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Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:44 am
by Danimal713
I am usually one giving answers but this time I am a bit stumped. A friend brought a gray 20" Shopsmith scroll saw mounted on its own stand for repair/cleaning/maintenance. It was slowing during cuts- test cut on pine less than 3/4" thick. I checked the belt and it was loose so I put more tension and it seemed to fix the problem. I used dry lube (Teflon in a liquid base) to lubricate moving parts) and it also seemed to move more freely and was more quiet. Repeat testing and no slowing of cuts was seen so it seemed resolved. My friend took it back to his shop and said it would slow (lose power) during cuts. Any ideas or things to check? Also I do not see any belt listed in scroll saw parts from Shopsmith- anyone found a source?
All input appreciated.
Thanks, Dan-the-Toolman
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:00 pm
by BuckeyeDennis
Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:42 pm
by JPG
BuckeyeDennis wrote:Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
DC motor - power supply????
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:06 pm
by BuckeyeDennis
Whoops! I assumed it was an induction motor.
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:08 pm
by BuckeyeDennis
But then again, if it's an unregulated DC supply ...
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 7:49 am
by Danimal713
BuckeyeDennis wrote:Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
It exhibited that symptom when he dropped it off at my shop but after I tightened the belt, not seen in my shop after that.
Another suggestion was possible motor and pointed toward a DC motor so I had to go look at mine- yep it is a 1/8 HP DC motor and do not see any power supply/regulator so most likely an unregulated DC motor and probably makes the most sense as high on the suspect list. Thanks for the input. Dan
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:11 pm
by JPG
Danimal713 wrote:BuckeyeDennis wrote:Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
It exhibited that symptom when he dropped it off at my shop but after I tightened the belt, not seen in my shop after that.
Another suggestion was possible motor and pointed toward a DC motor so I had to go look at mine- yep it is a 1/8 HP DC motor and do not see any power supply/regulator so most likely an unregulated DC motor and probably makes the most sense as high on the suspect list. Thanks for the input. Dan
I am guessing that it is similar or the same as the planer feed motor control in the switch box. i.e. lamp dimmer with a fw bridge output.
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:16 am
by Danimal713
JPG wrote:Danimal713 wrote:BuckeyeDennis wrote:Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
It exhibited that symptom when he dropped it off at my shop but after I tightened the belt, not seen in my shop after that.
Another suggestion was possible motor and pointed toward a DC motor so I had to go look at mine- yep it is a 1/8 HP DC motor and do not see any power supply/regulator so most likely an unregulated DC motor and probably makes the most sense as high on the suspect list. Thanks for the input. Dan
I am guessing that it is similar or the same as the planer feed motor control in the switch box. i.e. lamp dimmer with a fw bridge output.
That is exactly the motor I thought of too. I recently just finished rebuilding a ProPlaner for this same friend. New in/outfeed rollers and cutterhead bearings. It is gut the entire thing- one end has to come off to get the parts in. An odd thing that happened- of the 4 keys on shafts, I had to file down 2 so they fit back in the slots on the shafts. It was a pain but it was only way those keys were going back in those slots. On my ProPlaner I had a segmented belt after I sold my old 6" WoodMaster (SSmith knockoff) and I put it on my planer- BIG noise difference. It runs so much more quiet now.
But I digress- checking and motor for scrollsaw on stand is not listed since SSmith stopped selling the scrollsaw on the stand. Even if it was still available, based on the cost of a similar motor on the planer, it would be cost prohibitive. ProPlaner no longer has feed motor listed but the Mark V mounted one is $495.99!!!
For the cost of that, I think I would opt to put that money toward a Hegner or Hawk scrollsaw or similar.
Thanks for the comments and input.
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:37 pm
by Danimal713
JPG wrote:Danimal713 wrote:BuckeyeDennis wrote:Did you experience the slowing at your shop also, or was that only at your friend's shop? If only at his shop, I'd be suspicious of his electrical supply, including any extension cords.
It exhibited that symptom when he dropped it off at my shop but after I tightened the belt, not seen in my shop after that.
Another suggestion was possible motor and pointed toward a DC motor so I had to go look at mine- yep it is a 1/8 HP DC motor and do not see any power supply/regulator so most likely an unregulated DC motor and probably makes the most sense as high on the suspect list. Thanks for the input. Dan
I am guessing that it is similar or the same as the planer feed motor control in the switch box. i.e. lamp dimmer with a fw bridge output.
Re: Shopsmith 20" scroll saw slows during cuts
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:21 pm
by JPG
Danimal713 wrote:JPG wrote:Danimal713 wrote:
It exhibited that symptom when he dropped it off at my shop but after I tightened the belt, not seen in my shop after that.
Another suggestion was possible motor and pointed toward a DC motor so I had to go look at mine- yep it is a 1/8 HP DC motor and do not see any power supply/regulator so most likely an unregulated DC motor and probably makes the most sense as high on the suspect list. Thanks for the input. Dan
I am guessing that it is similar or the same as the planer feed motor control in the switch box. i.e. lamp dimmer with a fw bridge output.
????