Shopsmith Forums

While feeding my shopsmith disease I ended up with two bandsaws, one with the cast iron table , one with the aluminum table. I don't see a need for two bandsaws, are there any advantages for either one. Both are in good shape and both run well. I guess I also have the same question about jointers, I have 3 of those, one real early one that came with a 1955 Greenie and 2 later ones from the '90s. I am looking to thin the herd a little, any suggestions on what to keep, what to ditch?

Check the over all condition of each item. Decide which is the keeper.

Then decide if the other(s) have something you wish the keeper had.

Move the goodie on to the keeper. (Like the bs aluminum table)

I probably would decide the greenie is not the keeper even though I like older stuff usually. Keep in mind once dropped, you will need to replace it.;)

Peddle what is left if that be yer desire.





My My you have been busy!:D

Possibly keep both bandsaws. I have 2+ bandsaws. I bought one cheaply that had been in a garage fire for the aluminum table that was missing the cover. I got two more with other used Mark V systems I bought. I updated one saw with the aluminum table, new urethane tires, cool blocks (which may be replaced with the Carter bearings), Bill's bearing kit, and the Kreg fence system. I "was" going to sell the other complete saw with one of my extra systems I'll sell this spring, but have decided to turn it into a saw for making tight turning cuts with a skinny blade ala bandsaw boxes.
The "plus saw" from which I took the aluminum table will converted to metal cutting only. As a LONG into the future project I may slice and dice it to make the depth of cut 11+ inches and setup more along the lines of a conventional bandsaw (top spring tension adjustment, co-planar wheels with crown, tension quick release). But that is a few years away.

Frankly I can't figure a way to set up multiple jointers for different processes, though I presume there are those on this forum who easily can.

Be well,
Ben

The lack of factory support for the older cast iron table saw makes me want to get rid of that one and stick with the new one with the aluminum table. The iron table one came with no fence or miter gauge either. I do remember a thread some where about using an old MkV 500 table on the bandsaw, how would one make that conversion?

An advantage of the iron table is that you can use a magnetic fence and easily place it at any angle (resawing for instance). Or, magnetic featherboards, etc.

I have two band saws and appreciate both. One is set up for resawing and other is used when blade changes are required.

However, that was not your question. If you intend to relieve yourself of one, I suggest that you need to evaluate both and build from them one that performs better than either.

Pay particular attention to tracking (wheel cant) and the condition of the rubber on all wheels. If tracking is not correct, it is most likely caused by the upper wheel cant or the condition of the rubber.

Decisions, decisions.

Only the table varies. A cast iron table bs can be 'upgraded' to an aluminum one. The rest of the parts are the same.

The cast iron table uses the miter gauge as a fence.

Cast iron vs aluminum table is a personal choice kind of thing and I expect there will be some diverse opinions here on which way to go...I personally have the aluminum table, as I was able to get the upgraded fence, table exension, and circle cutter to go with it, which are not available for the cast iron table.

dgale wrote:Cast iron vs aluminum table is a personal choice kind of thing and I expect there will be some diverse opinions here on which way to go...I personally have the aluminum table, as I was able to get the upgraded fence, table exension, and circle cutter to go with it, which are not available for the cast iron table.

I had to make this decision several years ago and I opted for the aluminum table one. I still have no idea if that was the best choice or not... At least I have had no reason pop up to say it was wrong. While I have not bought any of them, part of my decision was based on existing and possible future accessories which may not be easily retrofit-able to the cast iron table. I had acquired two cast iron table models and one aluminum one. The two cast ones Ebayed very well and became other shop stuff.


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I have two bandsaws one just for resawing the other for everything else.