Shopsmith Forums

Hey everyone,

We wanted to announce some exciting news! A legacy item is coming back for a limited time… but only for those on our email list. For those who’ve been waiting, collecting, or just have a soft spot for the classics, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out.

This will be offered exclusively through our email list—no public store listing, and no guarantees we’ll be doing this again anytime soon.

So if you’re not already signed up, now’s the time. https://www.shopsmith.com/?id=section41

More details coming later week…

— The Shopsmith Team

I'll take a guess. It has to be something that is relatively easy to do, so maybe a limited offering of new Mark 7s offered in retro colors like the classic hammered verde green or goldie color schemes?

Anyone else want to guess?

A hat, a shirt, a tie clasp, a mug, a trinket from the past?

Some discontinued tool would be nice.

A Lathe Duplicator or maybe the speed reducer is my hopeful guess.

algale wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:50 pm I'll take a guess. It has to be something that is relatively easy to do, so maybe a limited offering of new Mark 7s offered in retro colors like the classic hammered verde green or goldie color schemes?

This would be the simple and inexpensive way to reproduce classic Shopsmiths. I don't if the hammered style paint or a sputter coat is that simple because I think they use smooth powder coating now which is very durable. If this isn't it they should consider color options anyway.

JPG wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:56 pm Some discontinued tool would be nice.

I agree that could be more interesting than just a change in color. But I suspect the cost of resurrecting discontinued tools would be prohibitive.

I believe this has been answered. See the new Q & A that can be found in the post John made in the Community Section.

Thank you Shopsmith for adding this new Shopsmith News & Announcements section. I believe it will be a great source of information exchange between the company and members/Shopsmith users.

chapmanruss wrote: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:41 pm I believe this has been answered. See the new Q & A that can be found in the post John made in the Community Section.

Thank you Shopsmith for adding this new Shopsmith News & Announcements section. I believe it will be a great source of information exchange between the company and members/Shopsmith users.

Absolutely, we hope this will be a great way to have conversations with the community. We're looking forward to it!

Shopsmithalex wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:21 pm More details coming later week…

— The Shopsmith Team

I presume that this announcement is about the availability of new-build conventional headstocks. Something that would be great to add to that is some detail regarding Shopsmith LP's plans and/or philosophy for mid to long term replacement parts support for these excellent products. With Models 520S and 4 being dropped from the lineup, some users are concerned that parts may only be available until existing stock has been depleted.

One of the things I've always (40+ years in my case) thought was great about Shopsmith is their long term commitment to their products with upgrades and/or parts support. That has changed over the last 15 years, with many products discontinued and no longer supported. But there are always exceptions, for example I could still buy a new Gilmer belt 60 years after the last Gilmer machine was produced. All things considered, I'd be reluctant to recommend or endorse the purchase of a new conventional headstock without a better understanding of the company's philosophy on parts availability.

- David

I bought my first Shopsmith a few years ago based on the fact that any part to repair it was available. Now after the sale of the company it appears that is no longer the case. The original headstock is a very well thought out and totally solid piece of engineering, proven over many years and plenty of units in the field. If they won,t continue to support it many of the people on this forum will be more than disappointed. A friend of mine would always tell me when things didn't quite make sense " Follow the money" Sorry but change can be difficult. This is just my opinion, and I don't like the term "Mark" used for all our machines either.
Kevin