Shopsmith Forums

I have a chance to pick up a used Shopsmith Radial Arm Saw. I have no idea of its age or condition yet. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Are these any good? What should I watch out for?

Paul

paul heller wrote:I have a chance to pick up a used Shopsmith Radial Arm Saw. I have no idea of its age or condition yet. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Are these any good? What should I watch out for?

Paul

Missing parts!:D

my biggest complaint/reason for not picking one up is it uses 9" blades with a 1 1/4" hole. 9" blades are much more expensive than a 10" blade pluse then you would have to have the hole enlarged. just my $.02

I have a Goldie Sawsmith RAS and I am the second owner.

If you have doubts and wonder about parts . . . try the Yahoo user group site for Sawsmith.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawsmith/

The set up manual and other booklets for alignment, etc. can be downloaded in .pdf

Someone also posted a chart of different part suppliers. The forum explains the basics of changing the belt, coiled cord, etc. Photos of Sawsmiths

Hopefully, you will get the Sawsmith "Fun With A Saw" book. Otherwise you can find it sometimes on Ebay or try a web search. It is an invaluable resource.

I think worth reading is:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/radialarmsaw.htm
http://www.songofthegreatlakes.com/ssmodels.htm

Hope this helps your decision.

bettyt44720 wrote:my biggest complaint/reason for not picking one up is it uses 9" blades with a 1 1/4" hole. 9" blades are much more expensive than a 10" blade pluse then you would have to have the hole enlarged. just my $.02

The saw blades can be mounted right on the 5/8" shafts of the Sawsmith. I have a 10" blade on mine with the guard in place. There was a special Sawsmith 1-1/4" arbor that could also be mounted on either end of the machine. The Sawsmith was probably one of the few, if not only, radial arm saws that were variable speed. My Sawsmith has the Add-A-Tool bracket. With that I can mount and drive the SPT's. Both shafts have the reverse taper machined in them like the Mark V quill. So you can mount many of the quill mounted accessories to the Sawsmith. I picked the machine up more as a collector and have not used it much to date. I do plan to use it more in the future after I align it and tune it up.

thanks for that info rob. i've wondered if a 10" blade would fit with the guard.