Shopsmith Forums

Nugnos wrote:Last question, any tips/things I should do to the planer before powering it up? I should specify it is the 12" with the separate feed motor.

Since no one else appears to have answered this part of your question, I'll take a stab. If you have the Owner's Manual for the planer, a thorough review of that would be my first suggestion. If you didn't receive a copy with the planer, you can still get one from Shopsmith. Also, be sure you have (or purchase) the knife setting gauge.

There are also some online Sawdust Sessions about the planer that might be good to watch, such as:
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... edures.htm
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... Tuneup.htm
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... Knives.htm

And, some Woodshop Tips:
http://www.shopsmith.com/woodshoptips/d ... tegory.htm
http://www.shopsmith.com/woodshoptips/t ... /index.htm

And BTW, welcome to the forum, and it sounds like you have a very complete set-up to just be starting! Enjoy your new toys!

Thank you guys for the replies! My table is much more sturdy now. I did not realize the casting on the pivoting side was hollow underneath. The links for assembly were very helpful. The sawdust sessions were slightly painful to watch. I flipped the machine vertical, snugged the setscrews behind the pivot. Flipped it back horizontal, still had a little play, back vertical, snugged again, put it back down and now its nice and tight!

The bandsaw has a little wobble if you grab it by the very top, but that's also a couple feet of leverage on your connection points.

New day, new problems. Before using the bandsaw, I noticed the blade on it was pretty rusty. Popped open the case and looked around. Blade was tensioned everything turned by hand, nothing was really loose or made any bad noises. I closed it up and turned it on. The bandsaw was louder than I expected. Not in like a "I need to get hearing protection" but just noisy. After running it for a min it started making a rhythmic "clicking" noise. I turned it off and pulled the cover to investigate. I couldn't find the noise moving the the wheels by hand. I got curious and started fiddling with things. I removed the blade and knocked the rust off wet sanding with wd40 and 800 grit sandpaper staying away from the teeth. The blade cleaned up pretty nice. Putting the blade back in I noticed some of the blade guides wheel bearing things were kinda sticky/rough. I had a can of white lithium grease laying around sprayed and spun them by hand and they freed up nicely I grabbed the blade and was using it to roll the guide and found my clicking noise! The guide near the blade tension adjustment had a small flat spot in it where the blade had rubbed. I presume it had got stuck, and wore a flat on that guide.

After dinking around sanding the blade, spinning things, adjusting loose things. and applying lithium grease I hooked the bandsaw back up. It was about as loud as it had been, then after about 10-15 seconds it got a little bit quieter. From turning it by hand, the only real noise I notice is from the blade guides themselves. (I did not mess with these, though I did check that they weren't completely out of whack, putting the blade in a bind etc.) I put the miter gauge up there for a fence and ripped a 2x4 with it. (It has a resawing blade on it) It cut very nicely. Oddly enough, with everything greased the clicking has completely subsided. I did not replace that roller bearing thing-a-ma-jig, but it is on my list of things to get.

Anyways thought I would share my small success with you guys. The bandsaw is working!

ALSO: Dust collection on the bandsaw... just cut a hole in the shroud and make a port for vac/proper dust collection?

Nugnos wrote:ALSO: Dust collection on the bandsaw... just cut a hole in the shroud and make a port for vac/proper dust collection?

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... tchute.htm

FWIW, it is 'typically' noisy!

Before doing too much 'cutting' I suggest aligning all the blade guides etc..

To the point, the backup bearing(front above the table) should barely clear the back of the blade when NOT under cutting load.

I suggest moving the blade guides(both above and below the table) fully away from the blade so they do not introduce noise themselves.

Run it(no load) and determine if it quiets down some. The base and plastic housing do a good job of projecting noise as it runs.

Finally adjust the blade guides to have minimal clearance to the blade(a dollar bill makes a decent shim gauge).

Under NO circumstances move the blade guide bearings(one at the rear near the top and the other below the table). The lower one is rigidly fixed and the upper one is adjustable front to rear(towards/away from the wheel only).

Realize this bandsaw is very different from essentially all others out there.

The blade back edge should ride about 1/4" away from the back edge of both wheels(not the middle of the tire). The wheels are NOT coplaner nor are they crowned(they have a very slight bevel)!!!!!!!!! The top wheel tilts back.

You are doing well considering your progress report!