Shopsmith WOW

onevw · Post by **onevw** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:40 pm

I just bought some Shopsmith equipment (USED) It's a 1984 V with upgraded 520 tables fence etc. Belt sander, band saw, jig saw, 5 blades, chuck, disk sander, 4 table connector poles, saw dust collector, bisque unit, and some small stuff. He also had the joiner and pro planer mounted on stands with dedicated motors. So I bought it all for 1550.00 which I think is a pretty good deal.

Now for the WOW part. I have spent the last 45 years in the electro mechanical field. I have a fair amount of experience in machine design and repairs, cameras to ship engines. The WOW comes from the quality construction and thoughtful design Shopsmith's people have put into this equipment. I have not encountered this quality design and quality construction in any equipment, ever. Its if the MBA's of Shopsmith were told to take a hike. And made in America to boot. This upgradability throughout the line is unheard-of in my lifetime and is refreshing to see.

These people should be given the a medal of honer for bravery. They confronted the urge to reduce quality and reduce cost and chose to send those MBA's and accounts on a life long hike. I finally found a group willing to stand up to those who would sell the selves out just for the profits. WOW

As you can tell I am impressed with this equipment and the way this company has handled it's self. I do not think I will find another example of this any ware WOW.

I will support them for the privilege of being able to purchase this super quality equipment, parts and supplies.

It just proves not all companies are evil!

RICK

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:33 pm

Welcome to the forum Rick,

Here you will find a bunch of folks who think just like you do about the Shopsmith quality and design. If you think that's great just wait until you experience the two other amazing things about Shopsmith.

First, you will NOT find a company with better customer service ANYWHERE!

Second, this forum is not like the usual one. Folks here are most helpful and will walk you through any difficulty you may have with your machines or questions you may have.

Don't be afraid to ask any question you have - there will be no criticism (well maybe a little jab or two in jest) and you will get answers.

Again, welcome to the forum and fire away with questions if you have any (and my guess is you will). Folks here are more than willing to help.

Also, please fill in some information in your profile. You may find some here are close to you and willing to give you one-on-one assistance.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:19 am

Evil, my foot!

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:08 am

onevw wrote:I just bought some Shopsmith equipment (USED) It's a 1984 V with upgraded 520 tables fence etc. Belt sander, band saw, jig saw, 5 blades, chuck, disk sander, 4 table connector poles, saw dust collector, bisque unit, and some small stuff. He also had the joiner and pro planer mounted on stands with dedicated motors. So I bought it all for 1550.00 which I think is a pretty good deal.

Now for the WOW part. I have spent the last 45 years in the electro mechanical field. I have a fair amount of experience in machine design and repairs, cameras to ship engines. The WOW comes from the quality construction and thoughtful design Shopsmith's people have put into this equipment. I have not encountered this quality design and quality construction in any equipment, ever. Its if the MBA's of Shopsmith were told to take a hike. And made in America to boot. This upgradability throughout the line is unheard-of in my lifetime and is refreshing to see.

These people should be given the a medal of honer for bravery. They confronted the urge to reduce quality and reduce cost and chose to send those MBA's and accounts on a life long hike. I finally found a group willing to stand up to those who would sell the selves out just for the profits. WOW

As you can tell I am impressed with this equipment and the way this company has handled it's self. I do not think I will find another example of this any ware WOW.

I will support them for the privilege of being able to purchase this super quality equipment, parts and supplies.

It just proves not all companies are evil!

RICK

As near as I can tell, Shopsmith has not yet given up on quality. However, with the tendency to use parts from offshore, I fear that quality will slip. Offshore parts are less expensive (that is why they are used) and with less expensive parts usually goes quality.

Quality parts are, in part, the bi-product of strict inspections. Inspections cost money thus higher cost to the consumer.

BTW Don't blame the bean counters. They only tell it like it is. The profit manager is the one most responsible. I worked in manufacturing. I hope it doesn't show.

For another example of quality, check out the products from Incra ( www.incra.com ).

videobear · Post by **videobear** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:58 am

Hi, Rick!

I'm just an occasional woodworker, but as an engineer, I feel the same way you do about the ShopSmith. It's a unique machine...a brilliant design, masterfully realized.

You hear all sorts of putdowns against it. It's too expensive, it's old fashioned, it's not accurate, it's rickety, tool changes are time consuming, etc. Those who actually use the machine know how silly those are.

It's simply the best, most versatile woodworking tool ever invented for the home craftsman.

And a word about support: Since the rise of the internet, I've fallen in love with several different products...both hardware and software. One of the things that attracts me to a product is the presence of active users, interacting with the seller of the product in an internet forum community. Like here, for example.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:40 am

videobear wrote:Hi, Rick!

I'm just an occasional woodworker, but as an engineer, I feel the same way you do about the ShopSmith. It's a unique machine...a brilliant design, masterfully realized.

You hear all sorts of putdowns against it. It's too expensive, it's old fashioned, it's not accurate, it's rickety, tool changes are time consuming, etc. Those who actually use the machine know how silly those are.

It's simply the best, most versatile woodworking tool ever invented for the home craftsman.

And a word about support: Since the rise of the internet, I've fallen in love with several different products...both hardware and software. One of the things that attracts me to a product is the presence of active users, interacting with the seller of the product in an internet forum community. Like here, for example.

I love my Shopsmith as much as any other owner but I believe you must acknowledge that changeovers can be a real pain. I'm all set up to drill and I discover that I need to cut.

I solved that problem. Now I have two Mark Vs. One is used almost exclusively in the drill press mode. That change over is gone. The rest are tolerable.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:55 am

It seems to me that the need to saw something while set up for something else is the most annoying change over situation. Having a TS or a second SS will eliminate that one.

The most 'critical' changeover is when you have to break down a setup in the middle of processing not all of an operation that needs to produce identically dimensioned parts.

A shopsmith will require you plan out your 'activity' to minimize changeovers.

FWIW such planning will also minimize distance walked from stand alone tool to stand alone tool as well!:D

putttn · Post by **putttn** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:10 pm

I'd love to have the convenience of being able to just flip on a table saw for quick operations but in my case I'm really hamstrung with a lack of room. 3.5 car garage shared w/3 cars but I am able to shoehorn a Festool MFT table, Festool Kapex & table, Shopsmith and a small cabinet/wk bench all on one wall. I have the SS Ban Saw and Strip Sander so even though it is inconvenient to have to make changes it does work for me. The Kapex really handles alot of quick jobs and since I'm a novice woodworker I really am pretty satisfied with what I have.

eagleta2 · Post by **eagleta2** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 3:20 pm

I bought my mark v 500 in march 1993 from a home show in Milwaukee... if you're wondering why i can remember this so clearly...I bought it a couple weeks before my wedding was planned. I figured, if she was getting the wedding of her dreams....

Anyhow... I've loved my SS ever since and wouldn't dare be without it.

I've come to have the same affection for this company and also this forum...the folks on here are friendly, respectful and more than helpful.

You WONT find a better group of fellow wood workers...period

Thanks

Geo

putttn · Post by **putttn** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:59 pm

+1 to that