Shopsmith Destiny

[John Morris]

Cleaning up my garage today, I was going through my blade collection. I've had this blade hanging on my wall for about 15 years. I never could figure out the oversized arbor hole. 

Till now! Seems my Shopsmith destiny was written long ago! 

Note logo at top. Just today I noticed the logo.

[Grandpadave52]

Bet you can't get it sharpened for a buck-fifty now.

[Gene Howe]

Did your dad have a Shopsmith? 

 

[John Morris]

4 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Did your dad have a Shopsmith?

No he did not Gene. I kind of remember someone gave me a deck of table saw blades a long time ago, I just hung em all up on the wall, I used some and some were just there just in case, and I remember this one popping up now and then, and I'd look at that big ol hole with curiosity. By the way, ya ever hear of the big arbor hole history for the Shopsmith blades? Pretty interesting! Our favorite Shopsmith superstar, Doug Reid explains the 1 1/4" arbor size.

 

 

[Gene Howe]

The only 5/8 hole blade I've had problems with were painted red.

Those massive Shopsmith arbors do a good job of damping flutter but, most good blades are so well balanced that it's rarely a problem. There are exceptions...see my first sentence.

Due to the hassle of installing the arbor in the blade, most guys have 4 or 5 mounted up in reserve. 

Doug mentioned 8" blades and, moving in to smaller work, when I need new blades, they'll be 8" ones. 

 

 

[John Morris]

9 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

most guys have 4 or 5 mounted up in reserve.

That'll be me, I purchased another arbor flange with a Shopsmith cross cut blade, so now I have two blades with arbor flanges in place, quick change overs. I used the general purpose SS blade and it's just as as good a quality as any I have used.

[Gene Howe]

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

I used the general purpose SS blade and it's just as as good a quality as any I have used.

No wonder you're moving to hand tools. Seriously, they sell decent blades. Don't know who makes them. I seem to recall that maybe they're Forrests. 

But, ya gotta try Tenryu. IMO, the best blade out there. And, I've tried a bunch. I get glue ready rips and their crosscut blades and miter pro blades are phenomenal. 

[John Morris]

@Gene Howe, I really like the 1 1/4" arbors, I love the idea of having each blade outfitted with one, and being able to quickly convert, and I have bought into the philosophy of the 1 1/4" arbor benefits. Beside Forrest blades, do the ones you mentioned have the 1 1/4" optional arbor holes?

[Gene Howe]

4 minutes ago, John Morris said:

@Gene Howe, I really like the 1 1/4" arbors, I love the idea of having each blade outfitted with one, and being able to quickly convert, and I have bought into the philosophy of the 1 1/4" arbor benefits. Beside Forrest blades, do the ones you mentioned have the 1 1/4" optional arbor holes?

IDK. Lemme check. BRB.

 

Nope. The biggest is 1" on their 12" and 14" blades.

 

Edited September 22, 2018 by Gene Howe

[John Morris]

I was on the Forrest website, and I don't see the SS arbor size that Doug mentions in the video.

[Gene Howe]

How old is that video, I wonder. They might have quit offering it. Or, it's a special order item.

I didn't see any of the stability benefits Doug mentioned that I don't get with the Tenryu. They're a very well balanced blade. Try one. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

[John Morris]

3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Try one. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks Gene, I will do just that! With my stationary table saw, I always used Amana on it, but they were 12" blades, pretty beefy anyways, no stability issues whatsoever.

I'll take a gander at the Tenryu's Gene, thanks!

[John Morris]

8 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

How old is that video,

The furthest back the remarks on the video go, at his Youtube channel, are two years, so the video is about 2 years old.

[John Morris]

@Gene Howe, I did find this: https://www.sliversmill.com/product_591_10x40T_Woodworker_II_3_32_11_4_HOLE_Thin_Kerf_Saw_Blade_for.html

[Ron Altier]

John, I had a blade just like that one, I don't know where or how I got it. Probably in a box at a garage sale or auction. I was happy to see it, brand new. Then looked at the arbor hole and realized I'd never seen a hole that large on a blade anywhere. Couldn't use it, sold it in a garage sale for about the price I see on your saw.

[John Morris]

Same boat as you @Ron Altier, really don't know where the heck I got it. I think I remember aways back in time I was gonna round file it, but for some reason I hung on. It was just a worthless chunk of steel, till now!

[Gerald]

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

The furthest back the remarks on the video go, at his Youtube channel, are two years, so the video is about 2 years old.

Published 2/9/2016. All Youtube videos have a publish date at the bottom of the post

[John Morris]

7 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Published 2/9/2016. All Youtube videos have a publish date at the bottom of the post

Thanks Gerald.

[Stick486]

every time I see this picture I think your SS is bleeding...

what are you doing to it John???

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by Stick486

[schnewj]

On 9/22/2018 at 7:02 PM, John Morris said:

@Gene Howe, I really like the 1 1/4" arbors, I love the idea of having each blade outfitted with one, and being able to quickly convert, and I have bought into the philosophy of the 1 1/4" arbor benefits. Beside Forrest blades, do the ones you mentioned have the 1 1/4" optional arbor holes?

Another option is Ridge Tools. I had a discussion a couple of years age at the Tampa WW show with the owner. He is able to "punch out" whatever size arbor hole you need on any of his blades. I believe it is a small up-charge over the base price of the blade but the price would be worth it for this caliber of quality blade.

 

For those who might be interested here is a link to Ridge.

 

https://ridgecarbidetool.com/