Shopsmith Forums

As the Shopsmith Power Coupler ages, it does break more easlier. It pays to align the headstock hub and the SPT hub before using the coupler. I like to keep a few extra couplers (#503574) on hand. The coupler is one of the reasons why I like to use the Gilmer drive and 3/4 HP headstock as a Power Station (MINI). I find the Power Coupler has broken when the SPT jams/stops. I have broken a few couplers when bandsawing aluminum and metal pieces but no Gilmer belts yet.

[quote="charleseThinking this better get cleaned up quickly, I got to work with the 3300. When vacuuming up the accessory bench, I sucked up the SPT coupler. Thinking fast, I pulled on the hose to make a sharp bend that would prevent the coupler from getting into the fan. It worked!!! That is until I moved over to disconnect the hose from the 3300. The sharp bend grew slack and BANG, no more coupler. As this had happened to me once before (about 8 years ago) I hoped this coupler came through the experience as good as the last one. (retrieved the first one from the bag with no more than a little nick on the SPT side) No such luck! This coupler is in shattered pieces. It's a good thing I ordered a second coupler, shortly after the first wreck. Now is time for another! Still can't figure out why a little piece of wood 3/4 by 3/4 by 1/2 will break a fan blade, but a 6" coupler won't.

One more thing I wanted to say in this blog. I think 8iowa maybe said it best, when he noted this forum is more than just a forum - it is a community!

Sometimes, it even becomes like a huge family at a Thanksgiving Dinner! Complete, with all of the conversations that can/do happen there! Personally, I love it!! [/QUOTE"]

gsimbu wrote:Charlese,

I am only now getting started with my Shopsmith, but I know myself well enough to read all these cautionary tales and try to learn from them. That's why I recently picked up the remote switch for my DC3300. I know that sooner or later, well let's forget the later part, I will find myself sucking up something that doesn''t belong in there. I hope I have the presence of mind to kink the hose like you did, then I can shut it down with the remote.

Hi Gary! Talk about a brain freeze!-- To illustrate - after kinking the hose and on the way to disconnect it - I passed right by both the on/off switch on the 3300 and the remote laying on the floor. Presence of mind? Well, almost!:o This gets more discombobulated as I realize all the possibilities missed!

P.S. You must have made Tim the gutterman happy as he has been looking for someone near Seattle!

charlese wrote:...............P.S. You must have made Tim the gutterman happy as he has been looking for someone near Seattle!

Hi Chuck,
Thanks for noticing that gsimbu Gary is from Lynnwood. I blew right by that without noticing:o .

I've FINALLY finished work on two nightstands made of cherry and walnut. Two years on and off to get them done. These are personal, so they had to play second fiddle to the client work that I had to get done. One of the disadvantages to trying to get a fledgling woodworking business off of the ground is that I don't have time to make things for myself anymore. I had a brief hiatus because I got sick of being in the shop all of the time, caught my breath, and am now getting back at it. I'll post pix when I get the finish applied. That'll be about a two-week process. I've also got three hickory and one white oak log to get milled into lumber. The oak is going to be a hoot to mill up as it measures 33" at the widest point in its diameter and is about ten feet long!!

Hi Eric! Glad you made it back to your nifty shop! Am looking forward to the Photos of your tables.

Have you been able to use any of your yard trees from the ice storm last year? Maybe the boards need a little more drying time?

I used one of the hickory boards as a tester, both for moisture content and stability. Didn't use a moisture meter, just milled it up into useable stock, let it set for two weeks and had minimal twist along the length of the board, no checking at all. I was kind of surprised, but in a nice way. I cut a portion off of one end and made a plaque out of it and, so far (and it's been about five months now) no problems with it. Of course, this slab was only about 1 1/2" thick in the rough, so it would dry faster. I've got a couple of slabbed logs that I milled 3" and 4" thick (for table legs and turnings). I'm planning on buying a moisture meter to measure their content.