Shopsmith Forums

I saw an impressive demo for the Carter Band saw guide retrofit today. Replaces blade guide blocks with roller bearings.With the Shopsmiths thrust bearing and the "cool blocks" I'm running now,would I see any benefit? Has anyone tried this set up on a SS Band saw?

Do a search on the Carter Bearings and you will find quite a bit of information on them as well as the use of ceramic guides and several modifications that I and other have made to the saw. The Carter Bearings work well, but they are pricey.
ldh

I saw the same demo at the woodworking show in Costa Mesa on Friday. I came real close to buying it. I couldn't see what made it so accurate, other than a really good salesman.

ldh wrote:Do a search on the Carter Bearings and you will find quite a bit of information on them as well as the use of ceramic guides and several modifications that I and other have made to the saw. The Carter Bearings work well, but they are pricey.
ldh

Thanks Idh. I searched as you recommended the OP and decided that the SS upgrade was a better buy. We'll see. If not...well I've spent more on a good dinner, and I can always get the Carter set up later.

After looking through some of the old posts and reviews on other sites,the Carter looks like the ultimate set up. I like the concept of bearings over blocks. If I put my Band Saw into heavy use again, I'll likely spring for the upgrade.

I have the Carter bearings and for mostly straight cuts they are good. If you do a lot of resawing, they are great. They do help hold the blade straighter than I've experienced with cool blocks. I have never tried the ceramic blocks.

The Carter bearings are expensive, I've seen them at the Wood Worker shows. I got mine as a present.

If you are doing a lot of curve or circular cutting, you'll find that the bearings limit how tight you can make many cuts. The smallest blade i have ever used in them is 3/16th inch. I wouldn't even bother with an 1/8th inch blade. Carter has a rear bearing replacement for the upper guide of the saw which is supposed to really be good for cutting the curvy shapes, but it is also expensive. I don't know how well it works, although their video shows the demonstrator whipping through 3-d deer statues.

BTW - the Carter bandsaw tuning dvd is just an hour long advertisment for thier products. If you buy one of their products you'll get it for free, but don't waste the $10 price tag.

I don't have a shopsmith band saw but I do have both sets of Carter guides. They are the best thing I have found for my band saw, it has never worked better. The bad news was the cost but it was cheaper then getting a new band saw.

Ed

I have been using ceramic guides on Shopsmith bandsaws that I rebuild and repair. They seems to really last forever and keep the blade tracking straight. I use Shopsmith ceramic guideblocks from http://www.spaceageceramicguideblocks.com/