Age Range of Shopsmith Users

This is a forum for intermediate to advanced woodworkers. Show off your projects or share your ideas.

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What's your age?

75+
4
1%
75+
37
10%
75+
51
13%
75+
97
25%
75+
125
32%
75+
60
16%
75+
12
3%
 
Total votes: 386

dforeman
Gold Member
Posts: 231
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:28 pm
Location: Westminster, Maryland

Post by dforeman »

I'll jump in. I'm 44 and due to turn 45 this year. I inherited my Shop Smith equipment from my stepfather that passed away back in 2007. I just happened to stuble onto this forum one day while doing a little online research on the Shop Smith Web site.
gchapman
Gold Member
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:42 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Post by gchapman »

Turning 60 this year, I just got a Mark VII about 3 years ago and then supplemented it with Mark V Greenie. Thanks Fiatben for resurecting this thread.
gchapman
Gold Member
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:42 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Post by gchapman »

deanthom wrote:This SS user is 58, living "just up the road" from Eric, say 3 hours or so, and have been using multi-purpose machines (SS & a copy before I was able to buy the real thing) for more than 20 years.

I'm glad that I don't have anyone but me to fight to get into my woodshop. All I need is to find the ambition to get up and get moving.

I, too, am vertically challenged, but in the other direction. At 6'3", using the SS as a lathe is a back breaker. The other functions are fine, but without 2x8 blocks under the wheels, I hurt for days when I have a bunch to turn.

Course, that's also why I bought a dedicated lathe in addition to my SS.

I used the standard 500 style table for a lot of years. Did lots of stuff with it. Bought my "real" 91 SS that started life as a 510 and had the 520 upgrade with scale poorly installed. tore it all off, reinstalled it "by the book" and have been a pretty happy camper ever since. I have to re-align the table since I don't think I got it tight enough. My bad, though.

Eric, if you ever make pilgrimage to KC, shoot me a note and maybe we can do coffee.
Dean I live just north of Gladstone in KC and would love to get together and drink a pot of coffee.

Greg
bffulgham
Gold Member
Posts: 459
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:18 am
Location: Amarillo, TX area

Post by bffulgham »

Soon, as in next month, to be 59.

Some days, it feels like 109.

Other days, when I get to work on my projects.....29 (It's the morning after that I sometimes feel like 109:rolleyes: )

Glad to be where I am.
Glad I don't have to do it all over again.
Looking forward to the future :D
Bud F.
1998 Mark V 510 bought used 2006, Jointer, 2 Bandsaws, ca 1960 Yuba SawSmith RAS
Projects and "stuff": http://www.bfulgham.com/JAlbum/Woodworking_Index/
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reible
Platinum Member
Posts: 11283
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:08 pm
Location: Aurora, IL

Post by reible »

I haven't seen anything of Dean for a while, he did a lot at the ssug.org site for a lot of years but I haven't seen any posts there either.

As for here: Last Activity: 04-19-2007 08:21 PM

He was a big help to me when I started to get more into turning and deciding on which lathe chucks etc were worth the $$. Miss seeing posts from him.

Ed

gchapman wrote:Dean I live just north of Gladstone in KC and would love to get together and drink a pot of coffee.

Greg
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kd6vpe
Platinum Member
Posts: 585
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:53 pm
Location: Owasso, Oklahoma
Contact:

Post by kd6vpe »

OK I don't post much lately been busy with work and my new Sportster, epanding with my buy american. I will turn a young 60 this year.
SS 500 upgraded to 510; SS bandsaw; SS jointer
SS Oscillating Drum Sander; Universal Lathe Rest;
lathe duplicatior, shaper fence and shapers; SS Belt
Sander
Jim
www.youtube.com/kd6vpe
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kd6vpe
Platinum Member
Posts: 585
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:53 pm
Location: Owasso, Oklahoma
Contact:

Post by kd6vpe »

OK I don't post much lately been busy with work and my new Sportster, epanding with my buy american. I will turn a young 60 this year.
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SS 500 upgraded to 510; SS bandsaw; SS jointer
SS Oscillating Drum Sander; Universal Lathe Rest;
lathe duplicatior, shaper fence and shapers; SS Belt
Sander
Jim
www.youtube.com/kd6vpe
User avatar
fjimp
Platinum Member
Posts: 2345
Joined: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: Lakewood, Colorado

Post by fjimp »

I like that new sportster.

Looking at how long ago I entered my age into this survey I realize I am now in the next older group. Jim
F. Jim Parks
Lakewood, Colorado:)

When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
backhertz
Platinum Member
Posts: 674
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:18 pm

Post by backhertz »

Got my 1st hand-me-down Model 510 in 1991 when my parents left Ct and migrated to FL. It came with just about every accessory & was hardly used by my father who would watch the Shopsmith demonstrator by the mall near him & he bought all his stuff new. He bought a complete system along with a stand-alone planer & I assembled it all for him.

I used to get a Shopsmith catalog so I'd get something new each year until I upgraded my 510 to a 520. Then in 2003, I suffered at work injury and had to stop working at age 48. So around 2007, boredom hit and I started 'collecting' used Model 500-series Shopsmiths for no more than $200. So I just kept an eye open on Ebay & Craig's List & my friends who had no idea of how a Shopsmith works. My last 500 was a 1955 Greenie a friend gave to me a year ago. I think I bought 3 others prior to that- two more 500's & a 510 with other SPTs and a Power Station.

In 2007, I made a trip to Dayton. Picked up a scroll saw I won on Ebay & also went to the factory to go shopping at the retail store, only to learn the retail store had closed a while ago. Nick Engler was there and nice enough to give me a sharpening lesson on the strip sander & a complete tour of the factory. That is when I saw the early model Shopsmiths were being used to machine parts for the new ones. So I caught the 10E/ER bug and figured if they were still around after over 50 years, I wanted one of them.

I bought my first 10ER in 2008 from an original buyer who used it to make toys. Then got another completely restored 10ER for $150 on Ebay from a guy in Florida who was apparently too far for anyone else to bid on. I picked up 3 more- two for $50 each and one for $80. The $80 one looked brand new as it was owned by machinist who really took care of it. I think I have speed changers on all of them.

I also bought a stand-alone router, a lathe duplicator, and two 1.5 HP DC motors which fit the 10E/ER motor plate. I bought one of the first PowerPro upgrades which one of these days I will install. Soon, I hope. A complete renovation of our house- new master bedroom addition, new wood workshop, geothermal HVAC, and a 10KW solar power system has kept me too busy to get my hands on the Shopsmiths. I replaced the bearings in all the motors after buying a used press. I also picked up a 1940's Southbend lathe, but had to sell it- ran out of space...<lol> Wood chips & metal chips don't mixed well anyway.

The day Nick gave me a tour, I had only seen him once prior on one of the Sawdust Sessions which he & Drew used to do on Saturdays. Little did I know of him then. He taught me the hammer twirling trick. I have since purchased a copy of every book he authored.

Rather than continue the list of Shopsmith stuff I've picked up for next to nothing, I'll just say the only two things I don't have for the 10E/ER are the compressor & the paint sprayer. I only need the new pivots & a set of new wheels to get me up to date with the new Mark 7. For a couple of years I took advantage of every sale and deal I stumbled on. I plan to restore all the Shopsmiths and keep only what I need. I could run a Shopsmith chop shop, but I have always enjoyed rebuilding things.

Well 57 is around the corner. Time goes by so fast.
One Greenie, Two Mark 7s,Three 510s and much more…
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aloibl
Gold Member
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: Austin, Texas

Post by aloibl »

I will add my two cents to this. I am currently 45, soon to be 46. I have had my Shopsmith Mark V-500 for about a year now. Working on learning how to do wordworking since I didn't have much of a background in woodworking. Never took shop in high school as I was to busy taking classes needed for college. As soon as I prove myself worthy of utilizing this machine I will upgrade to the 520.
Alan - Austin, Texas

Shopsmith Mark V (1984), Bandsaw, Joiner, Belt sander, jig saw, planer, router table, biscuit jointer, Porter jig,
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