Shopsmith Forums

The ruler itself is not magnetic. There is a magnetic strip fixxed to the rail hat the ruler is placed on. Set the fence to 3 inches and calibrate. Easy as pie with a 1-2-3 block!

holes and kep nuts. Early 510 rails are externally distinguished by the access holes on the face which provide access to the mounting screws.

So the post 1986 510 tables do not have the access holes on the outside of the rail? I'm looking at upgrading one of my 510s, to a 520 and am just curious.

Both of my 510 table systems were upgrades to older machines, so I have really no clue of the overall age of the tables.

I am not certain of when the change was made but the top surface of your Main Table provides some clue. The grooves in the main table tops were changed. In some the area between the miter tracks were smooth. In others (earlier vintage) that area was also grooved.
I am sure someone will be able to provide a time frame. I have tables of both vintages but I do not know the cutin dates.

richardrouse wrote:

holes and kep nuts. Early 510 rails are externally distinguished by the access holes on the face which provide access to the mounting screws.

So the post 1986 510 tables do not have the access holes on the outside of the rail? I'm looking at upgrading one of my 510s, to a 520 and am just curious.

Both of my 510 table systems were upgrades to older machines, so I have really no clue of the overall age of the tables.

Correct.

I have said it before and I say it again. I sure do WISH that there was some sort of documentation that details when changes were made to the Mark series.

This thread and this latest post show why. What constitutes an older machine?

I am looking at a picture in the 1997 catalog that shows a Mark V Model 510 with rails that that are mounted using the through holes. Now a picture in the catalog does not necessarily say when but ....I assume that the through holes still existed in new units in 1997.

In the same manner, I assume that they still existed in 1999 which is the first catalog that I have that makes any mention of Shopsmith Mark V Model 520. Did the ProFence first come into existence in the 1998-1999 time frame? Aaah! I answered my own question, I think. The back cover of the 1999 catalog is an advertisement for the NEW ProFence.
So again I ask. What happened in 1986 that differentiates Mark V tables? We also do not know when the smooth Main Table top was introduced.

Always something new to learn: These TIF files come across as downloads.

dusty wrote: . . .
So again I ask. What happened in 1986 that differentiates Mark V tables? We also do not know when the smooth Main Table top was introduced.

Always something new to learn: These TIF files come across as downloads.

The rail tubes were made thinner.

The rail mounts became studs, the tables came with clearance holes and were secured with kep nuts.

The center mount for the main table rail was relocated.

The jack screws were revised.


I cannot do anything re viewing the tif files. ??? [nev mined - figgered it out (stumbled upon it)]

Please remember why this question is being asked. The web page referenced in the initial post differentiates between pre '86 and post '86 when ordering the rails to facilitate a 520 upgrade.

Please forgive me but I do not see the relationship. What change was made in 1986??

The 510 table system was first introduced in 1985.

The "old" rails were still there in '97.

Thinner rail walls and jack screws do not effect the 520 rails.

The old 520 rails and the newer 520 rails are drilled identically so I do not see how the center mount plans into thisd. In fact, I did not know that the center mount had ever changed.

I have said it before and I say it again. I sure do WISH that there was some sort of documentation that details when changes were made to the Mark series. The information that has been detailed is all relative to "major system changes". It is the little things like when did the 510 rail mounts change; when did the grooves on the main table center section go away. The little things. Yeah, before someone else says it - why sweat the small stuff.

You know what they say, no pictures - never happened.

OK The 'narrow' answer.

The location of the center main table mount.

Since the early 510 mount location does not allow the use of a kep nut, that alters the hardware.

Since the early 510 mounting holes were tapped, the kit requires a drill bit(?).

Finally(a ?) does the 520 reuse the kep nuts?(I assume so, so that would also alter the hardware list )

new/old 520 rails?????


Bottom line, the tables are different. Different center hole location. Clearance vs tapped rail mounting holes.

JPG wrote:OK The 'narrow' answer.

The location of the center main table mount.

Since the early 510 mount location does not allow the use of a kep nut, that alters the hardware.

Since the early 510 mounting holes were tapped, the kit requires a drill bit(?).

Finally(a ?) does the 520 reuse the kep nuts?(I assume so, so that would also alter the hardware list )

new/old 520 rails?????


Bottom line, the tables are different. Different center hole location. Clearance vs tapped rail mounting holes.

And this is what defines pre-'86 and post '86???

I should not have used the word "old". The original 520 front rails did not support the magnetic ruler application. The front rails were later redesigned to facilitate that self adhesive magnetic strip and the steel ruler. But this did not happen in '85-'86. The rear rails are all the same.

With regard to kep nuts, my 520 upgrade did not come with kep nuts. It was supplied with nuts and lock washers. That little detail did change but really makes no difference at all (except in the parts list).

dusty wrote:

JPG wrote:OK The 'narrow' answer.

The location of the center main table mount.

Since the early 510 mount location does not allow the use of a kep nut, that alters the hardware.

Since the early 510 mounting holes were tapped, the kit requires a drill bit(?).

Finally(a ?) does the 520 reuse the kep nuts?(I assume so, so that would also alter the hardware list )

new/old 520 rails?????


Bottom line, the tables are different. Different center hole location. Clearance vs tapped rail mounting holes.

And this is what defines pre-'86 and post '86???

I should not have used the word "old". The original 520 front rails did not support the magnetic ruler application. The front rails were later redesigned to facilitate that self adhesive magnetic strip and the steel ruler. But this did not happen in '85-'86. The rear rails are all the same.

With regard to kep nuts, my 520 upgrade did not come with kep nuts. It was supplied with nuts and lock washers. That little detail did change but really makes no difference at all (except in the parts list).

First you say the old style tubes were still in use in 1997 based on the catalog (I believe). I submit that SS just never or missed updating the picture in the catalog.

Now lets add some more intrigue to this. My 1984 510 new from SS had the new style rails with the studs (through holes in the right place). The 520 rails just bolted up. They were pre magnetic rule. I bought the magnetic rule upgrade and they bolted right up.

Now it gets interesting. That 1984 table has two 1/4-20 threaded holes in the front and back edge of the table. The old 510 rails??? If that is so then there is a bigger difference than just the center hole. This table also has a mounting boss cast on the table edge off set from the 520 rail center bolt both front and back. Consistent with what JPG has been saying. That boss does not have a hole in it. Also the two tapped holes do not have a boss. See the pictures.

I also have two main tables bought on eBay (vintage unknown) that have the smooth top between the miter slots that have neither the second center boss or the tapped holes.