Shopsmith Forums

I just finished the TA classes here in Portland. Rick Davis says the new blades are coming out of Germany. He even showed us the new combo blade and it said made in Germany. The name of the company escapes me.

shydragon wrote:I just finished the TA classes here in Portland. Rick Davis says the new blades are coming out of Germany. He even showed us the new combo blade and it said made in Germany. The name of the company escapes me.

Was it "Amana"?

dusty wrote:Was it "Amana"?

There is a reference to German specs. in the last section of this corporate review. http://www.amanatool.com/corporateinfo.html
2+2= ?

"I thought the manufacturer of Shopsmith blades changed to Amana. They used to be Freud."

Dusty is correct. We use Amana. Their headquarters is in Farmingdale, NY, but some of their saw blades are made in Germany, particularly their AGE line of industrial blades. AGE stands for "American-German Engineering." I believe the blades that Amana makes for us are made here in the United States by the same group that makes Timberline blades.

The 1-1/4" arbors offer more stabilty than those of smaller diameter. Less blade wobble, less tendency the go harmonic on you, quicker recovery from a harmonic vibration. In short, they make a more accurate cut. How much more accurate? I don't know if we still have the test results for back in the 70s, but I'll check. In the meantime, if you use our 5/8" arbor and accuracy is important to you, you may want to invest in a set of blade stabilizers.

With all good wishes,

The 1-1/4" arbors offer more stability than those of smaller diameter. Less blade wobble, less tendency the go harmonic on you, quicker recovery from a harmonic vibration. In short, they make a more accurate cut. How much more accurate? I don't know if we still have the test results for back in the 70s, but I'll check. In the meantime, if you use our 5/8" arbor and accuracy is important to you, you may want to invest in a set of blade stabilizers.


Okay....I'll raise my hand. But first, are you comparing your 5/8 SS arbors to the 1 1/4's?

I find with the heavier 555608 5/8 really gets some angular momentum going so seem less apt to wobble, go harmonic, a/o recover. I'm very happy that I bought them. My three 1 1/4's now just collect dust.

The diameter of the outside nut is the same on both. Heft is greater on the 555608. At best, I'd think it would be a tie for stabilization.

I appreciate that with the 5/8 arbors I can shop around from blades from Hitachi to Forrest.....No propitiatory size to contend with.

BTW..I currently am running a thin kerf carbide Hitachi and am quite pleased. I do notice easier cutting with a thin kerf ( I have several) and have yet to notice a drop in quality/accuracy of cuts compared to standard 1/8.

So....Nick, what am I missing here? I can go either way having both sets of arbors and blades.

Doc

That is what I'm going to do, (go both ways). I have a couple of brand new 10" carbide blades with the 5/8" arbor. So, I ordered an arbor to fit them.

I just received the new "10 inch thin curf crosscut blade 1-1/4" arbor", today. It does say made in Germany.

I am new to shopsmith but not woodworking.
The best blade I have ever used in the Ridge Carbide TS2000.
I am using one currently on my SS with a 5/8" arbor. Got my orginal Ridge blade from Woodpeckers and it cuts better than my Freud or my sons Woodwooker II.
They run about $100 new and have enough carbide to sharpen about 20 times
ridgecarbidetool.com/specials/10-ts2000.html
Here is their link.

By the way, you can order the Ridge with an 11/4" arbor for $19 extra.