Shopsmith Forums

rjent wrote: I can't figure out how the block attaches at the top. Since you broke yours, how does it attach?

The shaft on mine is splined. It appears that the "foot" was cast directly onto the shaft. But I noticed that the ones in the manual look a little different, so they may not all be.

In my case, I think I could press the remains off of the shaft, and then press on a replacement. As you can see from the photos, my "foot" crazed very badly, and it's full of voids. It didn't take much to break it.

Assuming the 'shaft' is removable, the end could be drilled and tapped and a screw used to secure the new foot.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:

rjent wrote: I can't figure out how the block attaches at the top. Since you broke yours, how does it attach?

The shaft on mine is splined. It appears that the "foot" was cast directly onto the shaft. But I noticed that the ones in the manual look a little different, so they may not all be.

In my case, I think I could press the remains off of the shaft, and then press on a replacement. As you can see from the photos, my "foot" crazed very badly, and it's full of voids. It didn't take much to break it.

Jigsaw foot 1 reduced.JPG

Jigsaw foot 2 reduced.JPG

Mine looks just like yours ....
EXCEPT that mine ain't broke

I think, because aluminum is well, aluminum, you could heat the block and press it onto the shaft, let it cool and you would be done. It's not like it is doing major side, compression, or tension loads, so it should work. I haven't measured the shaft, but you might be able to buy a bolt, cut the head off and tap the block (modified JPG suggestion).

However you do it, I think it is very fixable.

Doesn't it seem kind of UN-Shopsmith for them to have used a POS cast potmetal part here? I dunno just seems kind of out of character ..

rjent wrote:

BuckeyeDennis wrote:

rjent wrote: I can't figure out how the block attaches at the top. Since you broke yours, how does it attach?

The shaft on mine is splined. It appears that the "foot" was cast directly onto the shaft. But I noticed that the ones in the manual look a little different, so they may not all be.

In my case, I think I could press the remains off of the shaft, and then press on a replacement. As you can see from the photos, my "foot" crazed very badly, and it's full of voids. It didn't take much to break it.

Jigsaw foot 1 reduced.JPG

Jigsaw foot 2 reduced.JPG

Mine looks just like yours ....
EXCEPT that mine ain't broke

I think, because aluminum is well, aluminum, you could heat the block and press it onto the shaft, let it cool and you would be done. It's not like it is doing major side, compression, or tension loads, so it should work. I haven't measured the shaft, but you might be able to buy a bolt, cut the head off and tap the block (modified JPG suggestion).

However you do it, I think it is very fixable.

Doesn't it seem kind of UN-Shopsmith for them to have used a POS cast potmetal part here? I dunno just seems kind of out of character ..

So, how sophisticated was aluminum die casting in the '40's'? Looks like a contamination problem(oxide in the 'mix'?).