A tale of two molders

[JPG]

Yes, my molder head is the same as the one pictured, has the same markings, and it came in a bag marked with Shopsmith part number 556213.

Mike

So can we conclude the 'new' SS version is different from BOTH the Carob standard version AND the former SS version? The slots are three different widths.(0.129, 0.135, and 0.1625)

[dusty]

I suppose this should not be a surprise to those who read the catalog. Shopsmith has not been secretive about this.

Read the Notes:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... erhead.htm

and to further make the point, checkout the selection of knives.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... knives.htm

BE CAREFUL if purchasing knives from anyone other than Shopsmith. They just might not fit the cutter head that you have. Even if buying from Shopsmith, make certain that you order the right part number. You really have to be deliberative when buying knives (or cutter heads) on eBay.

The note, regarding knives for use on a Shopsmith, on the Carob web page is now a bit confusing.

[ChrisNeilan]

I suppose this should not be a surprise to those who read the catalog. Shopsmith has not been secretive about this.

Read the Notes:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... erhead.htm

and to further make the point, checkout the selection of knives.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... knives.htm

BE CAREFUL if purchasing knives from anyone other than Shopsmith. They just might not fit the cutter head that you have. Even if buying from Shopsmith, make certain that you order the right part number. You really have to be deliberative when buying knives (or cutter heads) on eBay.

The note, regarding knives for use on a Shopsmith, on the Carob web page is now a bit confusing.

I don't have the molder (yet), but if I were to order any knives from Ebay, I would probably want to have both style heads on hand so that I could guarantee the ability to use it...
That being said, it might be hard to tell how much useful life is left in a knife from Ebay... I would prefer new from the Mothership...

[dusty]

I suppose this should not be a surprise to those who read the catalog. Shopsmith has not been secretive about this.

Read the Notes:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... erhead.htm

and to further make the point, checkout the selection of knives.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... knives.htm

BE CAREFUL if purchasing knives from anyone other than Shopsmith. They just might not fit the cutter head that you have. Even if buying from Shopsmith, make certain that you order the right part number. You really have to be deliberative when buying knives (or cutter heads) on eBay.

The note, regarding knives for use on a Shopsmith, on the Carob web page is now a bit confusing.

I don't have the molder (yet), but if I were to order any knives from Ebay, I would probably want to have both style heads on hand so that I could guarantee the ability to use it...
That being said, it might be hard to tell how much useful life is left in a knife from Ebay... I would prefer new from the Mothership...

Remember, all three knives need to be very close to identical to get really good results. Hand sharpened knives might not be that good (identical)

[reible]

Don't own the shopsmith system but I do have one. The instructions indicated that the knives were not to be sharpened but could be honed. The profile edge is held against a stone and honed but only the portion that cuts the wood, NOT the part that fits in the head.

Were there any instructions with the shopsmith version that are similar?

If it were me I would stay away from sharpened versions unless professionally done..... or better yet buy new and hone yourself as needed.

Ed

[Mike907]

This should be the current manual; it says to just lap them on a stone, cutting edge down.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/manu ... _06-11.pdf

Mike

[algale]

I'm going to add to this thread but probably just create more confusion.

I have a "Shopsmith" branded molder head, shown in the photo below.

image.jpeg (387.45 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

It differs in some respects from the one currently shown on the Shopsmith site. Here:


Speciically, mine lacks the Corob name on it, and also doesn't say MKHD50 on it. Nor does it have the three holes in the face of the head.


Yet the measurements of my molder head match exactly those shown on the Corob site for their MKHD50 molder head. Note that this head is described on the Corob site as a "Delta Style" head.

Now, today I received a long-awaited 3 bead molding knife from Shopsmith. It came in a plastic envelope with Shopsmith's part number for the "old" style knives, which I ordered.

image.jpeg (289.29 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

But the original packaging says "Corob" (no surprise, we know they make 'em) What is interesting to me is the Corob packaging has the designation "HD" in the upper right corner. If you dig around on the Corob site, you wil find out that HD is their designation for their Delta Style knives.

Now, I've got some other knives that I got when I acquired this molding head (second hand) and I acquired some others from Shopsmith about a year ago. Some of them do have the HD designation and some don't. This one doesn't say HD.

image.jpeg (450.67 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

But this one does.

image.jpeg (363.45 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

And the knives are different thicknesses. The HD one I received today is .125. Older non HD knives are .129. They also have different size bores, which I think you can see here.

image.jpeg (409.54 KiB) Viewed 3344 times

I have used both kinds of knives in my molder head but now I'm not sure what I should be using. The Shopsmith website says to use the new thicker style knives with heads made after 2011. I don't know when my head was made. I just know that it is physically like the new head in critical dimensions even though it has some cosmetic differences. I wish Shopsmith might provide some better information.