Shopsmith Forums

I just acquired an older Mark V, and the bandsaw needs some work. The insert for table is non existent, and measures 2.5". I can make one of aluminum sheet stock, but does it need to be really tight fiiting so it won't wobble around when sawing? Do the originals have screws to keep them oriented? No screw holes are in the table.

Also - I have an extra old Greenie Table Saw table with fence, and thought it might make a great bandsaw table and rip fence. Has anyone done this? Will it fit up ok?

Thanks from the Newbie.

MG Designs
Custom Hand Engraving
And maker of Fine Kindling and great sawdust.

Hi,

I will let somebody else talk about Inserts.

For the Fence, just one idea was discussed on another forum which was highly entertaining:
http://www.ssug.org/index.php?option=co ... 74&limit=6

Have fun! Planning and imagining are as much fun as the real work sometimes.

I looked briefly at this post, and my idea would be to use the entire table from the table saw, and not have to cut anything complicated, just create the slot for the bandsaw blade installation and the mounting holes. I'll look into this more on Sunday when I have a day off of work.

I think the insert for the bandsaw table is very reasonable from Shopsmith. It didn't have screws; instead there are two spring clips that hold it in place.

How do the spring clips engage, if I was to fabricate one myself? Can someone post a photo of the older style? Thanks.

I'll have plenty of questions as time goes on, I am sure.

As for the fence, it makes big difference if we're talking the earlier iron table, or the later aluminum table.

As for the insert, the oem one uses spring clips that go through the hole and simply hold the insert by friction. No big deal to fabricate one, but the oem one is cheap enough to make it worth consideration. And if you're not going to make close quarter cuts on small stuff, just make that aluminum or wood insert with a center hole large enough for the saw blade regardless of orientation.

Is your table cast iron? The insert on my cast iron bandsaw table doesn't have any kind of screws or spring clips. There is a notch in the table that a protruding "key" from the insert fits into for alignment with the table. Otherwise, it's just sitting there with only gravity holding it in place.

foxtrapper wrote:As for the fence, it makes big difference if we're talking the earlier iron table, or the later aluminum table.

As for the insert, the oem one uses spring clips that go through the hole and simply hold the insert by friction. No big deal to fabricate one, but the oem one is cheap enough to make it worth consideration. And if you're not going to make close quarter cuts on small stuff, just make that aluminum or wood insert with a center hole large enough for the saw blade regardless of orientation.

Is this also true for the older cast iron table?

Never Mind, Heath simultaneously answered that!

I just recent bought a pair of inserts for my iron table, circa 1980ish.
Before, I railed at the idea of paying the price so I just laid a piece of 1/8 Masonite over the entire table and added strips of wood under it to hold it tight on the table. Sorta framed in the table under the Masonite. I rarely use a fence or miter gauge, so that wasn't a problem.

I have been using the 2 1/2" Delta Zero Clearance Bandsaw Inserts from http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... ign=amazon

They have worked well for the original steel Bandsaw tables for me.