Shopsmith Forums

I'm glad to report that my mark 7 arrived today and it seems to be in pristine condition. I'm very happy about the deal I got on it. Tomorrow I plan to go through the alignment and cleaning procedures to make sure that I'm starting it out right. I've been looking at the "10" lesson self study course ( really it's like 65 lessons and I see that I have a lot to learn. Everything seems doable so I'm excited to learn!

One thing I'm curious about. I saw that shopsmith used to sell a jig saw attachment but discontinued it. Do the band and scroll saw attachments replace that funtionality? If I were to find a working one on Craigslist or wherever would it be able to work with the mark 7?

Warm regards,
Michael

Happy for you Michael! Answer to your question is yes.

Yes to both questions, but the bandsaw is sorta irrelevant.

bandsaw is not irrelevant to us bowl turners. But that's ok, most of us use another type of bandsaw.

Michael,

The jig saw and scroll saw do basically the same thing. The jig saw will accept single end jig saw blades in the lower chuck along with a single end file set that SS used to sell. The scroll saw will not. Unless you are in need of using those two types of cutters/blades you don't need the jig saw and the scroll saw. If you are doing scroll (jig) saw work with the 5" double ended scroll saw blades the SS scroll saw is the superior machine compared to the jig saw.

I think what JPG meant when he said the band saw "is sorta irrelevant" is that it is a different machine for different uses and does not do the same thing that a scroll saw does. It is not irrelevant in and of itself. You might want both.

jsburger wrote:Michael,

The jig saw and scroll saw do basically the same thing. The jig saw will accept single end jig saw blades in the lower chuck along with a single end file set that SS used to sell. The scroll saw will not. Unless you are in need of using those two types of cutters/blades you don't need the jig saw and the scroll saw. If you are doing scroll (jig) saw work with the 5" double ended scroll saw blades the SS scroll saw is the superior machine compared to the jig saw.

I think what JPG meant when he said the band saw "is sorta irrelevant" is that it is a different machine for different uses and does not do the same thing that a scroll saw does. It is not irrelevant in and of itself. You might want both.

A bandsaw is really helpful in cutting the bevel on a piece of bowl stock from rough stock before you mount it to a faceplate.

Indeed my comment was regarding the initial lumping of the band saw in with the jig and scroll saw function. The bandsaw is simply a different animal whereas the jig and scroll function nearly identically.

The intent was not to deny the bandsaw's usefulness for any other function.