Lower saw guard

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:47 pm

I saw Nick's tip on lubricating the lower saw guard pins. With it was a link to purchase the saw guard upgrade for Model 500's to give them the 520 version, and it included a dual dust port. I have a 520 that has gone through two upgrades: 500>510, 510>520. My lower guard only has one dust port. Is there an upgrade available to the two port version, and if so, is there a benefit to doing so?

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:04 pm

On the catalog site it says

This is the Upgrade you want if you have a plastic Lower Saw Guard with a 1-1/2" dust collection port. Provides dual 2-1/4" ports for more efficient dust collection. Some drilling and Tie Bar modifications required. For Model 500 only.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:55 pm

Yes, I read that too, and it's as clear as mud.

Why have two dust ports if one will do the job?

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:43 pm

I guess if you use the Shopsmith Dust Collector it has two 2 1/2" ports otherwise I don't know of another commercial collector with two small ports and I don't see the point of dropping to 4" port to fit. If you only have 1 4" port I don't of any commercial splitters that get to 2 1/4" So I agree this does not make sense.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:48 pm

paulmcohen wrote:I guess if you use the Shopsmith Dust Collector it has two 2 1/2" ports otherwise I don't know of another commercial collector with two small ports and I don't see the point of dropping to 4" port to fit. If you only have 1 4" port I don't of any commercial splitters that get to 2 1/4" So I agree this does not make sense.

Hi Paul,

The SS DC3300 actually has 3 of those ports:rolleyes: .

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:58 pm

Hi,

Not to try to confuse you but the lower saw guard for the 500 was orginally metal, the plastic upgrade came out with a single port, a very small, (1-1/4") which was much smaller then the metal one. It didn't work very well so shopsmith came back with a second design to fix the problem, one that had two ports... and to get it to fit they had to do it that way with two ports.... However they also need to stay with standard hose sizes so the two ports add up to more the the orginal amount but likly more then it really needed. They also came up with a new kit that provided all the parts as a new upgrade. The two ports are collected in to one hose connection so in effect you are back to the 2-1/4" port you had with the metal guard... and the same as you have on todays machines.

These were designed for sawing and not for use with the sanding disk. The sanding disk dust collector was another part (555167).

If you have a 500 and start thinking about upgrading keep in mind that none of these parts are as good as the system that comes with the 505/510/520. You would be much better off to use that money to get the upgrade kit to the 520 and be done with it.

Ed

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:55 pm

paulmcohen wrote:I guess if you use the Shopsmith Dust Collector it has two 2 1/2" ports otherwise I don't know of another commercial collector with two small ports and I don't see the point of dropping to 4" port to fit. If you only have 1 4" port I don't of any commercial splitters that get to 2 1/4" So I agree this does not make sense.

FYI: my ShopSmith ShopMate Dust Collection System has two 2-1/2" ports, came with one long large hose and one longer small hose, and fittings.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:21 pm

keakap wrote:FYI: my ShopSmith ShopMate Dust Collection System has two 2-1/2" ports, came with one long large hose and one longer small hose, and fittings.

is the ShopMate different from the DC3300? if so, when did SS make them?

Ivan

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:45 pm

iclark wrote:is the ShopMate different from the DC3300? if so, when did SS make them?
Ivan

Yes, different indeed. And I don't know who actually made them. The legend on the motor housing says: ShopMate Super Quiet Dust Collection System; ShopSmith, **Vandalia** Ohio, so it could have been a third party deal if SS didn't make it.

What it is is a honkin big motor on top of a 30(?) gallon steel drum on a wheeled caddy with push handle. It takes up maybe 5 square feet of floor space (or rolls under a work bench) and is ~ arbor high. Very good vacuum, works v well. Looks like a generic shop-vac on steroids, in battleship grey.

I got this one circa '85-'86. It has hundreds of hours on it, still works like new.

More info could be hard to find. I recently asked SS if the hose attachments et al were compatible with the DC3300, and the answer basically was that they were not aware the ShopMate even existed.

I don't recall if I've ever seen a picture of one in the SS literature. I happened upon it at a SS local outlet, where I bought my Mark V.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:50 pm

keakap,

thanks. I had not heard of the ShopMate before. it sounds like a major upgrade but same concept as the cardboard barrel vacuum that my father bought with his radial arm saw in the '50s. that one is in my garage now and still worked the last time I tried it.

Ivan