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1954 Mark 5 Restoration - 283018

Woovie

I just acquired a Mark 5 for free that needs some love and I'll be documenting my progress here! I'm not a fabricator by any sense of the word unless you mean software. I've always wanted to do woodworking but didn't really have the space or tools. I recently started renting a place with a garage and realized I could finally start. My first project was this 3D printed saw horse hinge, just more or less for the hell of it.

Really honestly kind of bad, because I had to use threaded rod and if you tighten it too much the hinge binds. But, this was enough surface to get me going and next I wanted to build a workbench. I managed to find a really cheap Sears Craftsman circular for $10 which I will likely still use to build my workbench. But later that same day browsing Craigslist I spotted a Shopsmith Mark 5 for sale for $50. The owner wanted to sell it as they had no need for it having already a workshop with all the equivalent tools, but seeing the potential in it I was really excited for the opportunity to use all of these tool functions which would also take up less space.

Immediately messaged the seller, and after meeting he ultimately gave it to me for free. I am now working on the process of cataloguing what I have and restoring parts. There's many original papers and documentation, and I don't believe too many accessories (mainly the finishing tool I believe?). From what the seller told me, the prior owner had used his to build the cabinets in the house, which I wish I could see just to see how much this thing was loved. Here's it partially disassembled in the back of my car.

There's lots of surface rust but nothing too rough. The worst parts were the two bottom bracing bars, which are unpainted on this one. I have been working away at the rust and cleaning up the parts. I plan to remove the paint and repaint some green color, but I do wish I could find a good hammered green if anyone has recommendations.

I don't have any other pictures quite yet to post, but I've been taking some along the way. I've only had it for a couple of weeks and have put maybe 4 hours of work into it. I've read a bit on the forums and watched some videos, but still a lot to learn about this. Presently I did a few passes of sanding with a coarse scuff pad to the bottom bars to remove the rust, and I'd say they're close to ready for a primer until I decide the color. I'm also designing a custom 3D print part to put on the end of a threaded rod to do a pass at the inside of the pipes too, I'll share that as well for others if anyone is interested.

chapmanruss

From what I see in the picture it appears you have an early Mark 5 with the "A" Headstock made prior to late 1955. The Mark 5 was introduced in March of 1954. Many units were made before they were introduced. As for painting it the most common used color for restorations had been Rust oleum Verde Green Hammered Finish paint prior to it being discontinued. It was not a great match but does look good. I am looking for a replacement color that can have the Hammered Finish to restore my 1957 Mark 5 Greenie, a Mark 2 and some SPT's. One of my previous Greenie restorations is below with that Verde Green paint.

The Bench Tubes (bottom bracing bars) were not painted on the Mark 5 Greenies but were painted silver on the 1960's Goldies. After that they were chrome plated. The Main Table Tie Bar, Upper & Lower Saw Guard and Headrest look gray in the picture and would be that color beginning in the mid 1960's, so those parts are likely later parts than parts originally painted Hammered Finninh Green or Hammered Finnish Silver. Seeing the Headrest Bench End as gray I wonder if the Bench Tubes have been changed from the original ones. The Greenies had 1-7/8" Diameter Bench Tubes but all later Bench Tubes, which changed with the Goldies, have 1-3/4" Diameter Bench Tubes the same diameter as all Way Tubes have been.

When removing rust be careful not to remove base metal especially on the Way Tubes that the Headstock and Carriage slide on. I have restored a lot of Shopsmith tools beginning with the first ones introduced in late 1947 the Model 10E up through Mark V's. I have a long (5 or 6 feet) Drill Bit Extension I use with a small wire wheel for cleaning the inside of the Way and Bench Tubes. It is something I already had for electrical rework.

HopefulSSer

chapmanruss The Bench Tubes (bottom bracing bars) were not painted on the Mark 5 Greenies but were painted silver on the 1960's Goldies.

The bench tubes on my 1960 Greenie are painted silver. I see no indication that it is not original. I'm guessing they started painting them towards the end of the Greenie run.

chapmanruss

The Metal Bench Tubes on the Mark 2 were painted silver and the Wood Bench Rails were painted green. Maybe another change to the Mark 5 that came from the Mark 2.

HOPEFULSSER,
Just curious are the Bench Tubes on your 1960 Greenie 1-7/8" or 1-3/4"? I am still trying to nail down when that change actually occurred. If I recall correctly the October 1960 Goldie I restored had 1-3/4" Bench Tubes and they were originally painted silver.

HopefulSSer

chapmanruss
They're 1-3/4". The paint is too good quality to have been a homeowner job. I suppose it's possible that someone swapped Goldie tubes into it, but it seems unlikely. Perhaps they ran out of 1-7/8" bare tubes and had already received 1-3/4" tubes?

For the record, my Greenie is SN 362819

Woovie

chapmanruss From what I see in the picture it appears you have an early Mark 5 with the "A" Headstock made prior to late 1955.

That definitely looks true, my headstock looks pretty different than that one on the upper portion design.

chapmanruss originally painted Hammered Finninh Green or Hammered Finnish Silver.

I do believe this has hammered silver, although it's in a pretty rough condition in a few places.

It definitely has some newer parts in a few places from what I can tell, I'll try to get a better picture of everything here soon.

That's a beautiful Greenie, I think I might end up picking a rich green and silver combo.

chapmanruss When removing rust be careful not to remove base metal especially on the Way Tubes that the Headstock and Carriage slide on.

My way tubes are in pretty good shape and I figured dimensional accuracy was probably somewhat important, so won't be touching those likely outside of a deep clean and from what i can gather, I should use carnauba wax and let it cure before installing the tools again.

I ended up coating the bench tubes and legs with Rustoleum primer tdoay after rigorous paint removal and any major rust. No rust has been significant thus far thankfully and it's all easy been removed.

My bench tube dimensions are 1 3/4" OD, 11 gauge. Definitely raw. The portions of the tube that were inside the base and base lock ends were still very clean and rust free.

Thanks for all the details y'all, really enjoying this process and excited to use this machine once it's up and running.

chapmanruss

HopefulSSer Serial Number 362819 puts it being made in February 1960. They changed to the Goldie color scheme sometime between March and May 1960. With the 1-3/4" Bench Tubes it should also have the Bench Ends, Headrest and Base/Arm, that the Bench Tube holes are smaller than the Bench Ends for the Greenies with 1-7/8" Bench Tubes.

chapmanruss

Woovie The Bench Tubes being 1-3/4" Diameter means they are not the original Bench Tubes but are consistent with having the gray Base/Arm Bench End. The silver used for Bench Tubes is a bright silver, not hammered finish, paint as seen on the restored Goldie below.

HopefulSSer

chapmanruss It is a hammered silver. On mine, where the finish is completely intact, it almost seemed to be hammered silver with a high-gloss clearcoat over it. Overall though the patina is consistent with the rest of the machine

chapmanruss

I need to check the Goldie made in April 1961 I have waiting for restoration to see the paint used on its Bench Tubes. Looking at the pre restoration pictures I have for the October 1960 Goldie I restored shown in the previous post it does look like the original Bench Tube paint is a Hammered Finish Silver.