Shopsmith Forums

My bandsaw came with an upgraded table and the old cast iron table in a box. Anyone have clever ideas on how to repurpose that dandy hunk of cast iron?

Make a trim router table?

jsburger wrote: Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:22 pm Make a trim router table?

Excellent idea! Or maybe mount a Dremel type tool or a jig/saber saw.

Those tables are nice hunks of steel, just took mine off for cleaning and alignment and once again surprised myself with its weight. Do the aluminum tables weigh a lot less? Certainly would make aligning the spindle a lot easier if an extra 10 lbs. wasn't there.

jsburger wrote: Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:22 pm Make a trim router table?

I like the sound of that!

Interesting ideas. A base could be made and the trunnions could be mounted to the table backwards to allow more room , if needed, for whatever tool was mounted under it. A plate could be made to hold the tool that mounts with the trunnion bolts. Add a 3D printed table insert with whatever hole size and shape is needed for the tool mounted. There should be quite a few cast iron Bandsaw Tables available for these ideas as others have changed theirs to the aluminum table.

I haven't scoped out how hard it would be, but I'm interested in adapting either type BS table to the Strip Sander. I think having miter slots would open up a whole world of potential in making and mounting jigs. Alternatively, an adaptation of standard T-slot or "the Buckeye's" new system would also work well. Just thinking the standard Strip Sander table is a little too standard.

I think the small router table is a great idea. Its worth looking at Ed Reible's MFT mount of a router or sander. And I would also consider an inverted mount for a hand-held jig saw. IIUC, the original SS (Magna) Jig Saw could use blades of this type (single end mounted) but the modern SS Scroll Saw cannot.

- David

As for your comment David,

IIUC, the original SS (Magna) Jig Saw could use blades of this type (single end mounted) but the modern SS Scroll Saw cannot.

The Magna/Shopsmith Jig Saw can use single ended blades and have the upper arm removed to use as a Sabre Saw. The same is true for the Model 10E and 10ER Jigsaw Saw. It is a nice feature of those Jig Saws when cutting larger stock with no arm to work around.

As for using the cast iron Bandsaw table on the Strip Sander there could be problems. The Strip Sander table is 11" x11" whereas the Bandsaw CI table is 12" x 12" so the center hole wouldn't line up on the strip sander. One possibility would be to remove some of the table edge next to the Strip Sander's frame and cover to center the hole. That use would also depend on if the trunnions line up and is the Strip Sander's single trunnion strong enough to hold the Bandsaw's CI table. The Bandsaw's aluminum table would have some of the same mounting/clearance problems but is lighter in weight.

I do see the thought processes are hard at work here.