Shopsmith clone - worth $100?

[heathicus]

I just saw this ad on CL: http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/tls/3253753752.html

Not for me. I have no interest in it. But I know a high school kid who, through shop class, has gotten very into woodworking. I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap machine to get him started. Would this be worth it?

Baton Rouge is a good bit of a drive for me, but I have family in the area that could pick it up.

[trainguytom]

I've found older Mk5's for as little $75, and many in the $100 - $250 range. I think from the standpoint of parts (both new & the used ones on ebay) I'd stay with used SS. I know they say the off brands are clones & parts are interchangeable, But why screw with that. Also, we all know the SS is a long term reliable machine.

[trainguytom]

Something else occurred to me. You've got a young kid getting interested in woodworking. Get him started right. I'm thinking that a no-longer-made clone of questionable quality might not be the best move, even though it's cheap.

[heathicus]

Excellent points...

But there aren't many Shopsmiths that pop up on CL around here. And those that do are way overpriced. People asking $500 to $1000 for incomplete 500s.

[brad_nalor]

Looks clean and as long as it works good, how can one go wrong for $100 ? I think you answered your question, not able to find a SS locally for less and most of the accessories interchange. Where's a lathe, plastic table saw, drill press for that dough?

[trainguytom]

Excellent points...

But there aren't many Shopsmiths that pop up on CL around here. And those that do are way overpriced. People asking $500 to $1000 for incomplete 500s.

The way to get a good deal on a SS on craigslist is NOT to answer ads from sellers, but rather to do a "wanted, older used SS, must be reasonably priced" type ad. Then people usually don't have a fixed price in mind. I've done best that way. All the "for Sale, SS ads" are priced way too high for me to be interested.

[trainguytom]

Looks clean and as long as it works good, how can one go wrong for $100 ? I think you answered your question, not able to find a SS locally for less and most of the accessories interchange. Where's a lathe, plastic table saw, drill press for that dough?

As to the "what could go wrong"... If anything does, I think it's (after the fact) a bad idea.
I know, it might run great, and if the motor dies, maybe you can swap in a SS motor, I just figure that there's a reasonable chance that it's money poorly spent.
These clones were, at best, just a copy. We all know the long term reliability of a SS, but does anyone know how the clones go? Maybe there's a reason they were only around for a short while, and even though they were cheaper, they didn't sell a ton of them.
Who knows. All just my opinion...free, and worth it!

[pennview]

You can't get parts for one of those clones and Shopsmith parts don't fit inside the headstock, so that's something to consider. But, for the price, if it runs well it sounds like a deal.

Bill Mayo is the resident expert here on the forum about these clones. He may even have some spare parts. Maybe you should give him a call and see what he has to say. I believe he said here once that a Shopsmith headstock fits those machines, but I could easily be wrong about that.

[rjn2649]

I'll add in, on CL around here all you seem to find are the same machines listed every week, right now the price range is "best offer" ( 3 emails and I still aint heard back) to 1800, but most are 300-500 and look pretty rough.
I'm a big fan of harbor freight, have been pleasently surprised by power tools I bought through them, just to get me through the next job or two untill I could make enough money to buy a "good one" well, I still got them and no I am not nice to them and they have lasted years.
This would be a gamble but I would do it, also try calling the guy and pleading your case a little, he might come down a little more, wont hurt to ask

[dusty]

All I will say is "Good Luck".