Finally... my 500 to 520 upgrade experience!

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:13 pm

Hi all,

I got more Shopsmith toys today! I received my sanding disk and my new replacement rip fence (to replace the defective one that came with my 520 upgrade). The "new" rip fence has some nicks in the aluminum extrusion which is a bummer, but I guess I am glad to get something that works.

Or at least I think it works. When the rip fence is clamped down front and back, the fence "floats" above the table by about 1/16". Is this normal? I haven't had time to read through the manual and see if it is. I work from home and I ran down to the garage to see if the new fence clamps properly, but then I had to come back upstairs and put my nose back on the grindstone.

Now all I need is my 24" miter extension and it's project time!

- Chris

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:04 pm

chris,

Two carriage bolts and a 1x4x24" with two holes drilled to match the miter fence and you are in project time.

I used 1x4s for miter gauge fences until just a few months ago.

You did an upgrade. You could use the aluminum extrusion from your old rip fence as a miter fence. Again two holes and your in business.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:02 pm

chris,

Do you my chance have the miter-pro (555404). If you do, the long arm of the miter pro can be used as the fence for your miter gauge.

This same part is used to manufacture the extension (555429).

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:54 am

Hi dusty,

I don't have the Miter-Pro, but that is something good to know.

To all, dusty confirmed to me that the rip fence normally floats just slightly above the table surface. This makes sense since it ensures the fence extrusion doesn't get hung up on the corrugations, or on any table imperfections.

This week I will grab a 1x4 from somewhere and fabricate a makeshift miter extension, then it will be off to making some sawdust this weekend! Well, if I can find time - I fly out to California on Sunday for a week of work travel.

- Chris

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:53 am

Man, don't you just hate it when that work stuff interferes with what you'd really rather be doing? At least we're having nice weather here in CA.

Gary

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:40 pm

I went to align my new rip fence today, and got irritated with trying to use my Harbor Freight digital caliper (if you don't hold it at precisely a 90 degree angle to the plane of the table/blade, the measurement changes by more than the accuracy you're trying to align to). I realized I could be using the dial indicator to align not only the table to the blade, but the rip fence to the table. I placed my fourth order today to squeeze some items in before April...

739990 Aluminum Step Gauge (OPW71 - 50% off, $4.20)
555320 Biscuit Joiner (OPM19 - 35% off for March, $90.67)
555884 Shopsmith Dial Indicator Set Up Gauge (sale price $55.99)

- Chris

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:03 pm

Although, it occurs to me that I probably also want to align the rip fence itself to the blade and not the table. Or maybe if the table is properly aligned to the blade, the choice doesn't matter.

- Chris

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:22 pm

Chris,
The Miter slots on the table have to be aligned with the blade. Otherwise your miter settings will always be off. This should be part of your alignment procedure as outlined in the manual.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:10 pm

chrispitude wrote:I realized I could be using the dial indicator to align not only the table to the blade, but the rip fence to the table.
- Chris

If you have a good square, I prefer an engineer's square, you can complete your alignment per the procedures.

Per the procedures no matter which one you use. In fact, I use the square most all of the time. I occasionally go back and double check with the dial indicator but I very seldom make any changes.

timster68 · Post by **timster68** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:37 pm

chrispitude wrote:I went to align my new rip fence today, and got irritated with trying to use my Harbor Freight digital caliper (if you don't hold it at precisely a 90 degree angle to the plane of the table/blade, the measurement changes by more than the accuracy you're trying to align to). I realized I could be using the dial indicator to align not only the table to the blade, but the rip fence to the table. I placed my fourth order today to squeeze some items in before April...

739990 Aluminum Step Gauge (OPW71 - 50% off, $4.20)
555320 Biscuit Joiner (OPM19 - 35% off for March, $90.67)
555884 Shopsmith Dial Indicator Set Up Gauge (sale price $55.99)

- Chris

I bought the Dial indicator a while back - it's really nice plus it comes with a whole bunch of different tips - I'd love to see a shoptip or another sawdust session using more of the tips.