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After many, many years finally bought a Mark V

DelMarVa_Southpaw

Hello all, 1st time to the forum and first time Shop Smith owner.
I'm retired and have a 28' x 32' dedicated woodworking shop set up with just about every woodworking tool you can think of, Delta Uni-Saw, Shop Fox 14" Resaw Bandsaw & 8" Parallelogram jointer, 20" thickness planer, large drill press, router table, morticing machine, you name I got it. All taking too much space and too much maintenance.
I've done woodworking for over 40 years, everything from Homes, Timber framing, Multi-Family Apartment projects to custom cabinets & furniture and I've decided to downsize and in the process selling off the equipment.
I looked at Shop Smith many years ago before all this started and now have come full circle with the purchase of not 1 but 2 separate Mark V's that I think I got a good deal on.
(see photos)

The 1st Mark V is an older 500, that was converted to a shorty with jointer, Belt sander and is currently set up as a dedicated machine utilizing the Band saw and Jig saw attachments. It also included some accessories. It appears to be in good shape

The 2nd Mark V is a NEW old stock 510 with Pro fence system out of the box built in 2002 with Bandsaw, Jointer, Belt sander attachments, Shop Smith Vac/dust collection system and tons of accessories, i.e. Drill bits, router & shaper bits, sanding drums, three 12" sanding plates with a 1/2 doz. sandpaper discs packs, arbors, mandrels, saw blades, manuals and the list goes on and on, right down to a can of Shop Smith touch up spray paint. Absolutely nothing has ever been used and most are still in the original boxes & packaging.

I was told by the seller he had purchased everything from a widow whose husband recently died. He had secretly purchased it new 20 years ago, hiding it from his wife. It was never used and remained hidden until found by the wife and subsequently sold to my seller.
The only attachment I don't have is the 12" Planer, but have found a couple on Marketplace that I'm trying to make a deal on.

I purchased the everything for $1,200, so I think I got a good deal. I haven't even turned on either system, so hope it all works. The real challenge will be changing my mind set from having a dedicated piece of equipment to perform each woodworking task, to following a predetermined sequence of events that the Shop Smith system is best suited for. I look forward to the challenge and will be revisiting the forum for tips, tricks and useful ideas in the future.

Any advice and feedback is welcomed. Keep making the Sawdust!

chapmanruss

DELMARVA_SOUTHPAW,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

For the price you paid and everything you show it was a very good deal.

My first recommendation would be to read the maintenance section of the Instruction Manual for regular maintenance and preform that maintenance before running the two Marks. Proper lubrication of the Headstock parts is key to having a good running tool for years to come.

My second recommendation is to read the entire Mark V Instruction Manual and the SPT (Bandsaw, Jointer, etc.) Manuals to become familiar with your Shopsmith Tools. You have two other good references to help you learn different things the Shopsmith tools can do. The Self Study Guide will walk you through Mark V operations and the book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone will show you additional ways you can use your Shopsmith tools.

Just a point of clarification is the Table/Fence system determines the Model of the Mark V's. Yours is a Model 510 but not with the Pro Fence System. The Pro Fence is the difference between the 510 and the 520. The Pro Fence used extruded Fence Rails and a larger (wider) Fence whereas the 510 like yours has the Fence Rail Tubes. The picture below shows a Mark V 520 Main Table which is the same Main Table for the Mark 7.

It is important to not only know when a Mark V was made but upgrades made to it to be able to get the right replacement parts if needed and to get the right accessories. As an example, the Mark V 500 now a shorty uses different length arbors than the Mark V 510 you have. The shorter arbors of the 500 do not work for use in the Lower Saw Blade Guard of the 510.

adrianpglover

It's all so clean and shiny!

Welcome to the community and congrats on your purchase!

Kilgor

First-timer here from central Alabama -
Nice pictures of your "new" machines, DELMARVA_SOUTHPAW. Wish I had half of the working Shopsmith machines you've listed.

I too recently bought a (2005?) 50th Edition Mark V, Model 510 without knowing anything about the machine because it looked like those my dad used from late 1940's thru 1970's like Powermatic, Rockler and Delta brands. However, having no knowledge about the Shopsmith components, I didn't know what all was missing which is biting me in the arse. The seller did a great job selling all the features that it COULD perform.

Now, I'm debating on selling it as-is or keep it and spend MORE money to buy the core functional parts (chucks, lathe system, saw fence, adjustable legs, disc sander system, etc. Was told the machine was purchased by their father nearly 80-years old before he died and never used it. I don't know any other history of it, but it looks brand new and has no wear appearance on the head or the base. The chrome bars have no scratches and look brand new. Paid $450 for it as-is.

Experienced owners here, would you re-sell it or start looking for/buying the functional parts & accessories?

chapmanruss

Kilgor,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. Congratulations on your new to you Mark V.

My opinion is a bit skewed towards the Shopsmith tools so keep that in mind. It is unfortunate that there were missing parts to the Mark V you purchased. Some are likely still with the seller just not found. If you have the Owner's Manual you can find what parts you have and do not have. You said it is missing

(chucks, lathe system, saw fence, adjustable legs, disc sander system, etc.

All of which can be replaced as needed either new or used. Many times, good used parts are cheaper than new but do check the new price here on the Shopsmith website to compare before buying used and consider the shipping in the cost. You said "adjustable legs" in the list of missing items. Are you referring to the legs of the Bench? Below is what a Mark V 510 should look like. This one also has a Jointer mounted on it at the left edge of the picture. Not all the parts it comes with from the factory are shown in the picture.

It is the Table/Fence system that determines the model. Being a Model 510, parts tend to be cheaper than those for the Model 520 Pro Fence system.

If you didn't get the Owner's Manual you can download a PDF of the MARK V 520S Owner’s Manual (For 557501 - 557500) from here on the Shopsmith Website under Manuals which will help with the Headstock use and maintenance. Other parts and to an extent the operation will differ due to the Pro Fence System and the Double Tilt of the Mark V 520S. I recommend doing the regular Headstock maintenance before using your Mark V.

The Shopsmith Mark V can do a lot of functions for a tool that takes up very little shop space. Due to its multi-function capabilities it can do things not possible with single function tools.

Feel free to ask any additional question you may have or come up with.

Kilgor

Thanks for all the info, Russ.

Fortunately, it came with the system manual in notebook form. I also got several parts except the ones I listed above. The previous owner did purchase lathe tools that have never been used (4 in all still in original bags). I’m trying to upload some pictures of it while still on my utility trailer. Your input provides more confidence in my purchase if I can find the parts I need to complete the machine.

Kilgor

chapmanruss here are pictures of my Mark V.

chapmanruss

Kilgor,

Your Mark V was made January 6, 2005 as indicated by the ser. no. listed which actually a date code. Your Mark V is a Model 520 not a 510 as I showed previously. Notice the 510 has Fence Rail Round Tubes while your Model 520 has the Extruded Fence Rails. You will need to find a 520 Rip Fence. When looking for the 12" Sanding Disk you will want one with the longer Hub for the Mark V 510/505, 520 and Mark 7. Ones for the Mark V 500 both steel which has a shorter Hub and the older Aluminum Sanding Sisk can be used but not with the Lower Saw Blade/Dust Chute for Dust Collection. Any Drill Chuck made for Shopsmith tools can be used. They are not model specific. As for Lathe parts the Tailstock and Lathe Chisels are all the same. The Lathe Tool Rest Assembly differs between the Model 500 and the other Mark V models which have the two position Arm which is longer than the single position Arm of the Model 500. It has two positions to mount on the Post.

I am glad to see you did get the Owner's Manual. Follow the Mark V with Pro Fence System (Model 520) specific instructions when different from the Mark V with Standard Fence System (Model 510) instructions in the manual.

Kilgor

Great info Russ. I’ve done some extensive reading since yesterday and thoroughly poured over the ShopSmith site for missing parts and found everything I’d ever needed to bring my 520 back up to a complete machine. The 48 pages of parts with photos are great resources for “new” price comparisons. I plan to start off completing the lathe and sawing functionalities with new parts, then obtain additional pre-owned accessories over time.

I own a portable Wood-Miser LT15 Wide sawmill and 30+ acres of timber so I have plenty of project wood to play with.

chapmanruss

Having the Saw Mill a couple of additional items will be helpful getting the wood from tree to project ready. A Jointer to edge the wood for sawing to width and a Planer to smooth the boards to thickness.

Just for reference Shopsmith made a 4" Jointer that dates back to 1953 and is still a popular accessory made today. All but the original Model 4E Jointer can work and be powered mounted on your Mark V.

Shopsmith made three different Thickness Planers in the past. All have been discontinued. They were the Mark Mount 12" Planer, the Pro Planer mounted on its own stand with a motor for independent and the 12" Portable Planer which is rarely found.

Kilgor

I do have a portable 13" planer and access to a jointer, but I usually square off the fresh boards on the sawmill instead of keeping them live edge. Exceptions to this extra trimming apply to slabs which measure anywhere from 1.5" to 2" thick and 24" to 34" wide. I can always put those back on my sawmill if straight edges are needed, but I can't run them through any planer. Would have to use a router system.

BTW - I found several parts already for the 520 and they are being shipped tomorrow from Indiana.

Long shank Sanding disc with self-adhesive sanding pads
Extension table leaf
Lathe components and tool resting arm/shaft
Extension table adjustable legs
Drill chuck with key
1-2 Saw blades
Pro fence for the 520 table

Will have the head stock, way tubes and everything cleaned, oiled and waxed by the time parts get here.
If anyone needs wood stock for turning or other projects, just let me know. I have pecan, eastern red cedar, white oak boards, some red oak slabs and of course plenty of pine. And I will be adding additional species of wood this fall when temperatures drop a little.

Russ, thank you for all your helpful information. It's greatly appreciated.

Jeff aka Kilgor

chapmanruss

Sounds like you are keeping the Mark V. I hope you enjoy using it and find the many things you can do with it even some tasks not possible with stand alone tools.