Shopsmith Forums

So I got my Mark V 520 late yesterday from the seller, my first SS ever of course. Today I've been taking the time to wax it up, going through the manual to test for alignment and whatnot.

The machine seemed very intimidating at first, but I'm getting the hang of it pretty quickly.

I thought I would also share a few "product shots" and initial thoughts, since my other hobby is photography

Hope ya'll don't mind.


Shopsmith-1 by J L Smith, on Flickr

Took me a while to start figuring stuff out, since the seller had removed several items (like the quill handle or whatever it's called, above). I've actually installed the "one-bar" version on one side of the power head and that 3-bar version on the other side. I have no idea if this will work in the long term, but I like it.

Next I have to figure out what lathe parts I have or don't have. Seller shorted me (or didn't have) the safety stuff or the drill chuck. Another trip to Home depot.

Also took me a while to figure out just how those twisty-turn handle things work, but I finally realized you can retract the screw heads all the way in (couldn't figure out how the legs were supposed to go in the holes, those screws were blocking everything! The were backed way out. anyway..)


Shopsmith-2 by J L Smith, on Flickr

Boy I tell you what, I'm tickled pink at this table setup. Now, I'm coming from a very cheap Ryobi table saw ($130 cheap), really bad for anything even remotely accurate. These tables and the fence are much more sturdy! Gotta love that allen wrench doing almost everything

I also gotta find that video for how to make your main table more sturdy somehow....not that I'm unhappy with the default setup. I've got a main table, extension, and two floaters, 4 short pipes, 2 telescoping legs, and one random long pipe.

What would I do with just one long pipe? Should I have two? (510 upgraded to a 520)


Shopsmith-4 by J L Smith, on Flickr

So far, things are working rather smoothly. Still learning how the machine works, mechanically, with all the locks and stuff. I haven't yet actually *used* it because i"m awaiting my nice combo level tomorrow, so I can properly calibrate everything before I start cutting.

Unfortunately, I did find where the seller had made a "boo boo" and seemed to have accidentally slightly cut into his 520 rip fence with a saw blade!! Luckily it's on the fence's right side, which I rarely use, and it's not horrible. He buggered up his saw insert also, it was bent upward and slightly saw-marked too (feel sorry for the blade). One side was uneven and bent upward.

I banged the insert back down with a rubber mallet, it's mostly flush with the table now. I'm happy, though I might have to actually shim the entire insert just slightly.

I have no idea how he did that, maybe he powered it on at the wrong time.


Shopsmith-3 by J L Smith, on Flickr

Speed control seems to work like a charm, and for the most part is easy to understand. I can see why the new Power Pro head is so nice, though -- I can tell I'll probably get tired of backing this thing down to "slow" before power off. Still, feels like a good piece of machinery.

I did what the manual said for testing (after waxing), which was to run it through various speeds and move the quill in and out. Some minor vibrations sometimes as I'm moving the quill, but nothing I notice if it's stationary. I'm assuming it's okay?

Anyway, I'm very anxious to get it up and running and taking pictures of my projects, not just the machine I gotta admit, though, I like all the heavy metal pieces !

Beautiful photos! You have a real talent there, and I know that we all look forward to seeing many more.

The machine looks to be in excellent condition, and it sounds like you are going about things the right way. Have you done the periodic maintenance on the headstock yet? Instructions are in the manual.

As for the table insert, a machine that nice deserves a new one .. you can order it here. Used ones on eBay sell for almost as much as new.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Beautiful photos! You have a real talent there, and I know that we all look forward to seeing many more.

The machine looks to be in excellent condition, and it sounds like you are going about things the right way. Have you done the periodic maintenance on the headstock yet? Instructions are in the manual.

As for the table insert, a machine that nice deserves a new one .. you can order it here. Used ones on eBay sell for almost as much as new.

Table Insert. Order a Table Insert. Why do that? Make your own table inserts.

Well, maybe. You gotta have a table insert to make a table insert.

A ZCI is a valuable tool. Using one will give you a quick indication if table to blade alignment is out or if the arbor is not tight on the shaft or if you have failed to secure either the carriage or headstock lock.

Each time I reconfigure, I have a habit of turning the shaft with power off before I turn it on. This will tell you a lot about the relationship of the blade to the ZCI.

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Congratulations on you acquisition and your photos. Unfortunately (for me), your skilled shots put my best photos to shame.

Thanks for the tips and yeah I will have to do the headstock maintenance also. And while I got shorted the chuck, I DID get a nice little Baggie with some maintenance items, including a small tube of oil with a long spout, so that's cool

I also actually have an unused polymer insert, so I can make the ZCI, but it's the one without the blade guard hole, unfortunately. I will probably end up getting a few more from SS eventually.

Hopefully next time I post, I will have some wood to show off

jerm wrote:Thanks for the tips and yeah I will have to do the headstock maintenance also. And while I got shorted the chuck, I DID get a nice little Baggie with some maintenance items, including a small tube of oil with a long spout, so that's cool

I also actually have an unused polymer insert, so I can make the ZCI, but it's the one without the blade guard hole, unfortunately. I will probably end up getting a few more from SS eventually.

Hopefully next time I post, I will have some wood to show off

You will likely NEED an insert that will accommodate a dado blade. Other than for use with a dado blade I have almost quite using the metal table inserts. Saw blades and metal inserts have not been good for me.

dusty wrote:You will likely NEED an insert that will accommodate a dado blade. Other than for use with a dado blade I have almost quite using the metal table inserts. Saw blades and metal inserts have not been good for me.

Yeah they make me nervous also -- I'm considering trying to make some outta wood, but that's a bit later in the process

Nice pix indeed!

You will likely find the three lever hub to be gittin in the way except when in drill press mode. The reason for the 'three detent positions' of the single lever hub is to allow moving when something interferes with it.(You will find what interferes soon enough;)).

Think mdf for the inserts.

Not sure HD has what you need!


Oh we never mind pix!

Amazing what a larger aperature does for 'clarity'.

So what was the camera used?

JPG40504 wrote:Nice pix indeed!

You will likely find the three lever hub to be gittin in the way except when in drill press mode. The reason for the 'three detent positions' of the single lever hub is to allow moving when something interferes with it.(You will find what interferes soon enough]never[/U] mind pix!

Amazing what a larger aperature does for 'clarity'.

So what was the camera used?

Thanks JPG, yeah I've been going through the calibration and lubing (FINALLY done today) and the handles definitely get in the way sometimes, I'm just switching to the single handle for now.


So about HD - you're saying if I buy a normal drill chuck key from there, it won't fit the SS chuck?

Also, the camera is an Olympus E-M1 with the 12-40 lens on it (with maybe a 20mm/1.7 also, can't remember)

I'll post more pictures soon, but it'll be a call for help - I've got some arbors and inserts and random stuff that I have no idea what to do with or what they are

Oh Oh, banging on the insert MAY have been unnecessary. Some of the metal Shopsmith inserts are made flat with a slight bow. It was done intentionally; has something to do with maintaining a pressure on the screws that hold them in place.

I don't know all the details but there will be someone here that does.

Just reread the thread.

Long pipe. You don't NEED the 5' Extension Tube(s) but having one may come in handy. When you set up to use an Extension Table and the Main Table, using the 5' Extension Tube(s) results in greater stability and allows for the tables to be further apart. Quit often I will setup with an Extension Table on the right end, the Main Table and Carriage close to the left end and one or two Floating Tables in between.

Locks. Make sure you use the locks. All five of them (1) Table Height, (2) Table Tilt, (3) Quill Lock, (4) Carriage Lock and (5) Headstock Lock every time you set up. You will be surprised just how much unwanted flexibility you have if you leave any of the locks loose. There may be enough flexibility that it adversely effects accuracy.

Chuck or chuck key. The key that you want(need) depends on the chuck that you have. The number of variations available is hard to believe. If you are needing just a key, take the chuck with you when you go shopping (unless of coarse you KNOW the part number of the chuck).

Vibration. There will always been some minor vibration but it is not all that much. If you have vibrations first make sure all of the locks are secure (all five). If that doesn't eliminate the vibration, let the machine run and just lay a hand first on one part of the machine and then another til you find the origin.