Shopsmith Forums

I've searched hard to find information on threads but was unable to find what I needed. Here's my problem :

I'm a beginner with the shopsmith and have a used 510. I've followed the alignement procedures as described on the "journals DVD" for the tablesaw but got in a problem trying to align the TS blade with the splitter (btw, I have a thin kerf). There's a screw on the guard that you can back out to move the guard but it's already in all the way. Advancing the blade is not an option because when you do, the whole guard+blade moves at the same time on the quill. The flange on the quill prevents the guard from backing out to be aligned with the blade.

I know I'm missing something and it must be in front of my eyes, but what am I doing wrong?

Thank you,

Martin

The screw on the guard is the adjustment you are looking for.

Make sure that the blade (arbor) is inserted all the way onto the arbor shaft.

Make certain that the quill is fully RETRACTED.

Make certain that the carriage is tight up against the rubber bumper (between the carriage and the headstock on the rear way tube).

All of that checked out - go for the alignment again.

Good Luck.

Hi,

How far off are you?

One thing to look for is to make sure you have the 505/510/520 arbor and NOT the 500 one which is shorter.

Ed

thanx guys... I'm pretty sure I've done all the adjustments (but I'll go over all your suggestions again just to make sure) except maybe for the arbor.

Martin

mugwamp wrote:thanx guys... I'm pretty sure I've done all the adjustments (but I'll go over all your suggestions again just to make sure) except maybe for the arbor.

Martin

Martin
From what your saying the splitter is to far to the right of the blade and the adjustment screw is all the way in, which is preventing you from moving the splitter any further left is that correct?

If so remove the table and with the lower guard and blade mounted eye ball the location of the holder. Is is also to far to the right of the blade? If not insert the splitter and see if something is forcing it right, or perhaps it is bent.

I had to bend the very base of my splitter slightly because it was very slightly bent coming from SS. Remember a slight bend at the bottom really throws the splitter of up at the table level.

If the holder is to the right of the blade, and you have the lower blade guard on correctly, and adjustment screw ran the whole way in, then either you have the wrong arbor or something (I can't imagine what) is radically wrong with your Shopsmith.

mugwamp wrote:I've searched hard to find information on threads but was unable to find what I needed. Here's my problem :

I'm a beginner with the shopsmith and have a used 510. I've followed the alignement procedures as described on the "journals DVD" for the tablesaw but got in a problem trying to align the TS blade with the splitter (btw, I have a thin kerf). There's a screw on the guard that you can back out to move the guard but it's already in all the way. Advancing the blade is not an option because when you do, the whole guard+blade moves at the same time on the quill. The flange on the quill prevents the guard from backing out to be aligned with the blade.

I know I'm missing something and it must be in front of my eyes, but what am I doing wrong?

Thank you,

Martin

Hi Martin,
I notice that you have owned a Mark V since 2005. Is this the first time that you have had this problem? Do you have more then one arbor? If so, do you have this problem with all the arbors and do all the arbors look the same? Since you got this machine used, it could have been a 500 upgraded to a 510. If so, you may have gotten the 500 arbors with it. Hopefully, you also got 510 arbors. If not, you will have to purchase one or more of them.

Hi again,

First, (a little background) I did purchase the 510 used in mint condition and all parts look original to the 510 ... and I purchased the machine in 2005. I have a shop full of machines (General) that I've been using for about 5 years but I still consider myself a total beginner. My shop is about 3 hrs from my home and I only work in the spring, summer and fall or when I take time off in the winter because I have to snowshoe a trail in the winter. Anyways, the Shopsmith is really growing on me. It has no runout, it's solid and well manufactured, relatively quiet, small footprint and I'm really depending on it more and more. I had only used the drill press and the lathe up until this year. I'm considering getting more SS add-ons and I'm selling off full sized machines to make room for lumber.

Second, I did learn woodworking on my own mostly with books as there is no woodworking club around my area that I'm aware of. But the internet and this forum really help me get the answers I need.

To sum it up, I'll get to my shop for a few days again at Easter and try all the suggestions you've posted. As for the arbor, if nothing else does it, than I'll look into purchasing a few spares specific to the 510. I have to admit that the Journals DVD is very good and I'm anxious for SS to release other versions. I also have the Jacob Anderson DVD which is excellent for someone who wants to rebuild or tune-up the headstock. (The SS website with the videos is also a good source for me).

So thanks again for your help and I'll get back here next week sometime and give an update. You're all a great help.

To do:
- check arbor
- verify if the splitter is bent or forced out of alignment
- check screw once more
- check position of carriage on way tubes and quill fully retracted


Martin

Hi Martin,

When I ordered my 500 to 520 upgrade, I asked the salesperson why I wasn't able to reuse my 500 saw arbor with the 520. She said it wouldn't work, but I couldn't understand why I just couldn't extend the quill out a bit. Once I got the dust collector and saw how everything would move together, then it made sense. It's got to be a 500 arbor. If you want to be sure, post a measurement here from the base of the arbor to where the blade rests, and we can confirm this for you. I have both 500 and 520 arbors handy at the moment.

- Chris

Thank you Chrispitude.
Can you post the measurement for the 500 arbor please? When I go to the shop later this week, I'll confirm that is the problem.

Hmm. This thread is quite timely!

Here is a picture I took of some arbors I am selling on Ebay:

arbors

The one on the right is a 505/510/520 arbor (1 1/4" diameter shaft) which came with my 520 upgrade, but I am selling off. The one on the left is an ancient 500 arbor (also 1 1/4" diameter shaft) which came with my 500. The one in the middle is one that I bought for my 500 about ten years ago to use 5/8" arbor blades. I thought it was a 500 arbor, but now that I look at it, I realize I inadvertently bought a 520 arbor all those years ago! The irony here is that I bought another one of these with my 520 upgrade so I could use standard blades, not realizing that I had one all along.

I need to go fix my listing on Ebay now.

- Chris