Shopsmith Forums

Made a few changes in my SS bandsaw which I (at least) regard as improvements.

The first 'improvement' is adding a 'permanent' handle on the tension adjustment. In the past, I always had to rumage around, find the hex wrench, poke around in the back of the cover of the bandsaw to find the hex head, insert the wrench, cuss when it slipped out and eventually get the tension cranked up to the right level. So I finally 'snapped' - I grabbed an Allen wrench from the tool box, put a bit of CA on the end of the short shaft and stuffed it into the tension adjuster and held for a couple of seconds.

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FINALLY!! The darned wrench is in there and won't fall out. Well, it might eventually but, for now, I'm good to go. A heck of an improvement IMHO.

The second thing I did is remove the plastic window. The darned thing was always getting covered with dust and frankly made it very difficult for these old eyes to see the tension scale. So off it came. I may make a plastic door, hinged on one side with a magnetic closure sometime. Maybe. Maybe not. For now its gone. Huzzah!!

Simple things for simple people (i.e. me).

What's the model of that bandsaw?

Does the removal of the plastic window interfere with the dust collection?

bosox wrote:What's the model of that bandsaw?

It is, of course, the Shopsmith bandsaw - I think mine dates from the mid-1980's and I have upgraded it with the newer side cover (with the dust outlet, window and a slot for access to the tension adjustment). Also have the newer table, new tires and a few other things.

I don't think the basic bandsaw as changed since goodness knows when. If you have the older version, it would be easy to cut a slot for the adjustment. Ditto adding the 'window' (there is an earlier thread giving dimensions). In fact adding the dust outlet to the original version would be easy also.

In fact and in my humble opinion, if I was doing it all again, I would skip the new cover and just modify the existing one.

anmius wrote:Does the removal of the plastic window interfere with the dust collection?

I don't know - it actually might improve it! Air would be pulled it through the window and pass down and across the blade area and then out the dust outlet. Or not. I frankly have found little difference (in my limited use) in the dust collection - in fact, I have taken recently to just skipping hooking up the hose to the cyclone. I just clean up after working with it.

IF it turns out that the open window is a problem, then I will just add an external hinged window with a simple latch. A plan B if you will. As mentioned, the regular window just built up a slight haze due to dust accumulation and made seeing in the window a bit of a bother.

Great idea leaving it open. I have a mid-80's case that I added the dust chute to. I think I'll just use a hole saw to open up a view port, it'll take all of 5 minutes.