Shopsmith Forums

I have been watching and looking for a shopsmith for about a year and last month found what I consider a good deal here in Florida.

I found a 2004 520 with bandsaw, belt sander, dust collector and jointer along with books and tools for $600

It has all attachments except for the upper saw guard. I thought (beginner wood working) I would not need the upper saw guard until yesterday...I was eager to cut something so I cut some 45 degree stakes. The little pieces of wood went flying toward myself and daughter like little bullets.

I ordered the upper saw guard yesterday from ShopSmith.

I also ordered the Maintenance DVD and kit from Shopsmith but have yet to tune the machine.

I am probably doing this all backwards.

What I am wondering, is the shopsmith planer worth getting or should I get a stand alone planer?

Thanks,

Greg

That siren you hear? Yep, that's the cops coming to arrest you for grand theft!

Seriously, congrats on a great deal -- your patience paid off big time.

I spent a similar amount of time waiting for a good deal on a used SS Pro Planer -- the stand-alone version -- and I've been delighted with it.

First of all - NEVER allow your daughter, or anyone else to sand in front of a cutting saw. Guess you may have already learned that lesson, but it should remain an important rule even with the upper saw guard.

About the Shopsmith planer - folks that have on really like it, but for less than half the price you can buy a DeWalt 735 thickness planer. There are (as far as I can discern) three major differences between the two machines.

The Shopsmith has a motor that does'nt have brushes. It is a very good motor and is the same genera as the Mark V motor. The Dewalt has a motor that allows you to replace brushes.

The Dewalt has a separate motor to exhaust chips. It is very powerful and blows chips faster than the Shopsmith Dust collector can suck them up. No problem here - the Dewalt merely blows the chips into the DC.

The DeWalt also has three cutting knives. They are VERY simple to install and change in a matter of minutes. They are reversible and can also be sharpened using the Shopsmith conical sander and a Shopsmith sharpening jig for sharpening jointer and planer blades. Alternatively, new double sided blades are available from several sources.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:That siren you hear? Yep, that's the cops coming to arrest you for grand theft!

Seriously, congrats on a great deal -- your patience paid off big time.

I spent a similar amount of time waiting for a good deal on a used SS Pro Planer -- the stand-alone version -- and I've been delighted with it.

BuckeyeDennis,

LOVE your avatar!! Was a great game last weekend. My whole family is from Ohio but live all across the U.S. now.

Thanks for the advice.

Greg

charlese wrote:About the Shopsmith planer - folks that have on really like it, but for less than half the price you can buy a DeWalt 735 thickness planer. There are (as far as I can discern) three major differences between the two machines.

Thank you for the advice also. I was considering the DeWalt series as I know DeWalt makes outstanding products.

charlese wrote:First of all - NEVER allow your daughter, or anyone else to sand in front of a cutting saw. Guess you may have already learned that lesson, but it should remain an important rule even with the upper saw guard.

You are very correct. I have a lot to learn to be safe.

I shouldn't tell you but I will...when I first got the machine I wanted to "play" with it so I moved the motor on the shaft. About a day later, I wanted to move the SS to my garage out back. I backed my truck up, had my daughter and wife help me. The SS had a hole drill bit in the motor that I had not removed. Can you tell what happened next?... Yep, I told my wife to get on the end (drill bit facing wife) to hold the SS while I lift up the front to put on my truck. When I lifted, the SS motor with bit came down with speed and struck my wife. Luckily, it did not draw blood; I as well as my wife were very lucky.

I think if I am not careful, I will be up for a Darwin Award.

Now that you have learned that the headstock will slide when the way tubes are moved to a non-horizontal position, do REMEMBER, every time, you raise it to vertical drill press mode!!!

Just about everyone has forgotten that once!

You already know why to always check the headstock lock prior to 'raising'. Wouldn't hurt to check the carriage lock either.

And while on the subject of drill bits etc., NEVER leave the chuck key inserted into the chuck(.)

Finally at the end of every use session restore the ss to an unsetup condition when practical including running the speed setting all the way down to slow.


THINK and be safe!

Congrats on your find and welcome to the forum.