Shopsmith Forums

So Wednesday I'm checking the Louisville, KY Craigslist and looking for a 10" radial arm saw and see an offering of a 10" Craftsman R.A.S and a Shopsmith MK V for $400. I email the person about the R.A.S. and we set up a meeting for today, and he adds that he has 10 black walnut planks that he would put with the R.A.S. for $80.00. I think that's worth the ride. YEP!!

So I get to the fellow's home and we look over the radial saw and boards and make our deal. Then he asks about my interest in the Shopsmith. It's set up along with a plastic container of accessories (GOBS of em!) So he tells me the story of how he hasn't used it, that his uncle was the prior owner yada yada yada. I offer some good words about SS systems and we tinker a bit with it. You know "the dance" has begun. So he starts showing me all of the contents of the plastic box.

4 table inserts, shaper fence, 2 six inch face plates, 2 Jacobs chucks, 3 live centers, 3 dead centers, 2 six inch tool rests, sanding disk, 2 1/4" sanding drum, miter guage, mortising tool (no bit), wobble dado, six inch dado set, 4 10" saw blades, a jointer and some other minor items.

So he asks again if I'm interested. Knowing he originally offered the R.A.S. and SS for $400.00, I ask if he'd take $150.00 for the SS and accessories and he countered with a firm $200.00.

So BAM! I bought a pretty darned nice "greenie" SS and accessories, the R.A.S, and walnut planks all for $280.00. WOO HOO! I'm pretty fired up about the haul.

Dang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (green with envy).


.

Stockew, take a look at this post -- http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... stcount=65 -- regarding Craftsman radial arm saws and the possibility of getting a new table and blade guard from the manufacturer, Emerson, if it meets their criteria.

pennview wrote:Stockew, take a look at this post -- https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=90664&postcount=65 -- regarding Craftsman radial arm saws and the possibility of getting a new table and blade guard from the manufacturer, Emerson, if it meets their criteria.

Or if not 'on the approved list' just keep it as is! It really is worth more than $100 IMHO!

pennview wrote:Stockew, take a look at this post -- http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... stcount=65 -- regarding Craftsman radial arm saws and the possibility of getting a new table and blade guard from the manufacturer, Emerson, if it meets their criteria.

I checked my Craftsman RAS this week since it had been mentioned recently but mine came back "No kit available". That's OK, it's safe if I use it safely.
It is still sitting in the old shop but I should move it soon so I can use it for some carpentry type woodworking I need to do. I would like to use it for "rougher work" and not do so much of that type of work on my Ridgid TS-3650.
It will take me an hour to clear path to get it to a door and another to hour to clear off all of the "stuff" piled on its table. Actually I can clear the table in 5 seconds but I would still have a mess. I want to clean up the mess, not just relocate it to a pile on the floor.

pennview wrote:Stockew, take a look at this post -- http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... stcount=65 -- regarding Craftsman radial arm saws and the possibility of getting a new table and blade guard from the manufacturer, Emerson, if it meets their criteria.

Thanks PENNVIEW!! My new saw was on the list and I requested the safety upgrades and table kit this morning.

This is another example of the value of being a member of this forum...loads of product knowledge and experience. Many thanks!

Oh yeah, just checked the Mark 5's serial number. It's a 1960 model, and everything is in really nice condition. Very minimal rust on the lower tubes. I can't find any pitting. The "uncle" of the previous owner must have attempted to change the speed while stopped, as the drive belt was displaced and they had attempted to open the lower cover of the headstock to corect the problem. The only problem is that they didn't know to raise the headstock while on the way tubes to get full access to the internals or remove the headstock for full access. I removed the headstock yesterday. I'll get to repair today.

stockew wrote:Thanks PENNVIEW!! My new saw was on the list and I requested the safety upgrades and table kit this morning.

This is another example of the value of being a member of this forum...loads of product knowledge and experience. Many thanks!

Oh yeah, just checked the Mark 5's serial number. It's a 1960 model, and everything is in really nice condition. Very minimal rust on the lower tubes. I can't find any pitting. The "uncle" of the previous owner must have attempted to change the speed while stopped, as the drive belt was displaced and they had attempted to open the lower cover of the headstock to corect the problem. The only problem is that they didn't know to raise the headstock while on the way tubes to get full access to the internals or remove the headstock for full access. I removed the headstock yesterday. I'll get to repair today.

1960's vintage bench tubes were originally painted a silver/gray color.

That explains the lack of chrome luster. But the tubes are still in very nice condition. Thanks for the comment.

A question for your consideration:

My first MK V was sold to me with two headstocks. So I have an unused headstock in my shop. Shouldn't I be able to place my second 1 1/8 HP headstock on my recently acquired 1960 Greenie for a simple power upgrade? Are there any safety issues or traps I should know about?

Thanks.

stockew wrote:A question for your consideration:

My first MK V was sold to me with two headstocks. So I have an unused headstock in my shop. Shouldn't I be able to place my second 1 1/8 HP headstock on my recently acquired 1960 Greenie for a simple power upgrade? Are there any safety issues or traps I should know about?

Thanks.

About a 10 minute job... Good time to blow it out and lube it.
Never bleed on your tools.

.