Bandsaw improvements. ..

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:58 pm

rjent wrote:OK, I have to ask. Is everyone just being anal about this or is the older bandsaw that flakey. After reading some of the "adjustments" and "improvements" that are necessary, I am thinking about just getting a new one next year. With that said, I can pick up a used SS 510 (don't know the SN yet so not sure, seen pictures has a toggle switch not a red switch) that has been in storage for a few years that has a bandsaw with it for three or four hundred dollars. He guarantee's everything works. I am not adverse to getting yet another SS, and actually see the advantage of having multiple machines (the 10ER is just because it is as old as I am and it has a jig saw) That is what I told my wife anyway LOL.

So anyway, what is the deal, are the older ones problematic or reliable. I like the idea of the rip fence as I have a LOT of Western Red Cedar that is probably 60 or 70 years old in trim logs of about 5 to 10 inches in diameter that were fence posts on an old ranch near my folks old place.

So what is it, problematic or reliable ..... :/

I'm not aware of anything about the older bandsaw being "flakey" or unreliable. As noted above, the difference primarily relate to the table - some folks swear by the cast iron table and others (including myself) are in the aluminum table camp…pros and cons with each set up and ultimately it's probably a coke vs. pepsi deal. If you are saying you can get a 510 with an older bandsaw for $300-$400 and everything works, jump on that, not just for the bandsaw but for the 510 as well. If you decide the cast iron table isn't for you at some point then you can always buy the table upgrade from SS. Chances are the cast iron table will suit you fine and they are plenty of ways to make a fence in that situation, including a piece of 2"x4", two clamps and a square if nothing else.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:10 am

I have used borh of the tables and prefer the cast iron if it is properly cleaned and waxed. Projects move more easily on the CI version in my opinion. The drawback to the cast iron is the limited availability of the table inserts.
Bill V

algale · Post by **algale** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:43 am

rjent wrote:OK, I have to ask. Is everyone just being anal about this or is the older bandsaw that flakey. After reading some of the "adjustments" and "improvements" that are necessary, I am thinking about just getting a new one next year. With that said, I can pick up a used SS 510 (don't know the SN yet so not sure, seen pictures has a toggle switch not a red switch) that has been in storage for a few years that has a bandsaw with it for three or four hundred dollars. He guarantee's everything works. I am not adverse to getting yet another SS, and actually see the advantage of having multiple machines (the 10ER is just because it is as old as I am and it has a jig saw) That is what I told my wife anyway LOL.

So anyway, what is the deal, are the older ones problematic or reliable. I like the idea of the rip fence as I have a LOT of Western Red Cedar that is probably 60 or 70 years old in trim logs of about 5 to 10 inches in diameter that were fence posts on an old ranch near my folks old place.

So what is it, problematic or reliable ..... :/

Bandsaws can be flaky things, even new ones, and not just Shopsmith. There are a number of adjustments that need to be made and if you search the forum you will find stories of folks who bought brand new bandsaws from the motheship and had trouble adjusting them.

I would not hesitate to get a used one at the prices you are talking about.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:37 am

I have two Shopsmith band saws. They were purchased at different times but seem to be identical in vintage (version). They both work well but they are both unpredictably noisy. I can eliminate the noise by changing tracking and/or backup bearings but eventually the noise will return.

Nonetheless, I believe these are as good as you can get for the money. There are times when I wish they had greater capacity but that is seldom an issue for me.

rjent · Post by **rjent** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:44 am

dgale wrote:I'm not aware of anything about the older bandsaw being "flakey" or unreliable. As noted above, the difference primarily relate to the table - some folks swear by the cast iron table and others (including myself) are in the aluminum table camp&#8230]If you are saying you can get a 510 with an older bandsaw for $300-$400 and everything works, jump on that[/B], not just for the bandsaw but for the 510 as well. If you decide the cast iron table isn't for you at some point then you can always buy the table upgrade from SS. Chances are the cast iron table will suit you fine and they are plenty of ways to make a fence in that situation, including a piece of 2"x4", two clamps and a square if nothing else.

Since I am not an afficiando yet (but getting there

) I can't tell what it is. Can you help? Here is a pic:

You can see the bandsaw table is rusted. I don't know how bad yet. It looks like the old 500 fence. I think it is a 500?

Thanks guys for your help!

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:21 pm

Looks to be an older 500, because of the extra slot in the table.

dj1960gold · Post by **dj1960gold** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:31 pm

The bandsaw is my most used shopsmith accessory. I have two of them, one is 50 years old with the cast iron table. The other is the first model aluminum table.

I used the wonderful evapo rust to clean up my cast iron table. Make a 'tank' out of wood just a bit larger than the table from OSB scrap with 2x4 sides, line it with thick plastic. This way you use the least amount of evapo rust to do the job.

I think my surface rust was about the same as you show in the photo, and the end result was spectacular, esp. considering how little scrubbing I had to do to the table.

I've made some mods a little different from most on the forum, so I guess I'll have to start yet another bandsaw thread:)

My older saw

rjent · Post by **rjent** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:35 pm

beeg wrote:Looks to be an older 500, because of the extra slot in the table.

OK Bob, thanks. I see you have a 500 as well. Have you upgraded it? I would like to just leave this machine set up at a bandsaw, I have plenty of room at just under 300 sq ft of shop. I think I will go look at it.

Dick

rjent · Post by **rjent** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:40 pm

dj1960gold wrote:The bandsaw is my most used shopsmith accessory. I have two of them, one is 50 years old with the cast iron table. The other is the first model aluminum table.

I used the wonderful evapo rust to clean up my cast iron table. Make a 'tank' out of wood just a bit larger than the table from OSB scrap with 2x4 sides, line it with thick plastic. This way you use the least amount of evapo rust to do the job.

I think my surface rust was about the same as you show in the photo, and the end result was spectacular, esp. considering how little scrubbing I had to do to the table.

I've made some mods a little different from most on the forum, so I guess I'll have to start yet another bandsaw thread:)

My older saw

Thanks DJ (my initials too

). Yeah let's start a new bandsaw thread ... LOL

that is a good tip on the rust. Will do if I pick it up. I think I can shave a hundred or so off of the price.

Dick

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:01 pm

rjent wrote:OK Bob, thanks. I see you have a 500 as well. Have you upgraded it? I would like to just leave this machine set up at a bandsaw, I have plenty of room at just under 300 sq ft of shop. I think I will go look at it.

Dick

I haven't done any "upgrades" to it and don't really plan on it either. Just added STUFF to it. IF ya look at that one in post 25. Lube it up before ya try turning it on.