Shopsmith Forums

Hi everyone,

I am fairly new to woodworking and I have couple projects under my belt and I am looking to the Smithshop to fill some of my needs. I have a miter saw, circular saw, and drill so the Smithshop can really open things up for me.

I was looking at this Shopsmith here on CL (see link provided below)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/4591312712.html

I inspected it today and found that it only has the sander attachment. Basically what is pictured is what is included. What do you guys think of the price? It was running fine when looking at it and I think I can get it cheaper but I want your guys opinions first. Also it slid fine on the rails and im pretty sure its 510. Feel free to ask questions if you need to get a better idea of what im working with.

Thanks!

Go for it!!!! Not a bad price. Can always pic up the extras on CL or Ebay.

Looks like plain old model 500 with no SPTs... Around here, maybe $200 tops. Not a model 510.

I am not really good on prices, but the description says "planar" and "table router" but I do not see either of those in the ad.

What are they referring to?

Forrest
Edit you'd think I could spell my own name

forrestb wrote:I am not really good on prices, but the description says "planar" and "table router" but I do not see either of those in the ad.

What are they referring to?

Forrest
Edit you'd think I could spell my own name

Its a misleading post. There is no planar or table router. I think the seller is not completely knowledgeable of the tool. So there are no STP's.

Would I better off with a unit such as this?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/4578990480.html

Right now in my mind I would use the Shopsmith to place the void of not owning a table saw, drill press, and band saw. I own a miter saw, circular saw, and nice corded drill. This whole obsession of the Shopsmith started very recently and im glad it has a very active forum!

forrestb wrote:I am not really good on prices, but the description says "planar" and "table router" but I do not see either of those in the ad.

What are they referring to?

Forrest
Edit you'd think I could spell my own name

Forrest, a "planar" could just be referring to a smooth surface, like the table or a geometric plane. A table router could be nothing more than the SS router attachment, with the above mentioned "planar."

Horribly misleading, but (if you can "parse" as well as some politicians) technically correct.

Pmateo, where in the lower end of the bay area are you. (I grew up in Sunnyvale.) That Fremont one looks LOTS better, in my humble opinion!

steve

pmateo wrote:Would I better off with a unit such as this?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/4578990480.html

Right now in my mind I would use the Shopsmith to place the void of not owning a table saw, drill press, and band saw. I own a miter saw, circular saw, and nice corded drill. This whole obsession of the Shopsmith started very recently and im glad it has a very active forum!

.

A couple pieces of warning here.
The table saw feature of ANY Shopsmith, is it's least thought out feature. If you're doing LARGE band-sawing projects, you'll see some shortcomings, too.

As a drill-press, the Shopsmith is pretty dang good (the Model 10 stuff is better) and as a lathe, (again the Model 10, because of 200 pounds of cast iron) is better, according to common concensus around here.

Last word of warning, do NOT try the lathe feature on any Shopsmith. Once you do;
I've got a lathe I can hook a table saw on.
I've got a lathe I can hook a bandsaw on.
I've got a lathe I can do horizontal drilling on, and try that with your vertical drill-press!
And, I've got a lathe, that's a pretty dang good lathe!

What I'm trying to impart here, is that turning can be addictive. Making sawdust is GREAT therapy, but "makin' shavin's" is like crack!:D

If It was my decision, I'd be off to Fremont!

(I hope you understand my weird humor!)

steve

First off Welcome to the forum.

Admitting your a woodworker is the first step to recovery. I haven't made it any farther...

I started with a 1956 greenie (500) loved it but looking around here and other sites I decided to upgrade it with 510
bigger table space and added stability so off to eBay went for all the stuff I needed to upgrade. I loved it..... but
it could be better so back to eBay and for a few more parts it became a 520.... then I got the power pro upgrade.
So for me a greenie was just a gateway drug it led to harder stuff... and fast.

So what I'm really trying to say is really search yourself and honestly ask if you get the greenie will you be satisfied?
If your one of the lucky ones and have a spacious shop space collecting them is nice but most of us can't do that.
If you have limited space like most of us a one shopsmith garage try to buy the model you know your gonna end up with.
That's gonna be cheaper in the long run.

The same applies to fishing boats I've had nine now.

[quote="skou"].

A couple pieces of warning here.
The table saw feature of ANY Shopsmith, is it's least thought out feature. If you're doing LARGE band-sawing projects, you'll see some shortcomings, too.

As a drill-press, the Shopsmith is pretty dang good (the Model 10 stuff is better) and as a lathe, (again the Model 10, because of 200 pounds of cast iron) is better, according to common concensus around here.

Last word of warning, do NOT try the lathe feature on any Shopsmith. Once you do]


Haha so youre saying the lathe sucks and I shouldnt use it at all? And yea I have read the table saw is the weakest point on the unit but I wouldnt be using it to rip huge plywood. I was hoping to at least do some cuts on hard wood but not sure if it will handle that. Thanks for your feedback I appreciate it!