Shopsmith Forums

Today I picked up a SS Jointer for $45! However, it is missing the blade guard, support tubes, and the drive coupler (the metal nut). It also has no dust collection, but I think that is because of the age of the machine.

Questions:
1) I have two options for the guard -- to go with the new featherboard version or with the old metal version (one is available for $15 on a popular internet auction site.) What are the pros/cons of the two?
2) Is the date in the casting a mfg date? If so this was made in Jan of 1980.

And on this coming Sunday I pick up a Shopsmith Planer and 2nd Shopsmith for $300. I only wanted the Planer but he won't sell separate - so I guess I have the makings for a shorty or mini, or whatever they are called. The seller also has a scrollsaw, but I'm not sure that is something I need.

SDSSmith wrote:Paul, I would say that you are now hooked. Planer and a Mark V for $300......nice. You ought to at least ask how much the person wants for the scroll saw. ]

Sent him an email at noon with just that question...

paulrussell wrote: 2) Is the date in the casting a mfg date? If so this was made in Jan of 1980.

It sounds like you have found my jointer's long lost brother!

Mine has the metal guard, and it works fine for me. You should look for eccentric mounts. Also take a look at the fence quadrant to make sure it isn't bent. Mine sticks up above the surface of the infeed table and causes some trouble...

Loren

hobbydad wrote:Also take a look at the fence quadrant to make sure it isn't bent. Mine sticks up above the surface of the infeed table and causes some trouble...

Loren

On the most replaced parts list.

paulrussell wrote:And on this coming Sunday I pick up a Shopsmith Planer and 2nd Shopsmith for $300. I only wanted the Planer but he won't sell separate - so I guess I have the makings for a shorty or mini, or whatever they are called. The seller also has a scrollsaw, but I'm not sure that is something I need.

congratulations on the purchases.

featherboards are a wonderful safety device. it is cheaper to get the SS guard featherboard (and installation kit if you need it) than it is to get the metal guard and a mag-switch featherguard.

on the scrollsaw: make sure that it is a scrollsaw and not a jigsaw. lots of people seem to call their jigsaw a scrollsaw.

hobbydad wrote:It sounds like you have found my jointer's long lost brother!

Mine has the metal guard, and it works fine for me. You should look for eccentric mounts. Also take a look at the fence quadrant to make sure it isn't bent. Mine sticks up above the surface of the infeed table and causes some trouble...

Loren

FWIW, it is supposed to be slightly above the table when secured.

Paul:

My circa 1983 jointer has been upgraded with the featherboard guard and the dust chute. Both of these upgrades were well worth the money. The only maintenance this jointer has required thru the years is waxing the cast iron surfaces and sharpening the blades. I recently gave it to my son-in-law and it is in constant use.

SDSSmith wrote:Paul, I would say that you are now hooked. Planer and a Mark V for $300......nice.]

I am painfully frugal by nature (read: skinflint/scrooge/miserly) and hate spending money, especially since divorcing my first wife, a woman who "would never spend a dollar where five would do."
However, I bought the SS 500 a few weeks back & decided 1) it's a keeper, and 2) I am tired of 'making do' with cheap tools.
I decided that rather than buy cheap & later regret it, I'd buy exactly what I want the first time.
Since I'm not a power tool expert, since the space limitations are still a concern, and since I was impressed by the Mark V, I believe the quickest route to power tool nirvana is to stick with SS as much as possible.
Another plus (and one SS should advertise) is how the tools are an integrated system. For example you can sharpen planer & jointer blades with the conical sander, lathe tools with the disk or belt sander etc...
My only remaining question is dust collection. There is a DC3300 nearby for 190 vs a HF vs a shopvac vs a broom and dustpan. The DC3300 is a bit big for my shop, but I'm thinking it is probably the quietest solution short of the broom and dustpan.