Shopsmith Forums

I have a 1988 Model 520. I bought two more Shopsmiths on Sat. A 1989 510 w/o tables and b ood to be true. I also have a power station. I am considering a "shortie" for a drill press station. I was wonder what you guys do with more than one Shopsmith.

backhertz:

I now have three Shopsmiths. All have been upgraded to 520. I started with a model 500 back in '83, upgraded to 510, and then again to 520. It's now in my garage here in Gainesville. When we built our vacation home in the U.P. in '03, I stopped in at the Shopsmith retail store on my way up I 75, and bought a re-furbed 505 demo along with the 520 upgrade, and took it on up North so I could have a Shopsmith at both places.

Last Summer I treated myself to a new 24'x28' workshop and put the upgraded 505 in it. Then just before Christmas a widow here in Gainesville wanted to sell her husband's Shopsmith, which was an '80's vintage machine that had also been upgraded to 520.

Even though my new shop has room for something like a cabinet saw, I decided to equip it with a second Shopsmith instead. I have a lot of family members with projects up there and it will make it possible for them to do their work without disturbing my schedule. When I'm working alone, I can have the advantage of two setups in place. I've also added a Power Station, which will be used for the bandsaw, scroll saw, and belt sander. I feel that I have all the advantages of stand alone tools plus the versitality of the Shopsmith.

Both my son and my son-in-law slso have Shopsmith's that have been upgraded to 520. I don't have any problems with their Christmas list.

My shorty chasis and upgraded double quill headstock arrived yesterday.
I'm going to use the shorty to power my jointer/band saw/jigsaw, and use the extra carriage and table that came with my Mark V for an out feed table too, since it can match the height of the Mark V.
Next week is spring break and I can't wait to use them together.
(If only my saw blade would arrive!)

I try to keep 5 Shopsmith setups so I do not have to switch functions.
1). Regular Shopsmith - Drill Press function
2). Regular Shopsmith - Lathe functions - way and bench tube cleaning/polishing
3). SHORTY Shopsmith - Sanding/Sharpening Station - conical disc, flat disc, belt sander, strip sander
4). SHORTY Shopsmith - Bandsaw on acc. end, scroll/jig saw on quill end
5). MINI Shopsmith - Joiner - Power station as needed

I do not believe you can have too many Shopsmiths. I am still discovering new tasks that they can be adapted/modified to perform. I really like the SHORTY (34" way tubes) as they are only 2/3 as long as the regular Shopsmith and still do most of the functions of the regular one. I find that the 3/4 HP motor is excellant for all the above tasks. I do not use the Shopsmiths for sawing or power for the thickness planer. I brought a HF power metal bandsaw just to shorten the way and bench tubes since I do a lot of them. Just remember to lubicate and do maintenance on all of them.

Bill Mayo

backhertz wrote:I have a 1988 Model 520. I bought two more Shopsmiths on Sat. A 1989 510 w/o tables and b ood to be true. I also have a power station. I am considering a "shortie" for a drill press station. I was wonder what you guys do with more than one Shopsmith.

I'm just so jealous. I'd love to find a used SS for sale in my area, but I haven't seen any. I'd use it as a drill press primarily.

Greenvilleguy wrote:I'm just so jealous. I'd love to find a used SS for sale in my area, but I haven't seen any. I'd use it as a drill press primarily.

Doug, keep checking Craig's list for the Atlanta area. Last summer I was checking just for the heck of it (prompted by some posts on this forum) and ran up on an awesome deal among many offerings. I had to drive 4 hours to get it, but for $1500 I got a MKV 510, SSBandsaw, SSBelt Sander, SSJointer, SSPro-Planer(still in box), SS Power station(still in box), SSDust Collector, SSMortise & Tenon kit, SSMolder & shaper, Drum sanding kit, lathe tools, 2-12inch hand screws, 2 sets worth of the safety kit, 4 bandsaw blades still in box, 2 table saw blades, and a box of misc. I turned a lot of heads on the interstate with all of that piled in the back of my F-150.

My wife won't let me access Craig's list anymore:) , but I'm sure there are other deals to be had!

p.s. when you search SS, do it twice; as 1 word and 2 words.

alan:

Congratulations! that is a lot of nice equipment. Such a deal.......you should be ashamed of yourself.

Alan --

You make my catch pale by comparison.. Sheesh.. You got about the best deal possible for that price! I'm jealous!

That Alan is one lucky fella!

I have often thought that I would like another SS or power station but my space is so confined that I can't fit anything more in it without reconfiguring the basement. That may be possible in a few more years when the grandchildren are too old to play there or visit, but with my luck, we will be into the next generation and Dear Wife will say we need the space for the Great Granchildren.

Enjoy your toys!

John

Gosh John I always thought Shopsmith's were Grandchildren:D Jim