Shopsmith, Inc. 11” Bandsaw Table of Contents WARNING • Read the Safety section and complete the Setup procedures before operating the Shopsmith 11” Bandsaw. • Mount the Bandsaw on Shopsmith equipment only. • Use only Shopsmith parts and accessories on your Bandsaw. Mounting the Bandsaw on non-Shopsmith machinery or using nonShopsmith parts could create a hazardous condition and will void your warranty. Introduction .............................................. 2 Safety .................................
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Introduction The Shopsmith Bandsaw gives you the ability to crosscut, rip, resaw, pad saw, plus cut bevels and round stock. The Bandsaw is also useful for compound cutting, creating shapes that appear to be carved. You can cut both natural and man-made woods, most plastics and some metals with the Bandsaw.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 • Do not force the tool. It will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed. • Always wear eye protection when you use power tools. Use goggles, safety glasses or a face shield to protect your eyes. • Do not use a tool or accessory to do a job for which it was not designed. • Goggles completely surround and protect your eyes. Many goggles will also fit over regular glasses. Be sure your goggles fit closely, but comfortably.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW • Never reach close to the blade or under the table while the tool is running. • Hold stock firmly against the table. • Never attempt a turn tighter than the blade will allow; otherwise, the blade might break. • Use a push stick to finish a resawing or ripping cut. • Keep your hands, fingers and other parts of your body out of the danger zone. • Support long stock with a roller stand. • Hold round stock in a V-block. • Never cut extremely small stock.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 2 DANGER ZONE! Keep hands fingers clear of these areas: √ In front of each blade, √ each side of the insert, √ up to the blade guard. 1a 4 2 3 5 6 1 2 7 Terms to Know Familiarize yourself with the various parts of the Shopsmith Bandsaw: 1. 1a. 2. 3. 4. 5. Cover-This lightweight cover completely encloses the working parts of the Bandsaw, protecting you while the machine is running. Window and slot - allows for modifying blade tension with cover installed.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 9 15 13 14 16 11 10 17 22 18 12 19 20 21 23 8 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Page 6 blocks may be reversed to twist the blade 30 degrees to the right for special operations. Blade Guard-The guard attaches to the upper blade guide assembly. When properly adjusted, it protects you from cutting yourself on the unused portion of the blade.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Specifications These specifications of the Shopsmith Bandsaw give you an idea of its capabilities: Capacities The Bandsaw will cut stock up to 6" thick. With the blade in the normal position, the cutoff capacity is 10-1/2", which is the distance across the machine’s throat. However, with the blade offset 30 degrees right, you can cut off (freehand) any length of stock up to 37/8" wide.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 tacle should have three corresponding holes. Do not modify the plug. If it will not fit the outlet, have the proper outlet installed. If you have a two-hole receptacle, use a temporary adapter to plug in the Mark V. The grounding lug or wire on the adapter MUST be connected to a permanent ground, such as a grounded outlet box. The temporary adapter should be used only until a properly grounded outlet can be installed. (Adapters are not allowed in Canada.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 5. Slide the Mark V headstock toward the Bandsaw until the two drive hubs are 1/4" apart, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 2. Your Bandsaw should look like Fig. 2 (with the table not yet installed). Remove the three screws and washers then the cover (6), as shown in Fig. 3. 3. Back out the setscrews (5) in the base of the Bandsaw, as seen in Fig. 4. Place the Bandsaw on the tubes, as seen in Fig. 5. Don’t tighten the setscrews yet. Fig. 8 Fig.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW PREPARE THE BANDSAW AND TABLE ASSEMBLY 8. Inspect the inside of the Bandsaw and wipe away any dirt of foreign material. Use a clean shop rag and mineral spirits or turpentine, but be careful around the blade. It’s sharp! 9. When the table is clean, wax the top surface and the miter gauge slots with paste floor wax or paste furniture wax. Apply wax sparingly, then buff it thoroughly.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Alignment Fig. 15 15. Screw the socket head screw (91) in the hole located at the back of the table, as seen in Fig. 16. 16. Attach a hex nut (92) to the socket head screw, as shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 16 Your Shopsmith 11” Bandsaw comes to you pre-aligned from the factory. It is important to check all of the following alignment and adjustment procedures, if you have problems with your cut accuracy. Also, it is important to recheck them at regular intervals.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 This mechanism compensates for slight inconsistencies in blade length and tensions the blade. The tension is adjusted by turning the blade tension screw (23) to the left of the idler wheel. This screw moves the flat spring, increasing or decreasing tension. The proper tension for various blades is indicated on a scale above the blade tensioning screw. See Fig. A-1. guide’s roller bearing (63) is adjusted frontto-back by turning two screws (68).
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 3. Rotate the scale so it’s left edge (above the notch) is parallel to and even with the red indicator bar. 4. Hold the scale in position and tighten the screw. 555943 1. If the blade appears off center, loosen the 1/2" mounting bolt (59) that holds the bracket (57) to the Bandsaw frame, as shown in Fig. A-4. 5. Re-tension the blade to the 1/4" setting on the scale. 6. Spin the upper wheel (24) several times to make sure the blade is turning freely.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 4. Use a 1/2" wrench to loosen the two mounting bolts (64) which hold the guide post bracket (70) to the Bandsaw frame, as seen in Fig. A-7. Fig. A-5 3. Slide the lower blade guide sideways until the bearing is centered behind the blade, tighten the mounting bolt, and reset the guide blocks. 4. Again, be sure to keep the bearing parallel to the blade as you’re tightening the bolt.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 To move the guide post and bearing closer to the blade (without changing the tilt of the guide post) turn both of the adjusting screws an equal number of revolutions counterclockwise. To move the guide post and bearing away from the blade (without changing the tilt of the guide post), turn both of the screws an equal number of revolutions clockwise. 9.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Adjusting the Upper Blade Guide’s Height Lock The upper blade guide can be locked at any height 0"-6" above the table. To change the height of the blade guide: 1. Swing the upper blade guide’s height lock handle 90 degrees to the right to loosen the locking mechanism. 2. Adjust the upper blade guide so that it’s no more than 1/4" above the surface of the stock to be cut. 3.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 2. Place the miter gauge in the table’s T-slot. 3. Use a 5/32" Allen wrench to remove the expansion screw found in the center of the miter gauge’s guide bar. See Fig. A-15. 4. Use a medium Phillips screwdriver to adjust the tension of each of the five screw (94) which attach the T-slot extrusion to the table, as shown in Fig. A-16. The tension should be such that the miter gauge will both travel freely in the T-slot and have a snug fit.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 ADJUST THE BLADE GUIDES Figure A-22 Figure A-21 5. Place a precision square along the side of the blade and on the table, as in Fig. A-21. 6. If the blade is square to the table, use a 5/ 32" Allen wrench to adjust the table height screw (91) to touch the Bandsaw casting. If the blade is not square to the table, loosen the trunnion, make the necessary adjustment and lock the trunnion. Now adjust the table height screw. See Fig. A-22 1.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 gauge the guide clearance. Use whichever works best for you. Be careful that the guide blocks do not press the blade to one side or the other. The blade should not be deflected when the blocks are properly set, as shown in Fig. A-32. NOTE Figure A-31 Figure A-32 Adjust the blade guides very carefully: − If the guide blocks are too close to the blade or too far forward, the blade guides may interfere with the running blade.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 2. Clip the insert in its hole, as in Fig. A-34, with the clips going into the table first. 555943 Alignment and Adjustment Safety Checklist When you’ve finished aligning and adjusting the various parts of your Bandsaw, review your work according to this checklist. Make copies of it and perform each item before operating you Bandsaw, especially when it has set idle for more than a few days. Figure A-34 3. Snap down the front of the insert, as shown in Fig. A-35. 1.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Operations The bandsaw blade cuts with a downward motion, toward the table. Because it cuts continuously, you’ll find the Bandsaw is one of the fastest cutting tools in your shop. You can also cut materials other than wood. With the proper blade installed, the Bandsaw will cut plastic, plastic laminates, particle board and even soft, nonferrous metals such as copper, brass and aluminum.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Bandsaw Speeds The speed of the Bandsaw is determined by the blade you use and the material you cut. Generally, slow speeds are used with wide blades to cut hard, thick woods and other dense materials. High speeds are used with narrow blades in soft materials to produce smooth cuts. To determine the correct speed for a particular blade, refer to Bandsaw Blade Selection Chart on page 21. Before you begin any Bandsaw operation, set the machine to run at the correct speed.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 directly against the teeth, even when cutting curves. Figure B-2 Figure B-3 more toward the center, but be careful not to stand on the right side of the blade. 5. Slowly feed the stock into the blade. Use both hands to guide the work and keep it pressed firmly down against the table. WARNING NEVER reach close to the blade or under the Bandsaw table to make adjustments, clear away chips, or for any reason whatsoever while the machine is running.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 2. Grab the top and bottom of the upper wheel. Gently push in on the top of the wheel and pull out on the bottom. 3. Mount and tension the blade. Turn the upper wheel by hand. 4. Repeat the procedure until the blade remains on the wheels. 555943 Cutting Outside the Pattern Line For precision work, cut slightly outside the line-in the waste stock-then sand to the final dimension with a disc sander, belt sander or drum sander, seen in Fig. B-4.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Backtracking In order to break up intricate patterns into simple cuts, you may have to cut in to a point, then back the blade out and cut from another angle, as illustrated in Fig. B-6. This is a safe technique if done carefully, but there is always a danger that you may bind the blade, pull it out of the guides and off the wheels. Sawdust can also pile up behind the blade, preventing you from backing it out.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 also use a feather board to help hold the stock up on edge and flat against the fence. Shopsmith offers a feather board as part of our Safety Kit (505973). Fig. B-10 To increase the cutoff capacity when crosscutting, you can offset the blade, as described on page 26. When the blade is offset, you can cut off any length of stock that you can safely handle, as long as the stock is not more than 37/8" wide.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW you’re making this cut freehand, be careful not to let the work slip downhill. This will put side pressure on the blade, making it hard for you to follow the pattern line and possibly bogging down the Bandsaw. 555943 Pad sawing To duplicate intricate patterns, stack two or more boards on top of each other. Tape or nail them together into a “pad” and saw them all at once, as illustrated in Fig. B-14.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 a second cut with the Bandsaw, shown in Fig. B-16, but save the waste. Tape the waste back to the workpiece in its original position. This will provide a solid base as you make other cuts. Turn the stock 90 degrees so that another side faces up, and trace a pattern on it-it can either be the same pattern or a different one. Make a second cut with the Bandsaw, shown in Fig. B-17. If you want, repeat this process to make a third cut.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 WARNING CAUTION Particle board releases toxic formaldehyde gas when cut. When cutting particle board, always work in a well-ventilated room and use respiratory protection. NOTE When you’re finished cutting particle board, plastics or metals, remove the Bandsaw cover and clean the tires thoroughly with a stiff bristle brush. If you don’t, the filings and chips will become imbedded in the tires and damage them.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 top, as shown in Fig. B-22. Do not secure the guide blocks in place yet, but back the left guide blocks out 1/4" away from the blade. and that the teeth of the blade do not cut into the guide blocks. 8. Replace the cover and table insert. Also, secure the table leveling bolt. 9. Press a block of paraffin or soap against the flat of the blade while it’s running.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 4. Adjust the height of the blade guide so that it’s not more than 1" above the table. Lock the blade guide in place by swinging the handle to the back. 5. Release the blade tension by turning the blade tension screw counterclockwise with your 5/32" Allen wrench until the blade goes slack, as seen in Fig. B-24. Fig. B-26 9. Check the tension scale alignment. With the blade slack on the wheels, the red indicator bar should be parallel to the left edge of the tension scale.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 CAUTION Always release the blade tension when you finish operating the Bandsaw. This prolongs blade life and prevents the upper wheel from taking on an abnormal “set”. Never tension a 1/16" blade beyond the 1/ 8" setting, a 3/16" blade beyond 5/16" (halfway between 1/4" and 3/8" on the scale), or a 1/4" blade beyond 3/8". For 3/8" and 1/2" blades, do not go beyond their proper settings on the tension scale. For 5/8" blades, use the 1/2" settings. Fig.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Maintenance you’ll eventually need to have them professionally sharpened - after you touch up a blade 2-3 times, or when it becomes badly worn. Sharpening a Bandsaw blade is an exacting operation that involves setting the teeth and grinding the hook to precise angles. Unless you have the proper equipment, we recommend you take your dull blades to a saw shop to have this done.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 2. Clamp the clean blade between two blocks of wood (or a wooden-jawed vise) so that the teeth protrude slightly, as shown in Fig. C-1. Notice that the teeth of the blade are slightly bent or “set” from side to side. Their profile is slightly “hooked.” (See Fig. C-2) Pay careful attention to the set and the hook as you file the blade. 555943 CAUTION Do not file the bottom of the gullets. Filing will score the gullets and shorten blade life.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 come shorter than 1-3/8", or the short guide blocks shorter than 3/4", replace the guide blocks with a new set. Brush off the Bandsaw and blow out or vacuum the inside of the machine. If you elect to blow it out, use an air compressor or reverse the airflow on your home or shop vacuum cleaner. Bottles of compressed air also work well. WARNING Wear a dust mask and eye protection when using compressed air to blow dust from your Bandsaw. Fig. C-4 Fig.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Rock the trunnions back and forth as you apply the graphite. We recommend powdered graphite for lubricating the Bandsaw because it’s dry and doesn’t attract sawdust. But if graphite is unavailable, you can apply 10-wt. Machine oil to all the parts that need lubrication, with the exception of the trunnions. The trunnions should either be dusted with graphite or waxed. Use oil sparingly (12 drops only) because excess oil will mix with sawdust and impede moving parts.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 bricates. Apply wax sparingly and rub it out thoroughly. If you apply too much wax or don’t buff it, the wax will leave residue on the wood and it will also mix with sawdust and impede moving parts. Fig. C-10 NOTE 3. Install the new wheel. To install the upper wheel, put it on the shaft with the long side of the hub toward the back of the Bandsaw. Wipe off any excess grease and replace the fiber washer.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Maintenance Schedule The maintenance intervals shown here are based on normal operation and assume that you will be careful not to abuse your Bandsaw. If you work the machine unusually hard or use it to cut metals and other hard materials, you’ll need to maintain it more often. If an unusual noise or vibration develops, stop the machine immediately and check the blade, blade guides, roller bearings, tension, needle bearings and other parts or adjustments.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW 555943 Troubleshooting Guide Problem Area General Operation Blade Guides & Roller Bearings Blade Table Workpiece Accuracy of Cut Quality of Cut Problem Possible Cause Find on Page: 35 36 36 37 38 38 39 Solution General Operation Drive shaft heats up or Lower bearings worn. does not turn smoothly If Bandsaw is driven by V-belt, belt may be too tight. Replace lower bearings. Have done by our Customer Service. Loosen tension on V-belt. Pulleys or hubs improperly aligned.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Problem 555943 Possible Cause Solution Upper blade guide difficult to adjust up and down. Too much spring tension on guide post. Re-adjust tension on guide post. Guide post needs lubrication. Lubricate guide post with graphite. Upper blade guide will not lock in position. Not enough spring tension on guide post. Readjust tension on guide post. Upper blade guide’s roller bearing is more than 1/64" away from the blade. Guide post set too far back.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Problem 555943 Possible Cause Solution Kerf jams with sawdust-un- Backtracking too fast or out of a long cut. Never Turn off machine, let blade stop, then backtrack more than 1". backtrack. able to backtrack. Stock improperly cured. Blade teeth scrape the guide Blade guides too far forward. blocks. Blade hits the table insert. Blade twisting during cut. Use properly cured stock. Re-align blade guides. Make relief cuts or use narrower blade.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Problem 555943 Possible Cause Solution Workpiece Workpiece is difficult to cut. Blade clogged with pitch, dull, or worn. Clean, resharpen, or replace blade. Workpiece too thick for blade being used. Use wider blade. Stock dense and hard. This is normal. Workpiece “burns” during Blade worn or dull. cut. Letting blade dwell in one spot. Cutting corner too small for blade. Resharpen or replace blade. Keep workpiece moving. Make relief cuts or use narrower blade.
SHOPSMITH 11” BANDSAW Problem 555943 Possible Cause Solution Characteristics of blade being used. Use blade with more teeth per inch. Cut is forced. Feed stock more slowly. Blade guides not properly aligned. Re-align blade guides. Blade bent or damaged in one spot. Straighten or replace blade. Grain pattern is not consistent in workpiece. Take your time, especially in hard dense parts of workpiece. Quality of Cut Cut is rough. Inconsistent quality of cut.
Bandsaw 555943 Customer Services: Where to write: - Send inquiries to: Shopsmith, Inc. Customer Services Department 6530 Poe Avenue Dayton, Ohio 45414-2527 Where to Call: Shopsmith maintains toll-free telephone numbers during normal business hours.
