Shopsmith Forums

dusty,

I know you like dimensions, but these pictures may help in understanding. I only have the more recent Mark V 510 Tables (bottom picture) so the early ones are pictures I have found. Thus, I cannot provide those dimensions.

The first Mark V 510 Table System that came out in 1985 had the Fence Rail Tubes with mounting holes drilled through the front and rear of the tubes. The mounting holes in the Table were threaded holes. This is the type of Table the OP was trying to upgrade to a 520. In the OP's picture you can barely see the mounting hole position between the scales around 1-1/2" to 2" which is offset from the 520 Rail center mounting hole just past 2-1/2". In the picture below the red arrow indicates the location of the center mounting hole for those original tubes.

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It is the location of the center mounting hole that changed for some reason. When the Fence Rail Tubes changed their mounting from screws to attached threaded studs the center mounting hole was moved to the right. The picture below shows the original center mounting hole indicated by the red arrow and the new center mounting hole indicated by the blue arrow.

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Later the Table changed again no longer having the spot for the original center hole. This Table has the center mounting hole as indicated by the blue arrow in that later, to the right, position of the original spot.

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Other differences in the tables made since their introduction is at some point the Tables changed from Shopsmith Gray to black paint. The area around the Table Insert has ribs (pictures 1 & 2 above) while the later Tables have the smooth surface (picture 3 above) around the Table Insert. The Table in the third picture above is from a 1998 Crafter's Station having the smooth surface around the Table Insert.

chapmanruss wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:41 pm
It is the location of the center mounting hole that changed for some reason. When the Fence Rail Tubes changed their mounting from screws to attached threaded studs the center mounting hole was moved to the right. The picture below shows the original center mounting hole indicated by the red arrow and the new center mounting hole indicated by the blue arrow.

I had a hypothesis that Shopsmith had to move the 'center' mounting hole because there is no clearance for the attaching hardware (nut, washers) for the new 510 tubes. I tested my hypothesis by flipping the table over and, sure enough, there is no room for the nuts and washers at that location. While not conclusive, I believe this to be the reason for the change.

In an earlier post I mentioned the possibility of enlarging this hole and using the later mounting hardware as a means of building in some tolerance if the OP wanted to drill another hole in his rails. I withdraw that, it won't work.

- David

I have no explanation' not even what I would call an intelligent guess. I have four tables (two vintages) and sets of 510 and 520 rails. None have threaded holes to secure the rails. I have not done so but I have good reason to believe all of the rails could be mounted on any (ANY) of the tables without drilling. All of the center screws (bolts) have lock washers and nuts.

I have pictures but can;t get them downloaded to my computer. Microsoft has altered the picture app again and I have not kept current. I'll get that fixed even if I have to call for help from one of the grand kids.

I've been thinking about this "pre-1986" (per SS) upgrade to Model 520, the threaded holes and all that. Specifically, if you had this configuration how would you align the rail to the table top to the rail using the jig. Countersunk screw holes to threaded holes does not lend itself to freeplay for alignment. Since I've never seen one of these tables, I thought the instructions might be enlightening. (https://www.shopsmith.com/_files/ugd/d5 ... 015a6b.pdf)

Per the instructions, you drill out the main table outer threaded holes to 9/32". For the center hole it remains threaded, you use a button head screw and lock washer installed through "the counter bored hole in the front extrusion" then through a spacer and into the threaded center hole on the main table. For the outer holes you use flat head screws, presumably this portion is identical to a later 510/520. Evidently the front/rear center main table rail hole is counter bored for a button head screw while the other holes are countersunk for a flat head. Presumably the hole and counterbore for the center screw are also slightly oversized to allow for alignment.

- David

David,

I had not read those instructions before either. I have only upgraded later (2006) 510 Tables to the 520 Pro Fence System. Leaving the center mounting hole threaded in the Main Table when upgrading does support what you noticed when looking at the bottom of the Main Table.

I still like learning new things about the Shopsmith tools.

It is the lack of vertical adjustment of the rails that created the need for the second version. As David has already stated, tapped holes and counter sunk heads to not allow adjustment.

Add crude de burring of the holes in the rails and you have the early 510 problem. Since the crude de burring was likely done by the same 'entity',(SS/vendor) I presume the countersunk holes are also likely to be sloppily located/machined.

Thanks for all the responses and historical information. I purchased my SS 510 at the Western Washington Fair in September 1986 in my 20's. In addition to the 510 (lastest and most advanced at the time), my purchase included a bandsaw, planer, jigsaw, and dust collector). A friend of mine had a SS and I had coveted my own. For nearly 40 years, I have enjoyed, endorsed and revered the company.

Today, that all stops! If Nick Cupps is reading this, or one of you knows how to get in touch with him, I want to talk. My email is Jeffrey.goddard@comcast.net

Today's SS Customer Service is ineffective and cannot properly communicate with their customer base. I am still waiting for resolution of what should have been a simple and quick order.

There was a great deal of hype about upcoming tariffs and price increases this past May. I called Customer Service, provided my SS serial number and placed an order for the Bandsaw Table Upgrade, Mark V 510 to Mark 7 Pro Fence Upgrade and a Carbide-tipped Specialty Saw Blade Package. There was no hesitation on the company's part to charge my card for the full amount of $1,206.88. After a week, I had not even received an order acknowledgement or invoice. It took a phone call to Custom Service to have an invoice emailed to me. No mention of stock status or back-ordered materials was communicated. I anxiously awaited my purchase. Over the next 12 weeks, I waited. Over that time, I reached out to Customer Service several times without satisfaction. Finally during the last week of July, I received part of the order. The Saw Blade Package was not included and again, no effort was made on the part of SS to communicate the status.

I attempted to install the Mark V 510 to Mark 7 Pro Fence Upgrade and discovered that the middle hole on the front/rear main rails did not align with the middle hole of the table. On the weekend of Aug 1/2, I sent 2 emails to customer service. No response....

Over the past 3 weeks, I have made numerous calls and have talked to both Adriana and Becky - I was never able to get escalated to a supervisor or talk to 'the engineer'. Often, they had left for the day or otherwise 'not available'.

Last week, I was hopeful that a resolution was in sight. An RMA and UPS Return Label was provided. I was assured that the correct upgrade kit would be on its way to me as soon as I had shipped the ENTIRE Pro Fence Upgrade kit back to Ohio. No persuasion on my part was successful to return only the front/rear rails.

As agreed, this past Tuesday I removed all the rails, packaged up the entire kit including the pro fence, dropped off the box at UPS and communicated this to Adriana.

As of today (Friday), Becky, the CSR that I talked to, cannot confirm that the correct kit is on its way. She also asked if i just wanted the correct rails sent to me. Huh?

Stand by for the next update. Thanks all..

Jeff

Can someone else confirm that SS has changed their charge card policy? For as long as I can remember SS does not charge your card until the item has shipped.

jsburger wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 8:35 pm Can someone else confirm that SS has changed their charge card policy? For as long as I can remember SS does not charge your card until the item has shipped.

I made two orders in the last couple of months and both orders were charged to my CC immediately. And the order(s) shipped and arrived within a few days. The last time (before this) was when I ordered my Shopsmith back in 1981--so not sure if there has been a recent change in policy or not...

My last two orders made just this month were charged soon after placing them online. This may have to do with their current way credit card purchases are processed. In my case both orders were shipped out quickly.