What do you wish you would have added to your SS earlier?

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paulrussell
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What do you wish you would have added to your SS earlier?

Post by paulrussell »

Thanks to the shared wisdom of these boards, I upgraded my SS to a 520 table, and am forever grateful. There are lots of widgets and upgrades available, both from SS and other vendors. What did you put off buying and later wonder how you lived without.
Paul

520 PowerPro, Planer, Bandsaw, Jointer, Belt Sander, 20" Scroll Saw, Dust Collector, conical disc
Also: 3D printers, and a homebrew CNC
paulmcohen
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Post by paulmcohen »

paulrussell wrote:Thanks to the shared wisdom of these boards, I upgraded my SS to a 520 table, and am forever grateful. There are lots of widgets and upgrades available, both from SS and other vendors. What did you put off buying and later wonder how you lived without.

Lift Assist, PowerPro and better casters in that order. Without the Lift Assist I would have no chance of lifting the PowerPro but there are two different models so most likely today I would have purchased them together.
Paul Cohen
Beaverton, OR
A 1982 500 Shopsmith brand upgraded to a Mark 7 PowerPro, Jointer, Bandsaw (with Kreg fence), Strip Sander, Ring Master and lots of accessories all purchased new
12" Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, 1200 CFM DC
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JPG
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Post by JPG »

Casters! Cost 6x as much 45 yrs later!:eek:

Then bandsaw, belt sander, planer. Jointer came with SS initially.
╔═══╗
╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10
E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
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reible
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Post by reible »

I have to say the 500 to 520 upgrade would be the thing I waited to upgrade for the longest. I should have done it much sooner.

Everything else would have been nice to have sooner but that would be one of two levels less important. Most other options however I did get rather soon after they came out so I perhaps am not the one really answer this sort of question.

The only other thing that comes to mind is the Overhead Router Arm. That went out of production before I was able get one. E-bay solved that many years later, before shopsmith introduced the new version. That was my most wanted "extra" item.

Ed
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fjimp
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Post by fjimp »

JPG40504 wrote:Casters! Cost 6x as much 45 yrs later!:eek:
True but blue air and medical treatments place the cost of those wheels well within reason. 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.
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joedw00
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Post by joedw00 »

I wish I would have added the lift assist when I bought mine.
Joe

520, Bandsaw, Beltsander, Delta Drill Press, Delta Lathe, Craftsman Planner/Jointer, Delta Planner, Mini "Greenie" Shorty 500

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dusty
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Post by dusty »

Everything that I do not already have.:rolleyes:

Seriously, my only regret has been that I was not able to foresee how difficult it was going to be to allocate discretionary funds after retirement. While you are working and have some financial leniency, buy those items that you know you will use but don't have.

When I want for a three or four hundred dollar item now (OPR), I have to choice between it and other things. At this stage in my life, more wood working tools often come up last. There was a time when all I had to do was go get it. Those days are gone.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
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lightnin
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Post by lightnin »

A Shopsmith
I didn't know what a Shopsmith was and purchased other tools.
Now I don't have a SS bandsaw I have a craftsman.
I have a Craftsman Table saw... very Large in the way... goin' on CL soon.
I wish I started with SS years ago.
Bruce

I didn't know what a Shopsmith was...
Three days later I owned one...
One week later I was rebuilding one...
Four months later I owned two....
Ok Ok, I'm up to four now...
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skou
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Post by skou »

Since I've got the ER model, I'd say my DC conversion motor.

(I'd put a plug in for Skip, at the ER group, but that may be frowned on.):D

steve
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Recommendations

Post by wdelliott »

Cross-cut sled
Full supply of all feather boards, especially one attaching to top of rip fence
Mitre gauge extensions, with stop blocks
New blades of various kinds
Cool blocks for band saw
Dial calipers
Router table for SS, which surprises me how I prefer over standalone router table

There are more but these are what I have used the most since my 520 upgrade.
Wm. D. Elliott
Dallas, TX

1972 Model 500; upgraded to Model 7; bandsaw; belt sander; joiner; planer pro; power stand; OPR; Biscuit joiner; router tables
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