Shopsmith Forums

Hello all.
Purchased Mark 5 at a mall in 1978. Next tool purchase is a used pro planer yesterday. By serial number it is a 1984 model in fine useable shape.

I do believe the belt needs an upgrade. I also see the pulley upgrade package to increase the speed - seems significant.

Could you all help me with 3 questions? First is a coģged belt in order?
Second, buy the upgrade or just pick up the needed pulleys locally?
Third, with larger pulleys what is the correct belt size?

Thanks much for any help.

Dan

Realize the pulley upgrade should also include a motor hp increase. *

* see later post.

According to the Pro Planer manual, the motor pulley is 5", the driven pulley is 3", and the belt is 38".

I researched belt drives for a different project recently, and found that cogged belts are a bit more efficient, and can be used with smaller pulleys (like the 3") for a given horsepower. But a standard "A" belt is usable for this application. If you want a cogged belt, get an "AX" type. A "4L" cogged belt will fit, but isn't rated for the full power.

But regardless, for $40 I'd buy the upgrade kit from the mother ship. The steel pulleys are likely better than what you'd find at your local hardware store. And more importantly, Shopsmith includes a new pulley cover with the kit, which makes me think that the new pulleys won't fit under the old cover.

Also, I highly recommend the dust-chute retrofit (assuming that you already have the dust chute itself). It greatly improved the chip-collection efficiency of my older Pro Planer (and will help defray shipping charges for the pulley kit).

Regarding motor power, I doubt that you need to upgrade. The required power has more to do with material-removal rate than with cutterhead speed. And you have two ways to control material-removal rate: depth of cut and feet rate, both infinitely-variable on a Pro Planer. So unless you are planing a heck of a lot of wood, I wouldn't worry about a 17% increase in power. Shopsmith headstocks get the same job done with only 1-1/8 hp.

Welcome aboard.

In the heading you used the "O" word, surly you meant to say "Long time user".

Afraid it's so, old and long time.

Good advice, I'll order the pulley set.
I'm not sure about dust collection. There is a 2 7/8" hole under the SS badge. Is that what is needed for the dust collection?
Dan

DJones wrote:Afraid it's so, old and long time.

Good advice, I'll order the pulley set.
I'm not sure about dust collection. There is a 2 7/8" hole under the SS badge. Is that what is needed for the dust collection?
Dan

If all you have is a hole under the badge, then you need the complete dust-chute kit.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... tchute.htm

Thank you fellas - especially you BuckeyeDennis.

I'll get things ordered - including knife changing tool.
Dan

Gotta slightly disagree Dennis.

The Mark mount planer runs at 3000 to 4100 rpm depending upon the species, width, depth of cut and feed rate.

The original pro planer had a 1 1/2 hp motor(IIUC) and a larger motor(1 3/4 or 1 7/8?) when the pulleys are changed.

JPG wrote:Gotta slightly disagree Dennis.

The Mark mount planer runs at 3000 to 4100 rpm depending upon the species, width, depth of cut and feed rate.

The original pro planer had a 1 1/2 hp motor(IIUC) and a larger motor(1 3/4 or 1 7/8?) when the pulleys are changed.

I know you have said this before but I am not sure it is correct. The power stand to mount a SS mount planer on has/had a 1 1/2HP motor. The pro planer has always had a 1 3/4HP motor. A SS mount planer on a power stand does not a Pro Planer make.

That is the way I understand it but of course I could be wrong.

I don't know what you consider an "original pro planer". My Pro Planer has a 1 3/4hp motor and it dates back to 1988/89.