Shopsmith Forums

With the 'new' (straight) gauge, the blade will NOT clear the gauge except prior to rotating to the mark. At the mark they interfere. Perhaps it is easier to adjust until the blade just kisses the gauge at the mark.

I say perhaps since I have the original(curved) gauge that is used similarly except there is not a single poinr at which the blade 'kisses' the blade, but the blade does so over the entire length of the arc. Initially the gauge had burrs created when the arc was 'sheared' into the gauge. After a few passes with a 'kissing' blade, the high points became history.

I surmise the reason for the change had to do with getting the arc accurately machined into the gauge(yes shearing is machining). Also I think the rough surfaced arc was a detriment.

The 'missing' index mark is likely a $ issue. Requires either an extra step or a different die.

dusty wrote:
As for the knives hitting the gauge - my first guess is that the knives are set too high. The cutting edge of the knives should just "kiss" the gauge when set properly.

The knives are touching the gauge when they are completely bottomed out which is why I am confused.

gsouther78 wrote:

dusty wrote:
As for the knives hitting the gauge - my first guess is that the knives are set too high. The cutting edge of the knives should just "kiss" the gauge when set properly.

The knives are touching the gauge when they are completely bottomed out which is why I am confused.

Is the cutter head completely cleaned and are you sure the leveling screws are fully retracted? Also, are the blades OEM SS blades of the proper width?

The SS planer knife setting jig works fine and has for as long as the planer has been around. If you are having problems something else is wrong. It is not the gauge.

gsouther78 wrote:

dusty wrote:
As for the knives hitting the gauge - my first guess is that the knives are set too high. The cutting edge of the knives should just "kiss" the gauge when set properly.

The knives are touching the gauge when they are completely bottomed out which is why I am confused.

Have you 'bottomed out' the height adjusting screws? Are the blades resting om the blade height adjusting screws?

All sawdust cleaned out of the slots where the knives go and the height adjusting screws are bottomed out. They are OEM shopsmith knives. I will post some pictures later.

Boy do I feel like a dope. Went back through the steps and found I mismeasured the zero line! That's what I get for trying to tackle something like this before my coffee has kicked in.

Strictly for 'complete understanding'(for future reference), how did you 'mis-measure'?

The instructions say to scribe a zero line onto the gauge 7/16" from the bottom corner of the angled section where the knife touches. I just measured poorly when I scribed the line so the knife appeared to be touching the gauge too high up making it seem like it needed to be lowered.

gsouther78 wrote:The instructions say to scribe a zero line onto the gauge 7/16" from the bottom corner of the angled section where the knife touches. I just measured poorly when I scribed the line so the knife appeared to be touching the gauge too high up making it seem like it needed to be lowered.

Your erroneous mark was too close to the bottom corner?

Your erroneous mark was too close to the bottom corner?

That is correct