New Shopsmith PowerPro - Time to save up.....

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:10 am

Philosophically I probably agree with you, Ed. However, I think that selling off your Shopsmith equipment is going off the deep end. There is a business out there that someone will support for as long as you and I need parts.

I'm counting on people like Ruggs and Mayo to fill in the gap if Shopsmith quits taking orders for parts and I don't believe I will ever see that happen.

PowerPro, Made in the USA - I seriously doubt it. I believe you are right when you say an established overseas company. Some place like Austria or New Zealand. There are a couple lathe manufacturers using variable speed technology that could step into this easily and that would not be bad.

Quality would not be a problem from someone like Teknatool.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:10 am

dusty wrote: PowerPro, Made in the USA - I seriously doubt it. I believe you are right when you say an established overseas company. Some place like Austria or New Zealand. There are a couple lathe manufacturers using variable speed technology that could step into this easily and that would not be bad.

Quality would not be a problem from someone like Teknatool.

If the new headstock is going to use any solid state components or computer controls, they will very likely be made somewhere in Asia/China. They have a lock on that market and likely will for some time to come.

Made in the USA would be wonderful but how many made in the USA products can you afford? What do you think a made in the USA LCD widescreen TV would cost; or your cell phone, computer, dvd player, iPod, or even your automobile?

The fact is that the US legislation, litigation, and skilled work force has priced themselves out of the market. How many of YOU would be willing to take a job paying less than $20 per hour or even consider a job at $5 per hour?

It may be a sad state but our penchant for excess may be our own downfall. We have to have a 3000 sq. ft. house when 1200 would do. We spend $30,000 on a vehicle that won't get us anywhere a $15,000 vehicle won't. We spend well beyond our means and then get forclosed, repossessed or file bankruptcy which increases costs even further.

I'm afraid this country is in for trouble unless we figure out how to get back to basics and take responsibility for our own state of affairs.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:39 am

tdubnik wrote: How many of YOU would be willing to take a job paying less than $20 per hour
.

Looks like I need to move south. Jobs must pay better down in Ga.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:50 am

cincinnati wrote:Looks like I need to move south. Jobs must pay better down in Ga.

And he is not "IN" Atlanta!!!

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:17 pm

tdubnik wrote:
SNIPPED

I'm afraid this country is in for trouble unless we figure out how to get back to basics and take responsibility for our own state of affairs.

+1, tdubnik
Gene

scooters · Post by **scooters** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:26 am

One problem that the shopsmith has in marketing is that it has a very basic, very solid, look from the 50's. While that it fine for many of us, it doesn't appeal to the current younger generation.

I'd expect a bit of a new "wow" look that will keep the basic platform, but will move the look of the machine into the 21st century.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:24 am

scooters wrote:One problem that the shopsmith has in marketing is that it has a very basic, very solid, look from the 50's. While that it fine for many of us, it doesn't appeal to the current younger generation.

I'd expect a bit of a new "wow" look that will keep the basic platform, but will move the look of the machine into the 21st century.

This is a very interesting comment, scooters. Unfortunately, I can not tell from your profile whether or not you are likely to be able to answer my next question.

What do you think Shopsmith could do to the existing platform to give it that WOW FACTOR that is needed?

What segment of the potential market is this WOW FACTOR intended to appeal to?

I'm an old fart who is set in my ways. These changes that you would make - are they going to also appeal to me? Be forewarned - I sorta like the current configuration and would be very pleased if the upgrade required nothing more than a new motor and something to replace the speed dial.

We already know that is not the case but that is what would be required to please me.

mikelst · Post by **mikelst** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:27 am

Scooters

..i ..-.f -.--y ---o ..-u .-a .-.r .e .-.r .e .-a -..d ..i -.n --.g -t ....h ..i ...s-.--y ---o ..-- ....h .-a ...-v .e -t ---o ---o --m ..-u -.-.c ....h -t ..i --m .e ---o -.n -.--y ---o ..-u .-.r ....h .-a -.n -..d ...s

I think you missed on the ..-:D

Mike

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:44 pm

Like many of you, I am not sure I would be willing to change the headstock. However, if the initial cost of replacing the headstock is offset by making the system easier to operate and maintain, then I am all for it as long as I do not have to replace attachments I already have, which I don't plan to. But I do wonder how much "down-time" would be encountered if something goes wrong in the headstock.
BPR

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:12 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:Like many of you, I am not sure I would be willing to change the headstock. However, if the initial cost of replacing the headstock is offset by making the system easier to operate and maintain, then I am all for it as long as I do not have to replace attachments I already have, which I don't plan to. But I do wonder how much "down-time" would be encountered if something goes wrong in the headstock.
BPR

Once again, I propose that anyone with a Mark V should lay in the spare parts that are most likely to be the cause of "lost time" if one experiences a component failure.

There are a couple other threads that discuss which parts those should be. The answer to that question is very personal and depends an awful lot on what one does with his/her Mark V. For me, I have about everything except a motor and a headstock housing.