Shopsmith Forums

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this forum and to woodworking. I would like to come right out and ask: Is this Shopsmith tool as good as it appears??? I am setting up a shop in my basement and have limited space(12FTx15FT x 7Ft ceiling height) and it seems as if this would work out great for me rather that individual tools. Any input would be great.

Thanks, Carl.

carlr wrote:Hello Everyone,
I am new to this forum and to woodworking. I would like to come right out and ask: Is this Shopsmith tool as good as it appears??? I am setting up a shop in my basement and have limited space(12FTx15FT x 7Ft ceiling height) and it seems as if this would work out great for me rather that individual tools. Any input would be great.

Thanks, Carl.

Hi Carl,

Asking that question on this forum will only get you one answer!! Of course it is as good as it appears! Maybe better! Seriously, it is a GOOD tool. It will perform admirably for many operations and in a small space, as it is designed to do. It MUST be aligned properly to get satisfactory results. It is knot necessarily the best tool for each of those operations, but it is a very good tool.

If you have knot done so already, it wood be to your benefit to view each of the Sawdust Sessionsthat Nick Engler and associates have filmed. These will give you a good idea of the possibilities, maintenance procedures and solutions to problems that you may run across, with a ShopSmith..

Thanks Tim,
One of my concerns is the overall height of the unit when it is in the drill press position. I only have a little over 7FT ceiling height. Can you tell me this?
If I have the room I think I will go for it. It has to be better than the Skil saw I use now....
Thanks, Carl

I my opinion it is the best tool for someone with limited space that wants to have most or all the tool functions the Shopsmith is able to perform.

I have a one car garage dedicate to my shop, if I tried to put in a table saw with as much table surface as my 520 I would not be able to fit anything else in my shop.

A well aligned machine is able to do anything a dedicated machine can do and some things they can't, ever see a variable speed table saw?. I have never seen a horizontal boring machine (for example) which function I use all the time.

carlr wrote:Thanks Tim,
One of my concerns is the overall height of the unit when it is in the drill press position. I only have a little over 7FT ceiling height. Can you tell me this?
If I have the room I think I will go for it. It has to be better than the Skil saw I use now....
Thanks, Carl

Before I moved into my current home, I kept my Shopsmith in a basement with less than 7' ceiling and did not have an issue but it has been 20 years. I am in the middle of a project, not using the drill press or I would go out and measure it.

I think I'm getting the info I need. Sounds like a good fit for me.
Tim, no problem with the height. I know I have just over 7FT
Should be fine.

Thanks for you help so far. I'm sure I will have more as time goes on and I get my unit up and running.

Carl

paulmcohen wrote:I my opinion it is the best tool for someone with limited space that wants to have most or all the tool functions the Shopsmith is able to perform.

I have a one car garage dedicate to my shop, if I tried to put in a table saw with as much table surface as my 520 I would not be able to fit anything else in my shop.

A well aligned machine is able to do anything a dedicated machine can do and some things they can't, ever see a variable speed table saw?. I have never seen a horizontal boring machine (for example) which function I use all the time.

Thanks Paul, I'm looking forward to getting this tool.

Your shop size is almost that of mine and my Shopsmith has done me well since 1981. Wouldn't change it for anything else.

anmius wrote:Your shop size is almost that of mine and my Shopsmith has done me well since 1981. Wouldn't change it for anything else.

You guys are making this decision easier and easier....
Thanks

carlr wrote:Thanks Tim,
One of my concerns is the overall height of the unit when it is in the drill press position. I only have a little over 7FT ceiling height. Can you tell me this?
If I have the room I think I will go for it. It has to be better than the Skil saw I use now....
Thanks, Carl

I can't put mine in vertical right now. But I measured my ceiling height and it's right at 7 ft. No PROBLEM.