New

[wooddan]

I am a teenager i have just inherited a shopsmith from my grandfather who passed in 92. It was in my uncles garage and he was not using it. It has a bandsaw jointer, and biscut jointer. I am brand new to the shopsmith world but not new to the woodworking world (i ve built 2 chests, a wine rack, and a workbench. I have the manual buta am almost completely lost. I want to build my skills so where do i start. I wat to use the bandsaw but i dont know the first thing about the ss bandsaw. Any tips to shopsmith use in general will be extremely helpful or even tips on sharpening my skills. thank you.

[ericolson]

Wooddan;

Hey!! Welcome to the forum and welcome to Shopsmith-dom!! You're in for a fun ride with this crew! You've asked a pretty tall order. I'll ask you a couple of questions:

#1-Do you have an owner's manual or do you have Powertool Woodworking for Everyone? If you have the OM, read it from cover to cover, especially the safety procedures. If you've got PTWFE, read it from cover to cover, especially the safety procedures. (notice a trend?) Then, once you're done reading, go out to your SS, go through the manual and PTWFE and and examine how they both relate to your machine.

#2-Do you have the manuals for your other machines? If not, they are easily ordered through the Shopsmith website or you can ask some of the fellas here to send you an e-copy.

#3-What is your location? There are probably several SS users on this forum and on the Shopsmith User's Group (ssug.org) that would be happy to mentor you and show you the ropes.

You're already on the right track just by being on this forum. Read the books, ask us questions. We're more than happy to help.

[dusty]

Welcome to this forum. We are very glad to have you join us. I am especially pleased that you come asking questions.

Eric has already given you some of the very best advise that you could get. Read and understand all of the documentation that you have on your machines.

In my opinion (IMO) the best way to become familiar with your equipment would be to clean it and to lubricate it. If your equipment has been setting idle, it is importatnt that you do these things before you use it a lot. Especially the lubrication.

Spend some time here on the forum. I would suggest that you just browse systematically through all of the posts. Look for postings about lubrication and alignment. You'll learn a lot that way without having to make the mistakes that many of us have made.
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Making Sawdust Safely

[hagarz71]

Wooddan,

I am fairly new to shop smith like you are, and like yourself did not have a mentor or someone nearby to show me the in's and out's of the SS. I spent a week maybe two reading the manuals from cover to cover. I also spent time cleaning and waxing the SS.

The advise from the previous guys is right on. That is the best way to familiarize yourself with your equipment. Of course their are always the courses that SS offers, from the feed back given, it sounds like they are outstanding.

Hagar

[wooddan]

I am from mass, near tewksbury i have all the manuals but i ont even know the first thing about even turning it to the correct speeds. Ive looked at videos but they are all in fast motion and dont explain anything. If you know of a slower video that shows how to use it. I checked and their are no demos in my area.

[dusty]

Your last post triggered a very important thought. The speed dial should almost never be changed while the Shopsmith is turned off. Doing so can and probably will cause serious damage. This is all in the manuals that you are about to read but it deserves immediate mention.

NOTE: You will find some special conditions when you are told to change the speed dial with the SS turned off but when you do that you will also be instructed to turn the main shaft by hand.

Clean, lubricate and wax it and by the time you are done you will be well propared to start some neat projects.
___________________
Making Sawdust Safely

[Greenvilleguy]

Wooddan,

Welcome. Like you, I started using my SS as a teenager (I'm now 60 years old!!!).

My advice is to read one section in Power Woodworking for everyone. The table saw would be the logical place to start. Make sure you understand the safe methods of work and then go MAKE SAWDUST!

Learn one function at a time.

One word of caution -- woodworking can be addictive and friends will keep you in projects forever.

[Bruce]

I would add that at least until you are very familiar with the SS, or any power tool for that matter, don't work alone. Accidents can happen in a split second, and if it does, you'll want someone around to administer help. Of course, if you have a helper, be sure they are aware of the safety precautions and wear eye and ear protection and a dust mask just like you.

[deanthom]

Welcome to the Forums, young sir!! We're glad to see you here!

You've gotten numbers of good comments to your questions thus far.

Because you're in a fairly populated area (if I'm reading my map correctly), you might want to visit some of the various woodworking clubs and stores that you have in your area. In N Billerca, there's a woodworking club! 978-667-0477 to get some info. Looks to be about 5 miles away from you as the crow flies. There's a Woodcraft store in Woburn (313 Montvale Ave), 781- 935-6414. Rockler is in Cambridge MA, (617) 497-1136. There are other wood-centered clubs and gatherings around the greater Boston area, too. It all depends on what you want to do.

Another thing you might try is to see if your school has or had a woodshop program. They may even have a club or two that is for budding woodworkers. Most teachers would LOVE to have someone who really wants to learn. The better teachers often have shop time available after school for kids who really want more than they can get in a 45 minute class period.

Keep us informed as to what you find and what sorts of adventures you have. We really do enjoy listening and watching the progress of those just getting started in woodworking, no matter what the age! Pictures are good, too.

[Spike13]

Hi Wooddan,
As you can see already, you have found your way into the Shopsmith family of woodworkers. Eric gave you a few tips to be helpful for a new owner. I would like to add a couple more to the pile:
1. The Shopsmith has been sitting for awhile and I would recommend tuning it up before you start using it. If you were able to come by the manuals, oil and wax the Shopsmith. Clean it out with a shop vac on the inside of the headstock. A maintenance and alignment item is in the notebook that you may have received that describes how and what to do.
2. The Power Tool Woodworking Book for Everyone that Eric mentioned is a good start. There is also wealth of information on the Shopsmith website and the Shopsmith user's group, ssug.org on the internet, besides the forum.
3. If you have the opportunity to attend one of the Shopsmith Traveling Academies, it would be helpful for a vast amount of information for you. There are 3 types of classes. You can go on the Shopsmith.com website to get more info on the classes and when they will be held near you.
4. Customer Service is open 6 days a week from 9AM to 8PM (M-F) and 9AM-3PM (Sat). They can walk you through anything when it comes to the your newly acquired Shopmsith for set-ups and alignment. The ladies and gents there have wealth of information and a FIRST CLASS customer service group. They are there for your convenience and assistance.
5. Always consider safety FIRST as mentioned in some of the other replies. Use of guards, featherboards, and other safety equipment is highly recommended.

I hope this helps you along the way. It's good to see young adults getting into the woodworking end. You have already acquired some talent from what I have read. You will find it rewarding and possibly even money making along the way.

Good luck to you and happy woodworking!