Shopsmith Forums

Hello all;
I would like to thank all who post here for the knowledge and help provided to me when needed. Someone is always there to give help and advice to advance our understanding and love of these fine machines.
I bought a new Shopsmith in 1979 when I was first married. We didn't have much money but I convinced the little lady about the advantages to have a multipurpose machine. We lived in a 100 year old house that need much care and improvement.
That machine has served me all these years and only needed a belt and quadrant repair recently. I also have a mounted planer and have used it a lot. The planer seemed a little under powered and took quite some time to get the job done. I have been on the watch for a pro planer for a few years now. I thought of converting my planer to a stand alone by building a stand of square tubing and picking up a motor to power it. The motors were around $200.00.
Two days ago a pro planer came up on Craig's list and asking price was $300.00. Too make it even sweeter the location was only a twenty minute ride from home. I called and drove over to see it. It was owned by an older gentleman and it ran well. He even had a spare set of knives and a metal sharpening jig he had a machine shop build for them. I took that baby home with me. When I checked the out feed roller I noticed it is badly worn. I am an old Yankee and after some careful searching of the grey matter I remembered replacing my rubber in feed roller on my Shopsmith mounted planer. It had two rubber rollers and Shopsmith came out with the knurled metal one to replace the rubber in feed one. I never throw away anything, probably a bad habit but not this time. Low and behold I have found the old roller and instructions for
installing it. I hope it has not changed. I will find out when I tear the pro planer down soon. Making saw dust will be all the sweeter with this new toy... Thanks for all the help and great reading here.
John

John, congratulations on your new planer. Very good price. Glad you did not have to ship. The planer is heavy and easily damaged in shipment if not properly packaged.

I know you will be pleased with its performance. But, you must be attentive when installing/adjusting the blades. All three blades must be level and must cut to the same depth.

Did you get an owners manual and an adjustment tool with it?

Hi Dusty;
You guys are an inspiration to us all. I have an owners manual I was able to download and I already have the mounted planer so I am familiar with its use. He did provide the adjustment gauge as well. I have a dial indicator I bought from Harbor Freight with magnetic base. This will allow these old eyes to set the knives a little more accurate.
Thanks for the reply.Do you know if the MS has been using the same rollers from the start? I think the spare I have should fit the Pro. I hope the spare roller I kept when I replaced the rubber in feed roller with the steel one will fit the Pro.

I do not like to comment on equipment that I do not have or have not used BUT I believe that all of the rollers that Shopsmith has produced/sold are interchangeable. However, there have been some changes (improvements) in roller performance. It is my understanding that there are only two versions of rollers. It appears that you have been exposed to both (the steel ones and the rubber ones). I have the rubber ones and they work fine.

In the manual(pre steel infeed roller) the two rollers are the same part #.

Hi JPG;
I bought the Shopsmith mounted planer in the early to mid 80's and it had in feed and out feed rollers made of rubber. I had trouble getting the wood to move through the planer . The MS offered a metal knurled in feed motor at that time and I made the swap. I still have the old rubber roller. I am going to try and replace the worn out feed rubber on the power pro with my old rubber one that is in good shape. I have the instructions for the change that came with the new roller at the time. I just haven't had time to read them yet. I never throw out anything good. I was surprised to find these parts after so many years have gone by.
John