Shopsmith Forums

Let me start off by saying that I do not own a shopsmith...yet.
I was directed here for help form Lumberjocks.
I am completely fascinated with the machine I believe it just may be the perfect candidate for my small shop.

I have a basic table saw and would likely not use that portion of the shopsmith much but have been really wanting a bandsaw, a drill press, jointer, and lathe. If I were to purchase all of them there would never be enough room to work in the shop.

I have been scouring craigslist and found some potentially good deals.
I wanted to show you guys the pics as the posters do not know the specific models of the machine.

Could you guys tell me your thoughts on what models these are??

The ad for the following pics reads:

Shop Smith with book and implements (Table saw, jointer, Drill press, Lathe, Jig saw and Band saw.)
$200.00 or Best Offer.

Counter offer $100 and barter from there. If the motor runs you'll have your monies worth. If the motor doesn't run, you'll get a $100 worth of education finding out what else is wrong.

There have been better deals but this looks to be a reasonable starter kit. You WILL end up spending more than the purchase price before you are done:rolleyes:.

Looks like a model 500, according to the main saw table. I can tell you that it will take a lot of work to get it back to like new condition. Probably everything will have to be gone through, rust removed, lubricated, polished.

But, if you enjoy that sort of thing like me, go for it. I would probably hold out for a model 510 myself. Larger tables and connect together for more stability.

The price would be right though if you could get it for $100.

BTW...welcome to this forum. I can personally say having just joined in January, there is a lot to learn here and people to learn it from. Good info and some good humor now and then.

Looks like there's a 510 table or extention table there as well. Be nice to see what's in the parts crate. If all the basic parts are there and the bandsaw is operational and the motor and speed controller work I would pay $200 for it myself. Looks like it's rust free from here.

Thank you guys for the input.

I will try to get a little more info/pictures from him.

fredsheldon wrote:Looks like there's a 510 table or extention table there as well. Be nice to see what's in the parts crate. If all the basic parts are there and the bandsaw is operational and the motor and speed controller work I would pay $200 for it myself. Looks like it's rust free from here.

What is it that makes you think there is a 510 upgrade? If that is true, this deal looks like its getting better...

In the very first photo, there is a floating table with a 510 extension tube and rails. But, in that very same picture is the main table which is a 500.

The third picture shows a 510 table with a 510 rip fence attached. The carriage and main table are definitely 500 vintage.

fredsheldon wrote:Looks like there's a 510 table or extention table there as well. Be nice to see what's in the parts crate. If all the basic parts are there and the bandsaw is operational and the motor and speed controller work I would pay $200 for it myself. Looks like it's rust free from here.

Very hard to tell what you've got there.

While the headstock, carriage, main table (shown in the carriage) and the extension table (mounted in the base arm) are all from a 500, Fred's absolutely right that there's a 510 main table (with 510 rip fence attached) shown in 2 of the photos leaning up against the back of the machine.

Can't tell for sure if the 510 table has its trunnions and table tubes attached but it looks like those are missing from what can be seen. This could be if a previous owner acquired just the 510 table/rip fence on ebay in an attempt to upgrade or to acquire missing parts (anyone see a 500 rip fence in the photos) then found out the 510 table won't go onto the 500 table trunnions/posts and gave up trying to mount it.

Also hard to see whether its got all the other goodies you want for (1) the drill press/horizontal boring machine (chuck and key), (2) lathe (tailstock, tool rest/arm, drive center, cup and/or live center, faceplate, and chisels), (3) the disc sander (disc), and (5) table saw (blade arbor, miter gauge, rip fence and upper/lower saw guads). Plus you don't know what the innards of the headstock are like. I'm guessing based on the way things are a mismatch here that you'll find issues with the innards.

Anything missing or broken can be replaced or fixed by the user easily but the money will add up and if many parts are missing or broken it may not be a bargain.

The band saw alone if in working condition is worth more than $100 but the fact that the cover is off the band saw and the table is MIA correction I think I see it is a little off putting to me. May mean nothing or it may mean something went wrong and needs fixing replacing. Can't tell until you are there looking at it.

Depending on the area of the country you live in and how many of these are on Craigslist at any one time in your area, I might suggest you wait until you see one that obviously has all the right parts and is all from one model unless you want to take on a reclamation project. Alternatively, there may be a member in your area willing to on a field trip with you to make sure it is all there.

Al

dusty wrote:In the very first photo, there is a floating table with a 510 extension tube and rails. But, in that very same picture is the main table which is a 500.

The third picture shows a 510 table with a 510 rip fence attached. The carriage and main table are definitely 500 vintage.

I don't see a 510 extension table.

algale wrote:I don't see a 510 extension table.

Maybe it is a main table and not an extension table but in both the 1st and 3rd images there is a table with a rip fence attached. They look like 510 items to me.

If there is a WORKING jointer, jig saw, and bandsaw it's definitely worth $200 in my opinion BUT as others have stated there are some concerns. One of my concerns is the posts sticking out of the headrest. Are these to the bandsaw? Do they come out or are they "stuck". Edit: a better look makes me think the posts are part of a tailstock.

I have doubts the SPT's are working well.



Also, what part of the world are you in?