Looking for advice before purchasing a Shopsmith

tpirson · Post by **tpirson** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:09 pm

I'm looking at purchasing a Shopsmith V (I believe) from an estate sale. I've only seen photos on the craigslist so far and I'm heading down to check of the machine itself this weekend.
Speaking with the seller, it's a 1958 model (Green legs and green/gray headstock). The shop its sitting has the price at $750, I've (sort of) talked him down to $500 so far. It appears to have quite a few blades, sanding drum, and books along with it and also a wooden tray that I've seen on several others online.

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some idea of what to look out for when I go check it out.

pieceseeker · Post by **pieceseeker** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:28 pm

Welcome to the forum! What area do you hail from? If you can post the url of the craiglist listing, we can probably give more accurate advise.

tpirson · Post by **tpirson** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:03 pm

Thanks, I live just outside Buffalo, NY.

Here's the Craigslist ad. But first you have to promise not to snipe the unit

http://chautauqua.craigslist.org/tls/4284709996.html

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:15 pm

$500 to me is on the high side still. I guess it depends on what all is hiding in that box.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:21 pm

As far as what can be evaluated from a picture, I would say this Greenie is top value for Greenies. Appearance is only a small part, however.

Does it run, how does it sound and does the speed control work through the full range. Answers to these questions could impact value greatly.

algale · Post by **algale** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:41 pm

This one in Buffalo is one I'd check out. http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4270374585.html

tpirson · Post by **tpirson** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:50 pm

That's interesting, that didn't come up for me. The scroll saw attachment is one of the draws for me on the other one, do all shopsmith's come with it or is it an extra purchase?

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:02 pm

algale wrote:This one in Buffalo is one I'd check out. http://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/4270374585.html

This is also a 510 so should also be a later model Shopsmith. This is by far the best value for the money compared to a 50s Greenie. Bigger tables, more motor HP.

tpirson · Post by **tpirson** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:08 pm

Thanks, I'll check in and see if I can find some info about this one.

algale · Post by **algale** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:13 pm

tpirson wrote:That's interesting, that didn't come up for me. The scroll saw attachment is one of the draws for me on the other one, do all shopsmith's come with it or is it an extra purchase?

No they don't all come with the jig saw, which has now been discontinued and replaced with a scroll saw. The jig saws come up used pretty reasonably priced. I have the jig saw and I find it useful, although for what I'd do the band saw is even better.

I'd check out the 510. You never know what's hiding and un-photographed. Usually there will be either a dust collector or a band saw.

My in-laws are from Hamburg, NY, just outside Buffalo. Spent a lot of summers and x-masses there. I prefer it in the summer.