Can a Shop Smith cut 2 1/4 inch Solid Ash?: Don't try this at home...

That is pretty awesome for that Shopsmith . Really liked your adventure with the saw mill. Very interesting and great to get that much lumber at that price. I will definitely be following along with your bench build.

Just curious. Did you put a new blade (what kind of blade) in the saw before you ran the Ash through it ?

Awesome! I started my shop with a used Shopsmith in 1975, so it was a bit underpowered and when I read what you were going to do, I thought “NO WAY”. But I didn’t have a WWII blade either. That alone makes a HUGE difference. I’ve owned one WWII blade since 1980 something, sharpened once, and am still driving it hard with a Unisaw. I wax it to help keep it clean and free. Yup, a Workmate and a Shopsmith!
I’ll be following your build. The forum Workbench Smackdown is a good place to get and share workbench building advice. It’s huge with lots of input.
What are you going to use for vices? I’ve been intrigued by a newcomer.
http://www.hovartercustomvise.com/?page_id=63
I have the wants for at least one of these…
Good luck.
DanK

-- Dan Krager, Olney IL http://www.kragerwoodworking.weebly.com

I too inherited my Shopsmith from my father-in-law when he past away a few years ago. I proudly own a brand new 1963 model Shopsmith:) It is a well built machine that will last a lifetime,,,or two. About two years ago I replaced the original motor!! I have never sawed anything as large as what you have. Nice to know it can do it if I need it done!! I mainly the lathe and bandsaw attachment.

-- William from the oldest town in Texas

Buy yourself a circular saw mate, it’ll make handling those long boards very straight forward. A good straight edge, ripped from s sheet of ply or MDF will stand you in good stead for the time being.

Those big heavy boards could tip your saw station …...................and then you would wish you had a circular saw.

-- No one plans to fail, they just, just fail to plan

@Ron in Ohio: I actually pulled the woodworker II blade off. On the first board that I tried to rip with the WWII blade I tripped the breaker. It occured to me the the WWII blade was probably the most valuable piece of the whole kit, and that I didn’t want it involved!

I pulled it off and put in a shopsmith branded 24 tooth ripping blade that came with the set. What a difference. I had never used a ripping blade before and I was really impressed. It pulls out long curls rather than sawdust. I’ll never rip with a combo blade again. Once I put the ripping blade on, it was like a hot knife through butter. Granted, my feed rate was relatively slow and careful, but I think it would be even for the best contractor saw on thick, heavy, dense lumber like this. I ripped enough 2.125” x 12” ash to build a 400lb roubo in about an hour. I don’t think my father-in-law’s contractor saw could have done it.

-- “Congratulations. You’ve just figured out the most complicated way to hold a board 30 inches off the floor." Tage Frid

With a good 20-24T RIP blade, almost anything will rip that board.

In this case, I’d be far more worried about a board that hasn’t been jointed being ripped without a splitter kicking back, than if the saw would cut it.

-- It's all good, if it's wood...

A good blade, designed for the purpose, makes all the difference.
My Shopsmith and I have ripped 4” (3.5”) X 8” hard wood. Not 11’ long, though!!
As far as width is concerned, the auxiliary table serves you well.
BTW, the WWII is a decent blade but, on a whim, when mine dulled, I picked up a Tenryu. Now the re- sharpened WWII sits gathering dust.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

@Dan: Good to know I’m in good company using a Shopsmith. They’re good little rigs!

@Bluekingfisher: I was originally intending to rip them with a circular saw. I was really just curious to see whether the Shopsmith was up to it. It worked so well that I decided to do the other 9 boards on the Shopsmith. It’s easier on the knees :)

@Cessna Pilot: Your are dead right about the splitter. The Shopsmith actually has a built in riving knife as well as a cam-based anti-kickback device. I took it off to change the blade from the WWII to the ripping blade. It really wasn’t safe to do that board without it. It went back on shortly after. Although the title was a joke “don’t try this at home” you actually shouldn’t try that at home and I shouldn’t have either.

-- “Congratulations. You’ve just figured out the most complicated way to hold a board 30 inches off the floor." Tage Frid

@Gene Howe: The Tenryu sounds like a great blade. Which one did you get?

-- “Congratulations. You’ve just figured out the most complicated way to hold a board 30 inches off the floor." Tage Frid