Upper Blade Guard / Miter Gauge Issues// FIXED
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 10:00 pm
Fellow Forum,
I wanted to post how two problems were resolved with Forum help.
Upper Saw Guard Play.
I had a lot of excess play in the clear plastic upper blade guard. I nulled out 80% by installing extra washers and shims at the rear pivot pin. Where plastic meets metal. Be sure that when using shims and such to put equal numbers on both sides of the pin. The small clips went on nice and tight. That was a huge help. It sits equal over my blade. When evaluating the mount I discovered the knob was missing. It had a bolt of unknown origin twisted into it. After I cleaned that up I installed a knob I had. It went tight quick. Riving knife is spot on. Way Better, much safer.
Can anyone confirm the threads on that knob? I used a 1/4 20 thread knob. It went in weird tight?
Miter Gauge
My miter gauge had the nylon set screws for glides. ShopSmith no longer sells the set screws. They do sell the newer nylon cap head screw. I replaced the glides with nylon screws that I cut the heads off. I filed it clean then used a hacksaw to strike a deep grove for a flat blade screwdriver. Worked out well...There was also a problem with the miter gauge when pushing it thru the slot. After this and that I discovered that the miter bar was bent. Just like a ski. discovered by chance when I placed a machined straight edge on the bar. That bend caused the miter gauge to teeter increasing drag then sliding free. If you have glide issues, you might check your miter bar with a machined straight edge.
YOHO! Thanks for the options & help. Very Cool.
Thom Schuck
Portland, Oregon
I wanted to post how two problems were resolved with Forum help.
Upper Saw Guard Play.
I had a lot of excess play in the clear plastic upper blade guard. I nulled out 80% by installing extra washers and shims at the rear pivot pin. Where plastic meets metal. Be sure that when using shims and such to put equal numbers on both sides of the pin. The small clips went on nice and tight. That was a huge help. It sits equal over my blade. When evaluating the mount I discovered the knob was missing. It had a bolt of unknown origin twisted into it. After I cleaned that up I installed a knob I had. It went tight quick. Riving knife is spot on. Way Better, much safer.
Can anyone confirm the threads on that knob? I used a 1/4 20 thread knob. It went in weird tight?
Miter Gauge
My miter gauge had the nylon set screws for glides. ShopSmith no longer sells the set screws. They do sell the newer nylon cap head screw. I replaced the glides with nylon screws that I cut the heads off. I filed it clean then used a hacksaw to strike a deep grove for a flat blade screwdriver. Worked out well...There was also a problem with the miter gauge when pushing it thru the slot. After this and that I discovered that the miter bar was bent. Just like a ski. discovered by chance when I placed a machined straight edge on the bar. That bend caused the miter gauge to teeter increasing drag then sliding free. If you have glide issues, you might check your miter bar with a machined straight edge.
YOHO! Thanks for the options & help. Very Cool.
Thom Schuck
Portland, Oregon