"Cherry" ShopSmith

[robinson46176]

I went back and looked at the pictures again... Yeah, it is still ugly but it looks to be complete except for the dial. Now I wouldn't pay $1200 for it if the world was coming to an end but there is a couple of hundred dollars worth there for anybody that has the skills to restore one.
I don't know where the notion comes from that Shopsmith parts are not worth anything on Ebay??? We often discuss here how many times some sell for more on Ebay used than SS sells them for. I personally have sold some SS stuff on Ebay very well.
As far as the the sloppy paint spray mess goes it is pretty much a non-issue. Paint is "very" temporary. Most of it would probably wash off with a good prep cleaner and would certainly roll off with some stripper. Tear it down, a good prep, a good masking job and some careful painting and it looks like a different machine.
The big question is of course the headstock and if it runs reasonably well. For me that isn't even a deal breaker. I have enough headstocks stored back to just swap it out but I doubt that would be necessary. Parts are easy to come by.
I don't have any interest in this one for several reasons not the least of which is the "stash" I already have back. The distance is a bit much from Central Indiana but I did buy one near Springfield Mass. and one from Charlotte NC but they were in a "lot" better shape than this one.
"If" it were just down the road a few miles and they wanted it gone enough to sell it for a $100 bucks or even a little more on a sunny day I would probably jump on it if for no other reason than to show the doubters what can easily be done.
This one looked kind of ratty when I got it... Not counting time when I did it I probably put around $40 in it for a couple of bearings and odd bits.
I just hate to see something with potential beat with a stick because folks can't see past superficial appearances.
Now that $1200 price is fair game to pick on...
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[benush26]

I think that the bracing is for a lathe operation. If you look, you see that they placed a turned spindle on it (yes the wrong end). I'm going to presume that they wanted to "demonstrate" that is was used for turning though I am guessing since the wood spindle is on the wrong end, the people selling it never did use it.

I'll guess (Lots and lots of guessing !!) that the previous owner didn't really want a greenie or goldie and opted for a redie (or cherrieie ). Personally this spring my Mark 7 legs will become a maroonie! (school colors are maroon and dark silver) Yes, painting the way tubes was a mistake, but you can see where that paint has been rubbed away in a few areas. I'd further guess that the newspapers over the way tubes are hiding more bare spots and that the sellers are trying to hide that. A good scrubbing and waxing might make the system bright.

I can imagine their thinking regarding the price. "Well, there are a few on CL for $1500 and $1800, so we'll post ours for $1200 and sell it in a week!". I wonder how upset they might become if some butt-in-ski told them they had a thousand too much added to their price? I've been there and thought I was being help full doing that

At least it appears that they have it under a covered space! So what's their next move? Ebay with a reserve of $1000?

[JPG]

I think that is old fashioned rust on the way tubes.

It was stored in a barn. Do not be fooled by that current garage.

Wonder what is on the speed control for a knob?

[pieceseeker]

I went back and looked at the pictures again... Yeah, it is still ugly but it looks to be complete except for the dial. Now I wouldn't pay $1200 for it if the world was coming to an end but there is a couple of hundred dollars worth there for anybody that has the skills to restore one.
I don't know where the notion comes from that Shopsmith parts are not worth anything on Ebay??? We often discuss here how many times some sell for more on Ebay used than SS sells them for. I personally have sold some SS stuff on Ebay very well.
As far as the the sloppy paint spray mess goes it is pretty much a non-issue. Paint is "very" temporary. Most of it would probably wash off with a good prep cleaner and would certainly roll off with some stripper. Tear it down, a good prep, a good masking job and some careful painting and it looks like a different machine.
The big question is of course the headstock and if it runs reasonably well. For me that isn't even a deal breaker. I have enough headstocks stored back to just swap it out but I doubt that would be necessary. Parts are easy to come by.
I don't have any interest in this one for several reasons not the least of which is the "stash" I already have back. The distance is a bit much from Central Indiana but I did buy one near Springfield Mass. and one from Charlotte NC but they were in a "lot" better shape than this one.
"If" it were just down the road a few miles and they wanted it gone enough to sell it for a $100 bucks or even a little more on a sunny day I would probably jump on it if for no other reason than to show the doubters what can easily be done.
This one looked kind of ratty when I got it... Not counting time when I did it I probably put around $40 in it for a couple of bearings and odd bits.
I just hate to see something with potential beat with a stick because folks can't see past superficial appearances.
Now that $1200 price is fair game to pick on...
[ATTACH]24292[/ATTACH]


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OK, I know most of you have far more experience restoring and using these machines than I'll probably ever be able to achieve.

So, let's just say you were to get this machine for $100 and it took say $20 to $40 in gas & 1 to 2 hours to pick up and haul back. How much time and money would you guess (ballpark estimate mind you) it would take to get it to the condition of the one you have pictured?

You would need to count everything, even stuff you have on hand (everything costs something)

How much time do some of you have in restoring those older Mark V's.


How many of you would attempt a rebuild on this one, if a real "Cherry ShopSmith" Mark V in great condition was available down the road for $400? I've seen a few like that on CL, very few in perfect condition, but a few none the less.

I'm starting to see 510's and the occasional 520 weighting in at $800 on CL. Maybe not in the best condition at that price, but far better than what we're discussing here.


I have spent many hours refurbishing SPT's since acquiring my SS stuff. It is satisfying to complete such a project, but my stuff was in decent condition to start with. I probably still have around $100 per to bring them up to snuff. If I counted my time by how much I make at my day job, I would be better off buying new. I try to achieve a like new look to my tools and take care of them.

I spent $1000 on my 2006 520 a few months ago. It is in great condition, runs great and may only need adjusting/aligning and lubrication.

It is just money better spent rather than on a Mark V that is that close to the bone yard.

Oh, don't get me wrong, it would be great if a newcomer or oldtimer took it upon themselves and had plenty of time to commit to a "labor of love" relationship with this SS.

It can be done no doubt, but it would be like restoring a 62 Ford Falcon station wagon back to factory new condition, it wouldn't be worth anything to anybody but you. It'll never be a 510 or 520 unless much more money is poured into it. The price tag at that point ...well, probably could have picked up a better machine at half the cost.

JMHO

[JPG]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ugly is in the mind of the beholder.

$100 would be a good price since the condition of the innards is unknown.

Yes refurbing it would be a labor of love, but the tradeoff compared to just purchasing one does not include the satisfaction of bringing it back to usable condition. Pretty is nice, but useful is the bottom line.

Now I say that because that is how I once saw it. Post MickyD I now see it differently. Pretty is now an objective.

Either is perfectly acceptable.


BTW have you seen MickyD's model 10 thread?

[robinson46176]

OK, I know most of you have far more experience restoring and using these machines than I'll probably ever be able to achieve.

So, let's just say you were to get this machine for $100 and it took say $20 to $40 in gas & 1 to 2 hours to pick up and haul back. How much time and money would you guess (ballpark estimate mind you) it would take to get it to the condition of the one you have pictured?

You would need to count everything, even stuff you have on hand (everything costs something)

How much time do some of you have in restoring those older Mark V's.


How many of you would attempt a rebuild on this one, if a real "Cherry ShopSmith" Mark V in great condition was available down the road for $400? I've seen a few like that on CL, very few in perfect condition, but a few none the less.

I'm starting to see 510's and the occasional 520 weighting in at $800 on CL. Maybe not in the best condition at that price, but far better than what we're discussing here.


I have spent many hours refurbishing SPT's since acquiring my SS stuff. It is satisfying to complete such a project, but my stuff was in decent condition to start with. I probably still have around $100 per to bring them up to snuff. If I counted my time by how much I make at my day job, I would be better off buying new. I try to achieve a like new look to my tools and take care of them.

I spent $1000 on my 2006 520 a few months ago. It is in great condition, runs great and may only need adjusting/aligning and lubrication.

It is just money better spent rather than on a Mark V that is that close to the bone yard.

Oh, don't get me wrong, it would be great if a newcomer or oldtimer took it upon themselves and had plenty of time to commit to a "labor of love" relationship with this SS.

It can be done no doubt, but it would be like restoring a 62 Ford Falcon station wagon back to factory new condition, it wouldn't be worth anything to anybody but you. It'll never be a 510 or 520 unless much more money is poured into it. The price tag at that point ...well, probably could have picked up a better machine at half the cost.

JMHO

I understand what you are saying and that is pretty much how I dealt with various small businesses I owned.
Here I am talking hobby and if you want to actually enjoy a hobby it is important to at least as much as is rational, lock the bean counters in the closet.
There is no cost to all of the stuff I bought in preparation for my retirement hobby activities... They were all a "gift" to myself... I couldn't tell you with-in several thousand dollars what I spent on shop stuff, old tractors and horses. Don't know, don't care. I worked at multiple occupations all of my life and lived scary frugal so I could enjoy this time of life and bean counting just doesn't matter that much now. Still though I automatically function fairly frugally and don't throw money away.
As far as that particular SS goes, if I were to buy it for $100 I would expect to have it looking good and running right for maybe another $100. Total cost $200 or maybe $300 if I found something not easily repairable. Of course It would be far less if I were just using my "free" parts on hand.

BTW, That 1962 Ford Falcon wagon would be worth far more than you are probably guessing. Even if they were kind of a piece of crap as new cars. (I owned a 1961 Falcon 4-door back then. Not my best purchase ever...)

[benush26]

It can be done no doubt, but it would be like restoring a 62 Ford Falcon station wagon back to factory new condition, it wouldn't be worth anything to anybody but you.

Many years back, a good friend inherited a 60s Dodge sedan when his Dad died. He was with his Dad when it was purchased new so it had sentimental value and he decided to fix it up. He has a hobby of restoring 40s and 50s era cars. He took it to a body shop to get an estimate on a respray. He was quoted $4000. He asked the shop owner how much the car would be worth after the paint job and the owner said "less than $3500". The paint job looks very nice! There are times when money has little to do with value.

[pieceseeker]

BTW have you seen MickyD's model 10 thread?

Yes I have and it is a beautiful piece of eye candy for SS owners. Very nice to look at and marvel at the old technology, but....

To bring in the "car" analogy, drive a 1920's car and then drive a new late model car, world of difference in driveability (as they say in my profession).

Still, I do love looking at the old stuff.

[davebodner]

"That thing is almost as ugly as Elanor Roosevelt." (Thanks to DB5.
She comes on second place, (as ugliest First Lady) to the former junior Senator from New York, and former SecState, Hillary the broom rider. Although, the current occupant's wife's facial expressions may change that.

...
steve

Wow, a discussion of ugliness has itself turned ugly Is any of this necessary?

[pieceseeker]

Hey, some people prefer political analogies, I use car analogies.