Shopsmith Forums

Considering one of our newest members has hauled several 500's and one 520 with band saw and jointer in his Prius, which gets at least 50 mpg, I would drive half the way across the Country in my Prius if I could score a great deal.

Personally, I would hold out for a good deal on the 520. It has a much better table system than the older 500.

A lot depends on location and how far you can extend it by adding travel costs.

For me I like things within an hour and not in the city (Chicago). My home range so to speak. It does limit wasting time too, I'd really hate to drive 3 hours only to find some flaw/problem that wasn't mention, and have to do a walk-a-way.

In general $3000 would be high, $1200 low, $1500-$1800 reasonable given the description of its condition is correct, and all the described parts are there.

Ed

Well, I can give you what I paid today for a very good condition 520 with some extras. Maybe it'll help you decide if you're getting a deal or not.

This machine was a 1997 model 510, upgraded to 520. Very nice condition, no rust or notable dings anywhere that I've noticed yet.

For $1500:

SS 520 system complete with all the tables and pro fence
All manuals and VHS(!) tapes
Belt sander and about 6 extra belts
About 6 different SS saw blades each with an arbor on it, and some 5/8" arbors
6" SS Dado set
Sears combo shaping blade thing
Sears some sorta medieval-looking rip blade or something
Dial indicating gauge
Universal lathe tool (the heavy one)
Biscuit joiner
Lift assist
Casters
The SS wooden tool carriage holder thing


A lot of other nicknacks and stuff I can't remember or know what it is because I just got it today


(missing) Miter gauge/hold down - picked one on ebay for $41 shipped. He was using it for the SS bandsaw and power station that he kept.

(missing) The safety stuff (push stick, pads, fence rider). No big deal, can make my own.


I thought it was a fair deal - not a ridiculously good deal, but a fair deal. Had a 510 sell in my area for same price, $1500, that came with bandsaw and jointer, but none of the other extras (well, casters), so it's a crapshoot really.

I'd say offer the max you'd be willing to pay for the setup. If the seller bites, well, you're paying what you'd be willing to pay, so it's a good deal, right?

jerm wrote:Well, I can give you what I paid today for a very good condition 520 with some extras. Maybe it'll help you decide if you're getting a deal or not.

This machine was a 1997 model 510, upgraded to 520. Very nice condition, no rust or notable dings anywhere that I've noticed yet.

For $1500:

SS 520 system complete with all the tables and pro fence
All manuals and VHS(!) tapes
Belt sander and about 6 extra belts
About 6 different SS saw blades each with an arbor on it, and some 5/8" arbors
6" SS Dado set
Sears combo shaping blade thing
Sears some sorta medieval-looking rip blade or something
Dial indicating gauge
Universal lathe tool (the heavy one)
Biscuit joiner
Lift assist
Casters
The SS wooden tool carriage holder thing


A lot of other nicknacks and stuff I can't remember or know what it is because I just got it today


(missing) Miter gauge/hold down - picked one on ebay for $41 shipped. He was using it for the SS bandsaw and power station that he kept.

(missing) The safety stuff (push stick, pads, fence rider). No big deal, can make my own.


I thought it was a fair deal - not a ridiculously good deal, but a fair deal. Had a 510 sell in my area for same price, $1500, that came with bandsaw and jointer, but none of the other extras (well, casters), so it's a crapshoot really.

I'd say offer the max you'd be willing to pay for the setup. If the seller bites, well, you're paying what you'd be willing to pay, so it's a good deal, right?

Then there is the jointer, band saw, dust collector and power station. These are worth a few nickels too.

dusty wrote:Then there is the jointer, band saw, dust collector and power station. These are worth a few nickels too.

Oh yeah sure, I just wanted to give the OP perhaps an idea of what I just paid, which I thought was a fair price. Others I'm sure have gotten better deals.

Plus, gotta take into account some people value some add ons more than other people. I mean, sure, I'd like a bandsaw with a power station, but I probably wouldn't use it that much (or so I say - we'll see as I get more into woodworking). Someone else might value it a lot more, if they use it more, and might bid higher, etc.

Good luck on the bid!

Lots of good points all around. Gotta love this forum!! So many people willing to help out.

All those craiglist ads with some low priced run down SS (gotta get rid of this) to well maintained overpriced SS (never get that much). Yeah Jerm it can be a real crapshoot!

My SS was pure speculation, blind faith, ie a Mark V, model ?? and no pic. A weak ad and no pic and asking only $400. So I guess people weren't expecting much, so only 1 other response after 1 month. It was close by so went and found it to be in a storage unit. It turned out to be a model 510 with the 520 table upgrade w/ bandsaw and dust collector, and NOT MUCH ELSE. I figured $200 for the SS, $100 for the bandsaw and another $100 for the dust collector.

Now about those missing accessories/parts........ I have spent the last 3 months obtaining most of the missing parts on ebay which at times can get pretty cutthroat with MANY people bidding items up to ridiculously over priced (for ebay). Good grief!!! I know there are alot of SS out there, but why so many people loosing/misplacing parts? Where do all the missing SS parts and accessories go to, the island of lost/misplaced SS parts........?:D On the upside there is no shortage of parts available on ebay with a half dozen regular sellers of SS parts. Do an advanced search for completed listings on the parts your looking for to get a feel for what there going for $$$ vs what SS sells them for new. Decide on your top bid and stick to it!!! Don't forget to figure in shipping charges as well, usually less than SS. If you don't win, don't worry there will be another auction along shortly! Another upside with ebay is most ebay sellers seem to ship parts out very fast:) after paying with paypal. I've probably spent another $250-$300 on ebay for all those missing parts, with most of the parts in very good/like new condition. All in all I think it has been a good deal for ME.

Like most have said here, patience, patience, patience........ especially on ebay....... The main thing is to decide on what your budget is and go from there. I think I originally thought a budget of $500, but have since increased it to $750, which I think I achieved.

sawwood wrote: I know there are alot of SS out there, but why so many people loosing/misplacing parts? Where do all the missing SS parts and accessories go to, the island of lost/misplaced SS parts........?:D

Personal theory is that a Black hole under the influence of dark matter searches for SS pieces casually set somewhere and forgotten for a day or two. As punishment the Black hole whisks them away. On a distant planet in a galaxy far far away all those parts have accumulated and actually have more mass than that planet!

Congratulations on your scavenger hunting prowess! The good and bad is that once tried, it becomes an incurable addiction!

Be well,
Ben

benush26 wrote:Personal theory is that a Black hole under the influence of dark matter searches for SS pieces casually set somewhere and forgotten for a day or two. As punishment the Black hole whisks them away. On a distant planet in a galaxy far far away all those parts have accumulated and actually have more mass than that planet!

Congratulations on your scavenger hunting prowess! The good and bad is that once tried, it becomes an incurable addiction!

Ah, the Black hole effect. Yeah, set something down never to remember where! Then whoosh, off to never, never land, never to be found again!!!
My other theory is "some" people/woodworkers just don't take very good care of there SS........

"incurable addiction", so true. To many times I see a really good deal on an ebay auction and then I have to remind myself that I already got that part!!!:rolleyes:

I just bought a 1983 520 for $1,200.00. I got a bandsaw, planer, jointer, belt sander, jig saw, and shaper fence. I also got the dado blades, 5 push sticks, drill bits 2 disc sanders 7 blades plus 8-9 arbors for them. I think I got a great deal for the price. I had to drive 4 hours each way, but I think I still got a good deal. The best part about it is if you have a problem, just call Shopsmith, and they are glad to help. Good luck with your search.