Shopsmith Forums

Here is a pic of my most recent acquisition, a Mark VII, s/n 408551, as it arrived at its new home. The story that goes with it is in the Community threads, https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=10197
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Overall, the machine appears in good shape, and it included most of the accessories including a few extras. Here are the accessories laid out for inventorying.
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I’m new to Mark VIIs so I have LOTS of questions and expect to frequently be updating this thread and begging for help and information from the experts on here.

So, let’s begin the adventure:

Question #1: We searched thru the drawers that the little old lady had parts stored in but could not find the saw arbor. I finally gave up and told her is was no big deal as they can be bought on ebay reasonably. Then when I get it all home and I’m checking things out, I found the arbor. Not where I expected it, but tickled to find it nonetheless.
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It has been attached to the driveshaft on the bandsaw. It is on there pretty solid. I loosened the set screw, put some penetrating oil on it and whacked it a bit with a rubber hammer, but no go. Any good ideas on how to get it off without risking the lower bearings on my new (to me) band saw?

Question #2: Mystery parts – there are a couple of pieces that I’m unfamiliar with. Heck, I’m not even sure they went with the Shopsmith, but we were filling the box with likely pieces.

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Question #3: Shaper Fence – I was really excited to see the shaper fence. However, I’m not sure what’s missing.
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Well, since there is a 5 picture limit, this will continue in the next thread.

Question #4: Screw Center Abuse – This is, I think, the screw center for lathe work. The screw is broken off and rattling around in the housing. It won’t come out the front, so I’m thinking I have to pull the shaft out of the back to replace the screw. However, the groove in the shaft was not aligned with the set screw. It doesn’t seem to want to budge anymore than the saw arbor does? Suggestions??
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Question #5: Lower Saw Guard – The unit came with the upper guard, complete with knives. Is there a lower guard? I assume so since the unit was designed to have a self-contained vacuum system.

Question #6: Vacuum System – On that note, whatever the vacuum system consists of, it appears to be long gone. Was it a standard part, or an add-on extra? What did one look like? Is it worth it to find one and replace it? This is a rehab, not a restore.

Question #7: Sanding Disc – Well, more of a comment really. In the owner’s manual it mentions that the sanding disc is dual sided, one flat and one tapered. And, sure enough, the one with the unit has paper stuck to both sides. Just found it interesting.
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Question #8: Speed Control Cam – I know this is a weak link (along with the plastic track) on these things. A first glance says this one is in really good shape. Anyone posted a thread on disassembling the headstock and putting it back together? I’d like to go through it, clean it up really well, check bearings, etc.
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On a side note the unit came with a fairly new band saw. It is definitely much newer than the one I have (an old Magna unit) as it has the dust collection port and aluminum table. I’m really looking forward to tuning it up and comparing it to the old one.
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For the screw chuck, I'd remove both setscrews and then place the chuck in a vise and use a hammer and punch to drive out the screw and arbor. The screw itself is simply a wood screw and can be easily replaced. I think it's something like a #12 or #14 wood screw.

On the bandsaw, I would remove the cover so you can grab the lower wheel. After soaking the arbor with PB blaster, liquid wrench, penetrating oil or whatever you use, put a wrench on the arbor (with set screw removed). Grab the lower wheel and see if you can use the wrench to spin the arbor on the shaft.

I would lay the bandsaw on its side with the shaft and arbor submerged in a cup of Evaporust overnight.

in the picture for question 2, you show a doohickey that has an aluminum arm and a threaded rod with knob attached. that is probably a hold down for a chopsaw. Looks almost identical to the one that came with my Lowes "Tradesman" chopsaw.
Hope that helps a little.
now would be a good time to buy oner of those new metal speed adjuster cams that there was a thread on recently. Before the plastic one disintegrates.

wiredone wrote:in the picture for question 2, you show a doohickey that has an aluminum arm and a threaded rod with knob attached. that is probably a hold down for a chopsaw. Looks almost identical to the one that came with my Lowes "Tradesman" chopsaw.
Hope that helps a little.

How does it mount? I've got two saws I might be able to use it on. Got a pic?

The shaper fence appears to be missing only the wooden parts(easily made!)

1. Got the saw arbor off the band saw drive by using a two-arm gear puller. Did this after I realized the center of the arbor was hollow through, but I've never looked that close.

2. Screw center came apart after I clamped it up and twisted/pulled the thing in the back. Which brings me to question if it was even supposed to be there (given the saw arbor situation), so here's the pic again and someone tell me if that round shaft with a groove is supposed to be in the back of the screw center. And if so, how it functions, because I can't picture it as being useful at all.
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3. I'm thinking these are part of a router table, not an SS MkVII part. Whaddya think?
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4. I took my air hose and blew out the headstock, along with everything else, and after looking in the access hole, decided to plug it in and see what happened (with a hand on the cord for immediate disconnect). It runs pretty smooth, in both directions. Kinda neat to have an SS that runs backwards!

No, the shaft doesn't belong in that screw center. Perhaps it was there because the original owner used it for something other than turning.

For using the screw center, the one setscrew holds the screw center on the Shopsmith spindle just like any of the other Shopsmith arbors. The second setscrew locks the screw to the chuck/center after you screw the screw into the stock to be turned.

You need either a #12 or #14 wood screw (I don't recall which size) of an appropriate length for what you're attaching to the center/chuck. The screw drops in from the back and the diameter of the screw needs to match the hole in the center/chuck. You can also fit a stove bolt through that hole and use a nut to bolt something to the center/chuck.