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[wooddan]

I am a teenager i have just inherited a shopsmith from my grandfather who passed in 92. It was in my uncles garage and he was not using it. It has a bandsaw jointer, and biscut jointer. I am brand new to the shopsmith world but not new to the woodworking world (i ve built 2 chests, a wine rack, and a workbench. I have the manual buta am almost completely lost. I want to build my skills so where do i start. I wat to use the bandsaw but i dont know the first thing about the ss bandsaw. Any tips to shopsmith use in general will be extremely helpful or even tips on sharpening my skills. thank you.

[ericolson]

Wooddan;

Hey!! Welcome to the forum and welcome to Shopsmith-dom!! You're in for a fun ride with this crew! You've asked a pretty tall order. I'll ask you a couple of questions:

#1-Do you have an owner's manual or do you have Powertool Woodworking for Everyone? If you have the OM, read it from cover to cover, especially the safety procedures. If you've got PTWFE, read it from cover to cover, especially the safety procedures. (notice a trend?) Then, once you're done reading, go out to your SS, go through the manual and PTWFE and and examine how they both relate to your machine.

#2-Do you have the manuals for your other machines? If not, they are easily ordered through the Shopsmith website or you can ask some of the fellas here to send you an e-copy.

#3-What is your location? There are probably several SS users on this forum and on the Shopsmith User's Group (ssug.org) that would be happy to mentor you and show you the ropes.

You're already on the right track just by being on this forum. Read the books, ask us questions. We're more than happy to help.

[dusty]

Welcome to this forum. We are very glad to have you join us. I am especially pleased that you come asking questions.

Eric has already given you some of the very best advise that you could get. Read and understand all of the documentation that you have on your machines.

In my opinion (IMO) the best way to become familiar with your equipment would be to clean it and to lubricate it. If your equipment has been setting idle, it is importatnt that you do these things before you use it a lot. Especially the lubrication.

Spend some time here on the forum. I would suggest that you just browse systematically through all of the posts. Look for postings about lubrication and alignment. You'll learn a lot that way without having to make the mistakes that many of us have made.
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Making Sawdust Safely

[hagarz71]

Wooddan,

I am fairly new to shop smith like you are, and like yourself did not have a mentor or someone nearby to show me the in's and out's of the SS. I spent a week maybe two reading the manuals from cover to cover. I also spent time cleaning and waxing the SS.

The advise from the previous guys is right on. That is the best way to familiarize yourself with your equipment. Of course their are always the courses that SS offers, from the feed back given, it sounds like they are outstanding.

Hagar

[wooddan]

I am from mass, near tewksbury i have all the manuals but i ont even know the first thing about even turning it to the correct speeds. Ive looked at videos but they are all in fast motion and dont explain anything. If you know of a slower video that shows how to use it. I checked and their are no demos in my area.

[dusty]

Your last post triggered a very important thought. The speed dial should almost never be changed while the Shopsmith is turned off. Doing so can and probably will cause serious damage. This is all in the manuals that you are about to read but it deserves immediate mention.

NOTE: You will find some special conditions when you are told to change the speed dial with the SS turned off but when you do that you will also be instructed to turn the main shaft by hand.

Clean, lubricate and wax it and by the time you are done you will be well propared to start some neat projects.
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Making Sawdust Safely

[Greenvilleguy]

Wooddan,

Welcome. Like you, I started using my SS as a teenager (I'm now 60 years old!!!).

My advice is to read one section in Power Woodworking for everyone. The table saw would be the logical place to start. Make sure you understand the safe methods of work and then go MAKE SAWDUST!

Learn one function at a time.

One word of caution -- woodworking can be addictive and friends will keep you in projects forever.

[Bruce]

I would add that at least until you are very familiar with the SS, or any power tool for that matter, don't work alone. Accidents can happen in a split second, and if it does, you'll want someone around to administer help. Of course, if you have a helper, be sure they are aware of the safety precautions and wear eye and ear protection and a dust mask just like you. :)