Newsflash! The Shopsmith Mark VII is back!

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:22 pm

Good question Paul! Anyone have any idea of the height of the table with the headstock under it?

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:41 pm

[quote="dusty"]Yes, it does look as though there are two pivoting bases]Dusty, The main table trunnion would be new as the current design limits the right tilt to 45 degrees. The current 520 sells for $3499. Looking at it incrementally, getting the Power Pro headstock and the Mark VII tilting features for an additional $400 seems reasonable.

I am looking forward to learning more about this new machine. I am shipping a 520 to Australia tomorrow to help fund my upgrade. Looks like I will need to save more than I had planned if I want to make the next step too.

You guys have good eyes! I just went back an replayed one of the original Power Pro videos and sure enough it has a pivot base on the left side of the machine.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:25 pm

A lift assist on each end would not work. You would have to disconnect the one you were not using somehow.

wlhayesmfs · Post by **wlhayesmfs** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:06 pm

I am looking at doing a power pro head for my MKVll and that would then be all I would need. My MKVll is in great shape so the dual tilt and table would be great. I would lose the 520 table and fence. But in the picture I do not see a way to tilt both ways but it does look like two pins one on each end. But how does it break away at both ends?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:13 am

[quote="dusty"]Yes, it does look as though there are two pivoting bases]

Yes, there has to be more. If I would remove the headrest and tie bar from my machine and replace them with a base and base arm, I would have what I see pictured here (with a couple obvious shortcomings).

First it would no longer go vertical. To do that I would have to remove the base arm pin. No problem; all I need is a more easily removed and reinstalled pin.

Now I have a 520 that goes vertical from either end. What this gives me is a carriage assembly that may be above the headstock or it may be below the headstock.

It is at this point where my imagination completely fails me. Why might I want the carriage above the headstock. Ahh. That puts the headstock below the table like for a router/shaper except that the table won't go to a horizontal position. (well, it will but the table will be upside down).

Again my imagination fails me. Will the direction of rotation be correct? Ahh, again no problem. The PowerPro is reversible.

This is sorta like my old erector set. All I need is a box full of miscellaneous parts and there is no limit to what I can build. If I could just raid farmers' shop I would be set.

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:38 am

[quote="wa2crk"]Easterngray]

The PowerPro intro video, when Jim McCann lifts the machine to drill-press mode, actually shows a pivot-like end going up, rather than a tie-bar. Interesting!

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:58 am

dusty wrote: Ahh. That puts the headstock below the table like for a router/shaper except that the table won't go to a horizontal position. (well, it will but the table will be upside down).

Again my imagination fails me. Will the direction of rotation be correct? Ahh, again no problem. The PowerPro is reversible.

This is sorta like my old erector set. All I need is a box full of miscellaneous parts and there is no limit to what I can build. If I could just raid farmers' shop I would be set.

If you could get the serrations for raising the main tabe on BOTH sides of the support tubes, you coud just reverse the table. You could also have a second table with the support tubes rotated 180 degrees and swap them out.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:06 am

dusty wrote: If I could just raid farmers' shop I would be set.

Security is pretty tight. Two guard dogs, S&W, Mossberg, Colt etc.

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On the old Mark VII if you slide the headstock to the left it can sit almost outboard of the left pivot point and the headstock weight makes it easy to lift that direction. Both pivot points are in from each end. I can't really comment on how hard it is to pivot up to the right since I just haven't really done that to speak of.
I must confess to not using the Mark VII #1 very much since I have not really been through it thoroughly and don't want to mess up the speed control until I have a chance to have a metal cam made up and buy a new bearing for it.
Mark VII #2 (Frankensmith) I have sat up as a lathe and it has a Mark V headstock (greenie).
Mark VII #3 is just sitting there and I have done nothing at all with it yet.
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I wonder if the new Mark VII will come with a box to stand on to reach the table for the shaper operation?

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Bill is talking about putting a PowerPro headstock on his Mark VII and that option may offer several advantages... I could maybe see old Mark VII prices sneaking up from that option.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:08 am

tdubnik wrote:If you could get the serrations for raising the main tabe on BOTH sides of the support tubes, you coud just reverse the table. You could also have a second table with the support tubes rotated 180 degrees and swap them out.

Those are both possible solutions but I wonder what is being done for the new Shopsmith. It has been stated earlier that there is a modification coming for the trunnion assembly. Isn't it fun trying to second guess what is happening.

tryinhard · Post by **tryinhard** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:10 am

So if they are taking pre-orders, shouldn't there be an email announcement?