Shopsmith Forums

There have been bandsaw 'knock' reports from DIY people as well as those who bought their units from Shopmsith, e.g.:
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=7406

I'm using my PowerPro for everything except the bandsaw. Like the guy above, I don't have weekday free-time to dog down attention from Shopsmith. If I worked there, I'd have a forthcoming explanation of what is up and when it might be changed in a definitive way. But I'm not an effective salesman I can be a little too conservative sometimes; sometimes companies need to shoot the engineers and release a product.

JPG40504 wrote:And where would those knuckles have been positioned with that shroud in the way?

Not sure I unnerstand why you would want to hold the sheet near there anyway???? I usually do not hold things with knuckles extending below the workpiece. Normally I am pushing and holding 'down'.(fingers palms, thumb)

I was making a plywood square, after making one cut I did not turn the saw off. I was planning to just pick up the board rotate it 90 degrees and finish the cut. While picking up the board my left hand hit the spinning shaft.

paulmcohen wrote:I was making a plywood square, after making one cut I did not turn the saw off. I was planning to just pick up the board rotate it 90 degrees and finish the cut. While picking up the board my left hand hit the spinning shaft.

You gotta be well aware.

In bygone days when long belts were connected to a single shaft, most of the old pros kept all of their body parts.

One enhancement SS could make is to paint the coupler like a barber's pole, so you would be more aware of its rotation.

wurlitzerwilly wrote:You gotta be well aware.

In bygone days when long belts were connected to a single shaft, most of the old pros kept all of their body parts.

One enhancement SS could make is to paint the coupler like a barber's pole, so you would be more aware of its rotation.

NA! Just put spikes in it (like a chariot wheel spoke grinder) and we can be like all those folks who worked with jack shaft driven stuff.



Well the intelligent ones anyway!

dusty wrote:... I would be concerned the movement (which causes the chatter) is simply being moved to another location along the drive line.
...If I was a PowerPro owner, I would be bugging Shopsmith for some sort of guarantee that this "noise" was not the result of something that will one day take a toll on the drive line.

I have an extensive background in environmental testing, including vibration and mechanical shock. Based on that background, I am here to say that some day something has got to give.

I have (may I be so presumptuous as to say "we"?) had similar misgivings. That is what finally drove me to seek remedies from SS. After a very nice communication I was advised that Wes would "call you right back". Well "right back" so far equates to months, and counting. Not a peep.

Anaway, I think your concern would escalate if you actually heard some of the "chatter". Ever see an old beater chugging down the road running with no hood, no muffler, and firing on 3 of 8 cylinders? Well this is not nearly so bad when wearing 30db noise-cancelling earphones. Not nearly!

My experience isn't truly comparable to yours, but in maintaining and repairing mechanical 'stuff' ranging from large scale permanent military ground RADAR systems down to computer disc and tape drives, with various autos and motorcycles inbetween, I am also quite sensitive to 'strange' noises, and I agree hole-heartedly that something has indeed got to give. I just hope it's in the class of the old beater's crankshaft and not a hand grenade, when it does.

Oh well, makes woodworking exciting, doncha know!

charlese wrote:Trying to get back to the original discussion of this thread - after 10 months of trial and error I believe the solution(s) to the banging/jumping issues with bandsaw is fairly simple.

After making sure the computer in the headstock is correctly adjusted, the problem can be fixed mechanically.
...
I'm here to tell you the PowerPro is an excellent upgrade!!:D

Unfortunately the band saw is not the only problem, and I suspect that finessing the problem via super-fine "tuning" of linkages is more along the line of hiding the real problem.
"Chatter" may also be experienced using sanding disc(s) either alone or in tandem with other tools, with no band saw present, alas & alack. Maybe it's just noise, but I tend to feel uncomfortable, sorta like using a full size wood axe with a loose head.

wurlitzerwilly wrote:...I could phone Wes, but because I'm in the UK, there's a time window and it gets awkward.

LOL !
There's a time window 'thing' here in Hawaii, too. It's called months. Hope the window to the UK is somewhat smaller!

;-)

pennview wrote:...Apart from the coupler/hubs, is this happening with the DIY versons exclusively, or have some experienced these issues after getting a fully assembled headstock?

Mine own "Chatter-Box" is a full-blown, max $$$, compleat, brand new, from da factory, not used, not abused, rip-roarin bangin mo-chine!

keakap wrote:Unfortunately the band saw is not the only problem, and I suspect that finessing the problem via super-fine "tuning" of linkages is more along the line of hiding the real problem.
"Chatter" may also be experienced using sanding disc(s) either alone or in tandem with other tools, with no band saw present, alas & alack. Maybe it's just noise, but I tend to feel uncomfortable, sorta like using a full size wood axe with a loose head.

I phoned Shopsmith today and the advice on the Bandsaw hub getting loose is to use Locktite on the set screw threads and in this case, I'm inclined to agree. Even if there was vibration (and there seems far less than the old headstock linkage) the set screw should not be able to unscrew itself. I'm going to try the 'permanent' Locktite, because there should be no need for me to want to remove the hub.

I also had issues with the table saw blade coming loose, with the old headstock linkage and I've no reason to suppose that might not happen again, but not due to the Power Pro. It could just be that in over 20 years, some of the parts have become a little worn and could do with replacing.

I was also told that there is a motor software guy who only calls after 5.00pm (Eastern) and they will have him call me, if I find I have the need.

wurlitzerwilly wrote:I phoned Shopsmith today and the advice on the Bandsaw hub getting loose is to use Locktite on the set screw threads and in this case, I'm inclined to agree. Even if there was vibration (and there seems far less than the old headstock linkage) the set screw should not be able to unscrew itself. I'm going to try the 'permanent' Locktite, because there should be no need for me to want to remove the hub.

I also had issues with the table saw blade coming loose, with the old headstock linkage and I've no reason to suppose that might not happen again, but not due to the Power Pro. It could just be that in over 20 years, some of the parts have become a little worn and could do with replacing.

I was also told that there is a motor software guy who only calls after 5.00pm (Eastern) and they will have him call me, if I find I have the need.

I do hope the lower bearing lasts forever! I would use the blue version(semi-permanent).