Shopsmith Forums

Hi Terry;

Thanks for reminding me how far off topic we had slipped!

I started this new thread just to say that I meant nothing personal in any way by my table saw post on the old thread. I fully agree with and support your choice to minimize risk in the shop. Makes sense to me.

That said, I was curious about what you said about the pawls and upper guard on your 500. The pawls and upgraded upper guard on my 500 seem to do a pretty good job of holding down cut-offs. I agree the splitter should be closer to the blade and I never was able to align it with the plane of the blade until I shimmed it out with some washers, so yes, it could stand improving. But I always thought the pawls worked pretty good and as I said the upper guard helps keep cutoffs from moving around.

Anyway, no matter how it gets done, by hand, band or table, we all agree that sawdust is the goal!


Thanks,











First off! I apologize for the threadjack! never my intention. Back to the topic at hand. The device posted/questioned by the OP looks like a decent product and since it can be used on multiple tools, probably not a bad purchase idea.

Now let me clear things up. I really didn't mean to start this debate. Just throwing out personal observations.

I never said I was ditching my Table Saw altogether, and certainly not my Shopsmith and absolutely not my power tools. Just looking at ways to reduce usage of "My Particular Table Saw setup" (Stock Mark 5 from 1955 that has never had an upgrade in it's life other than the crummy model 500 guards that I seldom use since they are actually less effective and at times less safe than doing without). I've looked into doing a 510 upgrade and just can't stomach the cost even for used.

I totally agree that there is risk in life, but not taking active steps to mitigate known risks is foolhardy. I have known and well documented safety concerns with MY table saw setupnamely size, lack of riving knife, imprecise and finicky fence, "upgrade" splitter that is prone to vibrating loose and altering alignment during use, anti-kick pawls that won't keep things from kicking back (What's the point??) both splitter and pawls are so far away from the end of the blade to render them practically useles anyways, and I'm sure lots of other things as well. And since this is a fairly common configuration among Shopsmith owners(not everyone has a 510/520 or the bucks to upgrade. In my case it's a lack of willingness to spend the money on the upgrade) I am taking steps to mitigate my known risk.

Step 1 Don't use the unsafe table saw configuration as much, there are alternative methods to cutting something that are as safe or safer than the common table saw. Many people are not aware of alternatives, just thought I'd share.

I'll come up with other steps to ensure my safety and mitigate my known risk as I see fit.

__________________
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1955 Shopsmith Mark 5 S/N 296860
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Last edited by terrydowning : Today at 12:46 PM.

I've had stock come right back through those pawls, especially thinner stock (less than 1/2"). Of course it's the lighter thinner stuff that does not have sufficient weight on it's own to sit still.