Shopsmith Forums

Shopsmith has a sale on the maintenance kits and I was thinking about it. I have almost everything that is in the kit except for the shims. My question is about the shims. How do you use them and how do you know if you need them?

They also have an alignment video in the ad. I'm probably going to buy it anyway but would like an impartial review of it. Is it worth it or are there other alignment videos to consider? My machine always seems to be out of alignment somewhere so I want to just stop everything and do a complete realignment of my 520 and my band saw then check everything else before I start any other projects. I know I have some table issues with my band saw so I guess that is where the shims could help.

Michael

dynabase wrote:Shopsmith has a sale on the maintenance kits and I was thinking about it. I have almost everything that is in the kit except for the shims. My question is about the shims. How do you use them and how do you know if you need them?

They also have an alignment video in the ad. I'm probably going to buy it anyway but would like an impartial review of it. Is it worth it or are there other alignment videos to consider? My machine always seems to be out of alignment somewhere so I want to just stop everything and do a complete realignment of my 520 and my band saw then check everything else before I start any other projects. I know I have some table issues with my band saw so I guess that is where the shims could help.

Michael

I also had a problem with my Band Saw table years ago. The table was not square front to back with the teeth of the blade. When I brought it up here I was told that is the way it is supposed to be. Huh? If you want to cut tenons on the band saw how can you do it if the table is not square to the cutting edge of the blade? I used the shims in the help kit and squared up the table and it has been fine for years.

It is also nice to have an assortment of set screws if you ever need one. It is certainly not something you needed yesterday but if it is on sale I would go for it.

Thanks for your reply. I have all the set screws mentioned in the kit. The only thing I am missing is the shims. It is hard to justify the cost of the kit just for the shims. On the other hand if you order just a shim kit from SS then it ends up costing about a dollar shim if you include shipping. I have until the 29th to make up my mind. I have the same problem you mentioned with my band saw table so I probably need the shims.

Michael

A shim does not need to be shaped like a washer, but they are much more convenient if so.

A shim source can be almost anything the needed thickness.

Hi All

But what about the videos? Are they worth purchasing?

Thanks
George