Shopsmith Forums

I am a newbie to the forum and have an inherited MarkV 500 which has been collecting dust instead of making sawdust. Now, I am getting the machine up to speed and need some advice on the joiner. It is a 505681-B. When I removed the wedges, one was broken under the middle screw. Also, there were no washers under the screws as per the parts list. After a long wait on the phone, I ordered new wedges, on-line, which is a different part number. I am assuming my joiner is old and the part number is updated. Also, the washers were not shown in the the on-line parts list or diagram. Could anyone confirm for me that the washers are no longer needed?

Thanks in advance

Will Jourdan

There have never been any washers under the wedge screws on my jointer.

Did you try SS Chat Room, to get an answer from them?

Almost all the joiners I rebuilt had flat washers installed. I replaced them with lock washers for an additional safety factor. I know Shopsmith does not use washers now under these screws so they are not really required.

billmayo wrote:Almost all the joiners I rebuilt had flat washers installed. I replaced them with lock washers for an additional safety factor. I know Shopsmith does not use washers now under these screws so they are not really required.

I agree Bill. I have not done a jointer in a LONG while but the pro planer is the same. Mine and two others I have done did not have washers. The wedge cap screws were so tight I could not get them loose with the SS T handle hex wrench. WAY too much flex. I used an Apex holder and bit an they came loose fairly easily.

I have found that the hex screws on my table inserts get really tight if I don't change them regularly.

Washers, why?

Why? Same reason for putting washers between screw head and surfaces other places.

My 1963 vintage has washers.(at least the manual says so). My recolection is split lockwashers, but It has been a long time.

I hope you had a discussion with CS since the wedges have recently changed.

After doing a search about washers used for the wedges, I found a couple of old posts (darn can't find them again) that said the older wedges were not steel - at least they were not magnetic. These non magnetic wedges were the ones that used washers under the screws.

Although not finding that particular series of posts again, I did find this from SDSmith. The bolded words are mine
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"Ben, If you tightened the screws up after you set the blade height you will be fine.

I have been through more than 40 Shopsmith jointers. The early versions had plain small washers. The washers were eliminated in later models when I believe they changed the material the wedges were made from. I have never seen a lock washer in any of these 40+ jointers."

charlese wrote:After doing a search about washers used for the wedges, I found a couple of old posts (darn can't find them again) that said the older wedges were not steel - at least they were not magnetic. These non magnetic wedges were the ones that used washers under the screws.

Although not finding that particular series of posts again, I did find this from SDSmith. The bolded words are mine
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"Ben, If you tightened the screws up after you set the blade height you will be fine.

I have been through more than 40 Shopsmith jointers. The early versions had plain small washers. The washers were eliminated in later models when I believe they changed the material the wedges were made from. I have never seen a lock washer in any of these 40+ jointers."

OK, lock washers are a totally different subject. I am talking about flat washers. Why? In wood working and many other disciplines they are used to spread out the (tightening) force. Maybe you have a too large hole so...

I understand we use washers all the time but what is the engineering reason since they are not universal? JPG...

My Greenie a 57 if I remember right, has the inspection opening on the back side of the HS under the Logo plate, jointer was bout on the same order, I have the original paper work on it.
The jointer wedge screws had washers under it. It has been 2.5 years since I did the jointer, but they had washers, since I am in the shop, just pulled 2, flat.

My jointer has the washers as well. I remember because I panicked when I dropped one on the floor and it rolled into the Twilight Zone! Are they needed? I'll never know!