Shopsmith Forums

The used Mark V that I purchased came with the bandsaw and it needs some work. I just purchased Jacob Anderson's DVD on rebuilding/maintenance for the SS bandsaw and it is helpful since I learn/understand better when shown than from written instruction. I already received the urethane for the wheels and I'll need to replace the old rubber that is on it. (I'm kinda dreading that task)

Some areas it hasn't helped me make decisions would be regarding upgrades.
Is it worth making a change from the cast iron table to the newer aluminum table. I would like to begin making some projects that re-sawing would be greatly beneficial, is the new table and accessories worth the expense?
Fences or make jigs for the older table?
If you had to buy two blades, which would you purchase?

As always, thanks for any input.

John,
You should be able to make any jigs or fences you need for re-sawing yourself. Also, as far as I know, there is no compelling reason to upgrade to the aluminum table, unless you just want to have the newest version.
As for blades, I would recommend the Timberwolf, low tension, blades. For re-sawing you would want the 1/2" blade and for general sawing the 1/4" would work fine. They have changed the name to Viking brand now.

To see a video of the Viking blades in action... http://www.theonlinewoodshow.com/show/c ... 0101&cat=1

chiroindixon wrote:I love the TimberWolf blades..BUT...I'm unsure that they have changed names. I purchase them directly from the manufacturer, Suffolk Machinery. Very polite, professional, and half the price that Lee Valley or another dealer will charge. A check of Suffolkmachinery.com this morning showed me no change of name or an additional "Viking" line.

Doc

I had the same doubts about Timberwolf and Viking being one in the same. If they are, they are simultaneously maintaining two different websites.

http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/

http://www.theonlinewoodshow.com/show/company.php?number=20101&cat=1&prod=smblades

However, there is a post on the woodworking.com website that reports the Viking bands are made by a Swedish company called Viking and asks if this is the same company..

http://www.woodworking.com/dcforum/DCForumID5/6753.html

Maybe they are....which one is least expensive would be my question?

John:

Back in the good ole "pre upgrade" days I used to do my resawing on the bandsaw without feeling the least bit deprived. the cast iron table has two slots, perpendicular to each other. You can lock the miter gauge on the table, and with a home made plywood fence attached to the face of the miter gauge, you are all set to resaw. You can even set the "fence" angle to compensate for the leade of the blade. If you are unsure of this proceedure I can explain it in a PM.

That being said, you will eventually want to upgrade to the larger table, perhaps even including the Kreg system. However, you don't need to be in any hurry.

WOW, I woke up this morning and it was like Christmas!
Thank you guys so much for all the information.

I'll look into the blades and hold off on making a change with the table for now, as I'm trying to save for the planer, which I'll need when I start re-sawing. 1/2 and 1/4, gottcha. I bought a 1/2 off SS a while back so I'll be focusing on a 1/4 for now.
The Mark V came with a box that has about 6 blades in it but it appears they are broken...I can't figure out why the original owner kept them unless they can be rewelded together.
8, thanks for the miter guage tip. I still have my old one from the 59 Mark V, from before I upgraded it to a 520 with a new miter guage. I'll be making the fence and toying around with some jigs. I've seen a few ideas in the wood working magazines but if anyone would care to share a picture of their set ups I'd appreciate that.

Thanks again.
John aka pinkie.

Let me add my two cents. I too have the cast iron table bandsaw and I love it. I have thought of upgrading to the new table but two things come to mind. I never found the existing table too small. The new table increases storage requirements of the band saw.

I have also considered the Bandsaw table Rockler offers but figured if I was going to go that way I might just as well build my own table.

As for the precision of the Kreg fence I don't think we think through the process. Most any cut made on a band saw must either be sweetened if you will by either sanding, jointing or planing. It is not cutting something to an exact tolerance on the tablesaw and using the piece without some other operation.

I figure if my bandsaw cuts to witin a +1/16" which I can almost do without a fence. I can reach final dimension by sanding, jointing or planing it. Therefore I don't understand the need to precision in a Bandsaw fence.

As for circle cutting which I do a lot I built a simple circle cutting jig that has it own support so I can cut circles about 4+ feet in diameter easily had have the wood fairly well supported.

Lastly the video Nick made about using SS tables as a table for the bandsaw also gave me bigger table without any extra storage requirements. Although I has me desiring more floating tables.

To me the cast iron table is great and the only real reason I would consider upgrading it now is to remove any rusting issues and I found Johnsons paste wax has more or less eliminated even that problem
Ed

Which flavor of the Timberwolf 1/2" would anyone recommend for resawing hardwood ?

This thread has gone from the titled subject to Bandsaw Bands to Larger Tables to Extension or Floating Tables.

Since there is no specific subject pattern - I have a question. Is the question - "How do I build a Larger Bandsaw Table"? or is it "How do I put an Extension Table on My Bandsaw" or is it "How Do I Add Floating Tables to the Bandsaw"?