Bandsaw Table Insert.....

[froglips]

Howdy all, question.

I picked up a used Shopsmith Bandsaw with the older cast iron table.

It didn't have that round table insert. Being the older table, Shopsmith does not carry the insert any more.

I've strained my brain thinking about how to make a replacement, thought I'd throw my quandry to the wonderful folks on this list.

The circular opening for the insert has a small lip, so its not really "easy" to just trace the opening.

My "solution" is to make a very finely adjustable circle cutter for my router and keep trimming till i get a fit.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

p.s. In the short term, I bolted a 3/4" piece of MDF to cover the whole table. Talk about a pound of cure.....

 

[DaveO]

Use a set of dividers to measure the size of the two circles and see if they correspond to a standard measurement and then use a compass to draw out the circles and cut the outer one and rabbet the inner one. That might reduce some trial and error.
Dave

 

[gator]

Would there be a posibility that a standard round insert that fits 99% of 14 bandsaws would fit? Woodcraft, Klinspor, Woodworkers Supply and Rocklers all carry them. Or maybe you've already tried that route.

George

 

[kota62]

Jim
I just made one for my Grizz this past weekend
I started with planed down UHMP (that hard slick plastic) I found a hole saw that was slightly larger than the table opening, cut then trimmed to fit using a disk sander, after it fit i traced from underneath and set a jig on my router table.... I took a straight cutting bit, set to the height of the material i wanted to remove, took a piece of scrap wood (1X1/2X6) and made a rounded nose to the one end that i fed over the bit to cut some clearance, i then pulled it back to expose the amount of bit that would correspond to what i needed to remove from the underside of the insert, it felt a little hairy cutting this but ended up being very controlled and easy... now the underside isn't perfect, but really i don't see the need for that...
sorry for the ramble, but i'm not near my shed so i can't save a thousand words by taking a picture...
if you need more help, i can take pics tomorrow
Gary

 

[froglips]

Thanks guys!

Gary, I'm a big fan of pics if you happen to have any.

I believe the shopsmith insert is a custom size, but I'll measure it just to be sure.

How important would a super tight fitting insert be for a bandsaw? Got to wondering if it could be sloppy.

Jim

 

[Joe Scharle]

Jim, www.pricecutter.com ;they came 4 to a pack. They do sit a little high, but you could sand them down if you wanted. My size is 2 1/2 X 2 1/8.

Joe

 

[DavidF]

I would probably use one those "very useful sometimes" adjustable hole/wheel drilling bits in a drill press and use MDF or ply.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006B4PM2/102-4737801-8309706?v=glance&n=228013

 

[kota62]

Jim:
Here are your thousand words ;-)











Clicking on the pics will take you to my Photo Gallery where i explained a little more in depth
HTH
Gary