Shopsmith Forums

It must be one of those obstacle allusions, as it is so smooooth!

I mounted the rails ever so carefully, expecting to end up tweaking this and that, but when I slid them up tight with on another I could slide the rip fence back & forth like it was one long table.

I'm happy, real happy!

Now I need to mess with the band saw, having a time with the upper bearing alignment, but that will be in a whole new thread if I don't get it.

Back to work tomorrow, so until next weekend it will have to wait.

Looking at some of Steve photos and seeing how well his front and rear rails mate with those on adjacent tables, I decided to take a closer look at mine.

The tables on my 520 fit well together but if I insert a table from the Crafters Station, they don't fit so well. I think I see what is causing the misfit but before I start trying to make all of the tables interchangeable, I have two questions.

1. How long are the rails for the floating/extension tables?

2. Have the edges of the tables all been machined to get rid of rough edges left by the casting process?

I have some rough edges that prevent the tables from coming tight together.

colday wrote:And now the rest...
I'm extremely pleased at how well this went together & how easy it is compared to the 510 to get aligned. This was well worth the price (I did get it for the sale price).

Wholly moley! I'll hafta update my list-- I see yet another version of the extension table (none of my bosses are machined like that) and a main.

As for how it went together, I'll second that! And Dusty's comment that it is like a new machine.
With no alignment gauges, the new rails went on the Aux/Ext tables with just screws, and lined up with the Main studs-n-nuts rails.
First time in 24 years I can put 4 tables together and (drum roll please) slide a Parallel fence from one end to the other!

Note for upgraders: those old lock screws are just right for the SS T-nuts!

dusty wrote: I have some rough edges that prevent the tables from coming tight together.

Same here, on at least one of the Aux/Ext tables. A tad disconcerting until you realize it's only a cosmetic thing.

Dusty, thanks. Your aid and commentary helped me take the plunge and finally move to the Excellent upgrade.
Ditto to all contributors.

colday and keakap,

I hope you are just as pleased with your new machines as I was. If you haven't do so already, spend a little extra time making everything square.

Don't forget the face of the rip fence to the table top.

dusty wrote: Don't forget the face of the rip fence to the table top.

Ah, so. I would not have thought of that.

Don't forget the face of the rip fence to the table top.

Nick explains this quite well in the enclosed video.

Mine was dead on square out of the box!

I've yet to sawdust test it, I've been messing with the bandsaw.

I have new bearings for it that should be here Monday. I thought I had a new 1/4" blade, so I will have to order one of those next, until then I will be using the 1/2" or 1/8" blades that I do have. The previous owner actually had the 1/4" blade centered on the cool blocks! They have a nice gouge in them so I need to file them flat as well. Other than that it is looking good, I did put new neoprene tires on it, which was a little fun but I got it done.

I'm trying to get my system set up correctly before I do more damage than what was done. I sure wish I had been a little sooner on that brand new one for $1,000! Oh well...

colday wrote: The previous owner actually had the 1/4" blade centered on the cool blocks! They have a nice gouge in them .

He may have been on to something!

keakap wrote:He may have been on to something!

Yeah, like dulling the blade! I had a tough time cutting through 1/4" low grade plywood!

Hi Steve,
What enclosed video???

colday wrote:Nick explains this quite well in the enclosed video.

Mine was dead on square out of the box!

I've yet to sawdust test it, I've been messing with the bandsaw.

I have new bearings for it that should be here Monday. I thought I had a new 1/4" blade, so I will have to order one of those next, until then I will be using the 1/2" or 1/8" blades that I do have. The previous owner actually had the 1/4" blade centered on the cool blocks! They have a nice gouge in them so I need to file them flat as well. Other than that it is looking good, I did put new neoprene tires on it, which was a little fun but I got it done.

I'm trying to get my system set up correctly before I do more damage than what was done. I sure wish I had been a little sooner on that brand new one for $1,000! Oh well...