Shopsmith Forums

I became the owner of a shop smith that had not been used in years. I am trying to put saw blades on the spindle and they won't go on. I was wondering what to do for lubricant on the spindle. I have watched the DVD that came with my maintenance care package that I ordered from Shop Smith but it did not mention the spindle and how to maintain it.

Welcome to the forum! Make sure the saw arbor's set screw is backed out enough to fit on the spindle. You do have a saw blade arbor, don't you? If not, you will need to purchase either a 5/8" or 1 1/4" arbor for your blades if an arbor didn't come with your machine. You may also want to update your profile to add location to see if there may be someone who lives close to you with a Shopsmith who may be able to help.

BPR

Welcome.

I do hope you are not attempting to put a saw blade with a 5/8" center hole directly on the quill shaft.

I have the arbor on the saw blade. I am having trouble with the blade with the arbor attached going on the spindle. I might not be using the right terminology since I am new to the shop smith. Basically I am trying to get the arbor onto the spindle and it is a very tight fit. Wondered what to use for lube on it so the saw blade with slip on and off easy when I switch between different blades.

Does the inside of the Arbor (where it fits over the spindle) perhaps have some rust accumulation, or other "crud" or debris in it? Does the spindle have any rust on it? Maybe it just needs a good cleaning.

Other than an occasional 'waxing' the quill shaft and arbors need no 'lubrication'.

The fit is fairly tight, so any rust or a burr will make changeovers difficult. The arbors etc. should not require much effort to slide on/off.

JPG40504 wrote:Other than an occasional 'waxing' the quill shaft and arbors need no 'lubrication'.

The fit is fairly tight, so any rust or a burr will make changeovers difficult. The arbors etc. should not require much effort to slide on/off.

In fact, mine make a pleasing 'pop' sound when you take off the arbor or other attachment...
It is definitely a machined tolerance fit between the arbor and the main shaft

Geo

My arbor and spindle has such a tight fit that air pressure builds up as I attempt to push on the saw blade. It acts like a spring is inside the arbor and I have to keep pressing it on until the air slowly leaks out.

fredsheldon wrote:My arbor and spindle has such a tight fit that air pressure builds up as I attempt to push on the saw blade. It acts like a spring is inside the arbor and I have to keep pressing it on until the air slowly leaks out.

That is the way it should be and you don't want to do anything that will change that. If, for example, you burnish the shaft, the arbor may slide on more easily but doing this might also introduce some runout (wobble). I burnished both of mine to eliminate a bit of corrosion and I regret it.

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