Shopsmith Forums

This is my second post in regards to the Miter Gauge. I have been working thru every part.
Issue,
I am pretty much rebuilding my miter gauge. I am still waiting for the incorrect glides from SS.

1. I noticed that the miter gauge bar seems to be bent. Side to side it is straight. The end of the bar skis up. If I hold the Miter Gauge head down tight on the saw deck the end is up almost 1/8”. Is this “bend” proper?
2. I noticed that the last hole on the guide bar is missing what SS IDs as a Washer #283 & #284 Screw. Both missing. Is this why the bar is bent up?

3. There is a slot in the Miter Bar. I believe this to be an expansion slot. It has a set screw type fastner in it. I turned it with my Allen wrench so I believe that part is good.

If someone could help me great! If you can photo it OR describe the exact size and thread I won’t need to buy another $3.95 washer from SS.
Short and sweet. Thank you very much.
Thom Schuck
Portland, Oregon

Thomschuck wrote:This is my second post in regards to the Miter Gauge. I have been working thru every part.
Issue,
I am pretty much rebuilding my miter gauge. I am still waiting for the incorrect glides from SS.

1. I noticed that the miter gauge bar seems to be bent. Side to side it is straight. The end of the bar skis up. If I hold the Miter Gauge head down tight on the saw deck the end is up almost 1/8”. Is this “bend” proper?
2. I noticed that the last hole on the guide bar is missing what SS IDs as a Washer #283 & #284 Screw. Both missing. Is this why the bar is bent up?

3. There is a slot in the Miter Bar. I believe this to be an expansion slot. It has a set screw type fastner in it. I turned it with my Allen wrench so I believe that part is good.

If someone could help me great! If you can photo it OR describe the exact size and thread I won’t need to buy another $3.95 washer from SS.
Short and sweet. Thank you very much.
Thom Schuck
Portland, Oregon

No it should not be bent up. The washer on the end is there to keep the miter gauge in the table T track when you slide the body/handle off the back of the table. If that washer was there on your miter gauge bar it would not slide.

You might be able to straighten the miter bar enough to work but it will never be perfect. I would buy a new miter bar from SS. The other alternative is buy a complete miter gauge on eBay. They are on there all the time.

1 - the bend is not normal, the miter bar should be straight in both directions.

2 - the washer in the last hole is only used if you have the 510 or 520 table system which has a T-slot, the slot in the 500 table system does not have the T at the bottom, so there is nowhere for the washer to go.

3 - re the slot in the center of the bar, the set screw is tapered and tightening it allows the miter bar to be locked in the slot. This is useful, for example, on the old cast iron bandsaw table as it enabled the miter gauge to be used as rip fence.

This video on the miter gauge may be of some interest.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILqeevkKf3A[/youtube]

Hi Thom,
Did you put a straight edge against it to see how bent it is? It would be difficult to straighten without the correct tools due to the thickness of the bar. The Miter bar is part number 518104 and is $31.72 new. Do you have the Mark V 500, 510 or 520 Table/Fence System? I know yours is from 1983 but you did not say if it has been upgraded at all. If is is the 500 you do not need the washer and screw. It is for the 510, 520 and Mark 7 that have the "T" slot in the table. The washer is P/N 514376 ($4.96) and the screw is P/N 514377 ($3.95). They would be difficult to find locally. I doubt even Parkrose Hardware would have the washer since it is countersunk for the screw on one side. It may be cheaper to buy a used one for all the parts but no guarantee it would be a straight bar either, although a bent bar is not common. I wish I could tell you I had extra Miter parts to help you out but the only extra item I currently have is a safety grip. The guy on 75th and Foster from craigslist doesn't have one in his list of stuff either.