Shopsmith Forums

Took advantage of recent sale at SS on the aluminum table upgrade for the bandsaw. While realizing that it may be some time before I get it, I am thinking ahead at what uses I can make of the old cast iron table. Probably just sell it or give it away. Any one else out there who might have some suggestions on use I can make of the old table?

jig saw or router table insert (or table). Talk about non-sag rigid! And those two miter gauge slots...

Darn. I might do that myself.

So I was really wanting to upgrade my bandsaw to the new table when I saw the sale but I looked at the catalog and saw the back order notice and decided not to order because I can't just wait for the unexpected change on my credit card to happen when they decide to ship. Now I see you are waiting for delivery I am glad I did not order it but I still want one.

Jim - for future reference - Shopsmith will let you pay when you make your order if you want. If you buy a Shopsmith gift card, they, of course, take the money immediately. You can make your order, pay for it with the gift card. BUT THEN YOUR $ IS SPENT and you have to wait.

I discovered this after I talked TLOML into giving me a gift card from SS for a birthday. Wasn't thinking that the $ all comes out of the same pot. (our pot):p At least the wait for that item was not too long. But there was another problem --

Also found out that if you want to add a credit card amount to the gift card - you have to make the order over the phone. The reason is; If the gift card is not large enough to handle the order, the whole amount will come out of your credit card account. You can fix this issue with a phone order.

I like the router table suggestion. I do have one question, and being new to the SS the answer might be obvious that I'm missing it, but what is the attraction of the aluminum table over the cast iron table? Is it simply a weight issue?

Thanks.

deekay wrote:I like the router table suggestion. I do have one question, and being new to the SS the answer might be obvious that I'm missing it, but what is the attraction of the aluminum table over the cast iron table? Is it simply a weight issue?

Thanks.

It is a bigger table and will take accessories such as the microadjustable fence assembly. Not that I can afford it, of course, but the bigger table will be nice. Not essential but just nice. I am updating my SS equipment with some of the later stuff as my budget allows.

bobgroh wrote:It is a bigger table and will take accessories such as the microadjustable fence assembly. Not that I can afford it, of course, but the bigger table will be nice. Not essential but just nice. I am updating my SS equipment with some of the later stuff as my budget allows.

Thanks for the info Bob. I have an old greenie bandsaw SPT that I'm about to refurbish. Maybe since it's a freebie I can convince Mrs. that an aluminum table is a "must-have".

deekay wrote:Thanks for the info Bob. I have an old greenie bandsaw SPT that I'm about to refurbish. Maybe since it's a freebie I can convince Mrs. that an aluminum table is a "must-have".

Like Pandora's box, it is just the beginning. There are the table extension, the circle pivot thingie, the SS fence, the incra fence, the resaw guide . . .

I have heard (some place) of one plus to the original table - you can use a magnetic clamp on it. So you could build a fence and then 'clamp' each end using those super strong magnets. Kind of intrigued me when I first saw the idea - obviously not a possibility with the aluminum table.

JPG: Pandora's box indeed. I just have to invent projects that need done around our place to justify buying news bits and pieces. Some of those I can build myself, such as the circle cutter doo-dah. I'm brainstorming now a resaw fence taht I can build out of an aluminum extrusion we've got laying around. I can either figure out a manual clamping system or a magnetic setup as Bob suggested. I can see the magnets working quite nicely for some featherboards.

Now if I can just find the time!