Shopsmith Forums

Hello folks! I recently acquired a used Mark V and my new year's resolution is to seriously take up woodworking.

Since I got this V second-hand, I'm not entirely sure of all the bits and pieces and all the ins and outs. I have the bandsaw attachment and I have it in place, but I noticed the spindle from the headstock does not align true to the spindle on the bandsaw. I have it as level as one man can, but the side-to-side is off by about 1/8 of an inch or about 3.3mm. I've attached a photo for reference. Is this an issue that the coupler can manage or should I attempt finer adjustments? And if adjustments, how?

Thanks in advance!

TheRevEd wrote:Hello folks! I recently acquired a used Mark V and my new year's resolution is to seriously take up woodworking.

Since I got this V second-hand, I'm not entirely sure of all the bits and pieces and all the ins and outs. I have the bandsaw attachment and I have it in place, but I noticed the spindle from the headstock does not align true to the spindle on the bandsaw. I have it as level as one man can, but the side-to-side is off by about 1/8 of an inch or about 3.3mm. I've attached a photo for reference.

spindles.JPG

Is this an issue that the coupler can manage or should I attempt finer adjustments? And if adjustments, how?

Thanks in advance!

Figure 7

If you do not have a manual go to the support section and online manuals. Scroll down to find the Band Saw Manual. It is the current one but most of the information on setup and use is the same. In it you will find the mounting and alignment page to walk you through it.

Since you need to do an alignment to line up the hubs (headstock to accessory), I suggest the you remove the pair of eccentric tubes from the bandsaw and install them where you would with the bandsaw mounted. Get a chair, set yourself down at the end of the Mark V and twiddle with those eccentric tubes. You should notice that they move back and forth in all directions.

It is this motion that allows for lateral alignment of the hubs.

The attachment is intended as a visual aid for this discussion.

Please correct me if I am wrong but older band saws (and other SPT's) did not come with eccentric mounting tubes. They were straight. Both of my jig saws have straight tubes. Maybe that is his problem.

However, since the OP has not replied maybe he does/did not know the mounting tubes are eccentric.

jsburger wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong but older band saws (and other SPT's) did not come with eccentric mounting tubes. They were straight. Both of my jig saws have straight tubes. Maybe that is his problem.

However, since the OP has not replied maybe he does/did not know the mounting tubes are eccentric.

No correction is appropriate.

jsburger wrote:Please correct me if I am wrong but older band saws (and other SPT's) did not come with eccentric mounting tubes. They were straight. Both of my jig saws have straight tubes. Maybe that is his problem.

However, since the OP has not replied maybe he does/did not know the mounting tubes are eccentric.

I am not saying you are wrong but my bandsaw (both of them) came with eccentric tubes. Well, maybe I can't say that the concentric tubes came with my bandsaw but they are what I have and I have NO straight tubes. Maybe this depends on what is defined as "older band saws".

However, whether they came with the band saw or not, they facilitate the lateral alignment of the hubs (for both the bandsaw and the belt sander. If the OP does not have eccentric tubes and still has the problem...maybe the solution is eccentrics.

Shopsmith Jig saws...are they older than Shopsmith Bandsawsbandsaws?

Of possible interest, item #51:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/manuals/845541.pdf

For this discussion, older band saws are indeed those with straight mounting tubes.

Yes the jig saw preceded the band saw.

JPG wrote:For this discussion, older band saws are indeed those with straight mounting tubes.

Yes the jig saw preceded the band saw.

So not confused anymore?