Shopsmith Forums

Hello,
I am completely new to the shopsmith and the forum. I inherited a shopsmith from my pops and a few other woodworking tools that I am trying to become familiar with (I have an intermediate level of understanding and experience). My pops bought them 10 years back and did not do too much with them. From what I can tell, I have a 500 series Mark V.

Yesterday, I went to try to learn how to cut finger joints with a dado stack that I also inherited from pops. I do remember that pops did not use the table saw function on the shopsmith, but a dedicated table saw. He felt that the table saw function was not a safe set-up on the shopsmith, which from what I can tell I am missing the bottom and top shroud, which makes sense (I am currently watching for on ebay and will have in my possession soon). So, I tried to insert the dado stack into my chicago table saw and immediately saw that it would not receive them. After looking at several options I came to the realization that the shopsmith would probably be a better option than upgrading my current table saw. So here comes the question, is it possible to buy a 5/8 arbor to receive the dado stack that I currently have (6" Oshlun dado stack) for the 500 series? (I am just trying to keep from wasting my money and spare myself some frustration on something that won't work.) Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

You can check out the Shopsmith Molder/Dado arbor in the catalog at the link below:

https://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cat ... oarbor.htm

I got a dado stack and arbor with my first Shopsmith way back when. I only used it a couple of times before passing on the blades to someone else, but I still have the arbor, it's threaded and useful in other ways. Can't say how well that will work with your stack but if it's made for a 5/8" then it should work.

Welcome aboard.
Yes, there is an arbor for dado blades.
https://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cat ... oarbor.htm

Thank you gents! I had seen this on their site, but was skeptical about how it would work with older models. It is wonderful to hear that it will! It is amazing when a company still supports older models! Truly unusual in today's market. I appreciate your help and thank you for welcoming me!

The Molder/Dado Arbor part number 505506 was previously named the 5/8" Universal Arbor and some variation of it has been around since the original Shopsmith Model 10E was introduced. The picture below shows the different 5/8" Arbors made since the introduction of the Shopsmith Model 10E in 1947. Only four of these arbors are current ones. They are 505506 Molder/Dado Arbor, 555302 Grinding Wheel Arbor, 555321 5/8" Saw Blade Arbor for the Mark V 500 and 555608 5/8" Saw Blade Arbor for the Mark V 505, 510, 520 and the current Mark 7.
As for which Mark V you have that is dependent on the table/fence system. The 500 is the original Mark 5 table system it came with when introduced in 1954. The 510 and 505 is a larger table system with tube fence rails. The 520 and Mark 7 both have the same larger tables but extruded aluminum fence rails and is called the Pro Fence. If you want to post pictures of your Mark V we can easily tell which it is.

Also note that you may also require a dado insert for the table. Evidently Shopsmith no longer carries these for the 500, but offers a blank insert. Old-style dado inserts are readily available on eBay.

- David