a new miter bar that could be used to replace miter bars that DO NOT NOW fit in the Shopsmith Miter Track, would you be likely to buy one (assuming it is reasonably priced)?

I guess I do not fully understand the need for this. ShopSmith already makes replacement miter bars: 516525 to fit the 500 table and 516619 to fit the 505/510/520 table. Am I misunderstanding the question???

mtobey · Post by **mtobey** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:49 am

I said "no" because I have 3 Incra SS compatible bars(two are installed on my Miter Express). It is SS politically incorrect, but I consider SS's stubborn adherence to their proprietary miter size to be just plain stupid. As for "everything fits since 1948", I say everything could have still fit by replacing that one relatively inexpensive part which is screwed onto the actual jigs. If new holes in the bar had been required, well, most of us know how to drill and tap.
Like others, I have made my own "soft" bars-phenolic and UHMW. Monday, I think I had better call Taylor and buy 4 more SS bars.

I have never felt constrained by the tilting table aspect- nor by the raising or lowering table- I have been mightily p_____ off by the miter bar. I contend that anyone who is planning on another human generation of Shopsmith use should buy them(Incra)- and Shopsmith should be selling them- I can't help it- it is just plain ignorant.There is no sensible reason for SS to not sell those bars as an accessory- I think they would be stunned by the flurry of cashflow.

When I get this adamant about something sacred on a forum, I will often apologize- well, not on this one.mt

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:09 am

mtobey wrote:I said "no" because I have 3 Incra SS compatible bars(two are installed on my Miter Express). It is SS politically incorrect, but I consider SS's stubborn adherence to their proprietary miter size to be just plain stupid. As for "everything fits since 1948", I say everything could have still fit by replacing that one relatively inexpensive part which is screwed onto the actual jigs. If new holes in the bar had been required, well, most of us know how to drill and tap.
Like others, I have made my own "soft" bars-phenolic and UHMW. Monday, I think I had better call Taylor and buy 4 more SS bars.

I have never felt constrained by the tilting table aspect- nor by the raising or lowering table- I have been mightily p_____ off by the miter bar. I contend that anyone who is planning on another human generation of Shopsmith use should buy them(Incra)- and Shopsmith should be selling them- I can't help it- it is just plain ignorant.There is no sensible reason for SS to not sell those bars as an accessory- I think they would be stunned by the flurry of cashflow.

When I get this adamant about something sacred on a forum, I will often apologize- well, not on this one.mt

Do not apologize. There are many of us who share in this frustration.

You said "NO" but then you said that you were considering buying four more after already owning 3 Incra Bars that are milled to fit the Shopsmith table.

I would interpret that as a qualified "no" only because you have already satisfied your needs for custom miter bars via Incra.

You are fortunate because your passion for Incra is compatible to your Shopsmith. Whereas, someone with a passion for say Kreg is not so fortunate.

I am contemplating having some stock custom milled to fit the miter tracks in my several Shopsmith tables so that I am no longer restricted by the miter bar characteristics. I share your frustration with the "Shopsmith Standard". I would not even give this a second thought if I could go to Shopsmith to buy whatever bar configuration I needed.

They do sell miter bars and I have three other than those on my miter gauges but the configurations are all tailored to the Shopsmith tables and not my jig configurations. I want bar that I can afford to cut to length.

mtobey · Post by **mtobey** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:13 pm

The Incras work so well, it is just a shame that Shopsmith doesn't see how beneficial that accessory could be. They could "in house" drill and tap for the jigs -Incra's takeup sysrem works perfectly. I said I will buy 4 more Incras because I am not sure how long they will be making them(yes, some pessimism there) and once the first run is gone, there may not be another. A poll on how many have laid out the substantial dollars for Incra products from Shopsmith would be useful. As I said, my Incra quest started just before (within a week) Shopsmith announced the line for the SS. And, sorry again, but SS did not have Incra shippable inventory when they did announce.(EDIT- I was on the phone to Shopsmith as if a 911 call)Mike T.

stevespix · Post by **stevespix** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:22 pm

This is a frustrating subject for those of us who have shopsmiths. You would like to remain loyal or pure so to speak to shopsmith, but when after market products appear that are a better ideas or cheaper why the big deal. Reality is this the problem could be solved with a few phone calls between the companies for a deal that both would benefit. Yet throw in corporate bean counters and lawyers and a simple thing turns into a clusterf**k. Each company thinks they don't need the other, or can do without a few sales they might miss. Since I have purchased my SS I have wanted and Incra miter to use and have thought about buying one and having a machine shop mill down the difference. I have called Incra and talked to them but get very little feedback from the company, so it's hard to say if they are even interested in this kind of deal. I for one would welcome some kind of a deal to retro fit these products we would all like to have a chance to innovate our SS and to become better woodworkers.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:06 pm

gregf wrote:If Incra offered their 1000HD or SE with a bar that fit SS I would buy one in a heartbeat.

Just for grins I moved the Incra 1000SE from my router table onto my 520 table. I discovered that even if the miter bar were milled you could not use this unit on the 520 as there is not a sufficent clearance for the blade to turn without hitting no matter if you use the left or right slot. Now we know why Incra has no interest in milling a bar to fit the shopsmith. I can hear the screams now from the first guy who installs one and the blade hits it. After all it would be Incra's fault, right? fjimp

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