Shopsmith Table Saw Quality?

[jdramsey]

As a table saw, it does a pretty good job. There is plenty of good advise here. Nick has some good advise on making the table more stable for precise cuts in the videos. Also, I just realized that the aluminum rip fence that came with my 510 well flex just a bit when stressed. A piece of hardboard mounted on the fence to reenforce it seems to have fixed that problem at the moment.

[wallygoots]

I cleaned everything. Wire brushed and primed and painted the bases. Waxed all sliding surfaces with Johnson's and put it all back together. She looks great. Serial number is 021390 and I think it's a date code right, so Feb. 1990?

Here's a shot. Everything slides nicely, the fence needs to be set up and I need to get a 5/8ths arbor for the blades I have already.



How good are the Shopsmith lathe tools? Used they seem reasonable and I have water stones for sharpening.

Oh, and how do you like the red base?

Cheerio,
Seth

[a1gutterman]

Good show, Seth! The red may knot be traditional, but I like it.

[wallygoots]

I'm not the most traditional bloke. If I were I may not have bought a Shopsmith.

I think the legs turned out nice. One of the best parts is I went out on Sunday to buy some paint, and three hardware shops I tried were closed, so I stopped at an automotive shop. Paint was about $6 a can... gerrr... so I was about to pony up the dollars when I bumped into a sale rack. There they had some Fusion "rock hard durable and bonds to anything" paint for 95 cents a can. However, it came up in the computer as 5 cents, so I bought two. Ta da! Durable red legs for 10 cents.

[rkh2]

wallygoots

Welcome to the forum. I still use the set of turning chisels that came with my SS (bought it in 93) and have nothing to complain about. I have been turning for about 3 years now and although have added some Sorby chisels to my collection, I still use my SS tools, especially the gouge and just keep them sharp and no problems. Your SS looks real good all cleaned up. All you need is some sawdust. As for the price you paid for the red paint - what a deal. By the way, what part of the country are you living in?

[mtobey]

The best thing I did for my Mark V, standard, was to buy the Incra "Miter Express." It carries the already precise nature of a Shopsmith to a new level of additional precision and safety. I use an Incra 1000SE locked into the "ME." I can lift it off and return it with no further calibration required. This is a "spendy" setup, but it returns every penny in spades.Mike T.

[wallygoots]

Great info on the Shopsmith lathe tools. Looks like a good value used. (I also found that biscuit joiners are cheap used).

Also appreciate the Incra info. I don't know wither I would rather put money into a 520 upgrade fence and table or something like the Incra.

I'm in Hagerstown, MD. so there are population centers around for used market stuff.

Yes, I need to make some sawdust.

Cheers,
Seth

[enyoc]

Wally, what auto store had the paint (I'm not too far from H-town)? I think the legs look great but need flames! I read your thread last week and bought my first SS yesterday (2006 520 found on craigs list). It's in the garage awaiting disasembly and cleaning...hmmm and maybe flames...

[mbcabinetmaker]

affyx

Welcome to the forum.

[wallygoots]

I found the paint at Advance Auto 325 E Washington St. (where dual highway--40--splits near downtown). They only had a few cans on sale near the register and not sure what they have now. Their non-sale paint is pretty expensive compared with Mal-Wart. Hope you can score. You'll need at least 2 cans for the legs. (2 was just enough for me to apply 3 light coats after primer).

I'd like to see your machine and compare the 510 to 520. Congrats on the purchase. As far as cleaning goes, definitely get Mineral Spirits to clean and Johnson's Paste wax (in the yellow tub) for tubes. I cleaned much of the crud out of it with an old tooth brush and shop-vac.

Cheers,
Seth