I saw a gold/brown/tan shopsmith for sale here in B.C, Canada the owner said it’s about 45 years old and he bought it new however he didn’t do lot of woodwork with (I’m a real beginner so I do not want to spend lots to learn woodwork). It even comes with never used dado blades and chisels.
He is asked $150 Canadian (about US$150 as well) for it,,, what do you think? Just need your advice. here is a photo of the unit..
I tried this a few years ago. My wife also likes to woodwork. We picked one up about $600 and it turned into a money pit. I you plan to use the unit as-is then $150.00 is OK. If you get the upgrade blues then watch out. Good luck!
I bought my Shopsmith MKV 500 about ten years ago, used for $700 shipped. No it didn't have any SPTs, I just didn't know better back then.
A few years ago I spent $1000 to replace the headstock with the newer model with 1 1/8hp motor and dual-bearing quill. Then I spent $1200 upgrading to a 520 with a few other bits thrown in. Totaled up, I spent more than I would have if I had waited and spent more money on a used 510/520.
I am also a novice woodworker. One thing I can tell you from my upgrade experience is that it's been far more enjoyable (and easier) learning woodworking on higher quality equipment with better tolerances. Maybe a pro could make my old rusty 500 sing and dance, but I sure couldn't. The 520 makes me look like a pro.
I hope there are legs with casters with it. From the looks of the rust on the way tubes, I would guess that the machine may need a considerable amount of work to get it into good working order. If you enjoy restoration work on old machinery, it certainly could be an ok project for the price as starters. If you want to get into basic woodworking quickly, you may want to keep shopping around. I have a similar Mark V that I picked up a few years ago that I enjoy even with its limitations. It was in pretty good shape when I got it. I also paid more for it because it was in good shape and had a ton of attachments and tools with it. I also find myself wanting to keep spending $ on it because of the cool gold/tan color instead of just replacing it with a 510 that could be upgraded to a 520.
You don't say what part of BC you are in, If you are possibly in Vancouver BC, you might want to keep checking on Craigs List from Bellingham through greater Seattle down to Olympia. For instance there was a Model 510 listed in Olympia for $ 700.00 that I wish I could afford right now.
Also I noticed many available around the Spokane area. Most of these look to be in good shape from their pictures on Craigs List for very reasonable prices especially in the Seattle area. Of course, gas prices would be a problem depending on how far someone would be willing to drive to pick one up. These are just some of my thoughts. Good luck! Thanks, John McCrossen
John McCrossen
Everett, Wa.
1954 Mk 5 SN 269454, 1955 Mk 5 SN 316013, 1960 Mk 5 SN 360792, 1962 Mk 5 SN 380102, Magna band saw, (2) jointers, (1) belt sander, (1) air compressor, (1) jig saw, (1) strip sander, (1) 20" scroll saw, DC 3300 dust collector, Sawsmith RAS, Craftsman table saw, 13" DeWalt planer, Triton 3 1/4 HP plunge router & table
I saw a gold/brown/tan shopsmith for sale here in B.C, Canada the owner said it’s about 45 years old and he bought it new however he didn’t do lot of woodwork with (I’m a real beginner so I do not want to spend lots to learn woodwork). It even comes with never used dado blades and chisels.
He is asked $150 Canadian (about US$150 as well) for it,,, what do you think? Just need your advice. here is a photo of the unit..
Hi meedo,
You can clean that up. $150 is a good price. The tools and blades wood cost you more then that (you did say they were never used). As for the missing legs..........if you plan on doing any turning, maybe you could make your own base; one that either is higher then the standard SS, or perhaps an adjustable one that allows for different levels, depending on what operation you intend to use. Or you could order the missing legs from SS, or perhaps find some being offered on the web?
Tim
Buying US made products will help keep YOUR job or retirement funds safer.
That Goldie looks like its in pretty good shape! I bought a 1960 model that was a wreck for 200 bucks and completely restored it. It was a great deal of fun and I learned all about the SS and how it operates. It is a fine machine and capable of doing far better work than I am! Your timing is perfect as Nick Engler just bought an old Goldie and is going to do a complete restoration and upgrade on the machine for a series of "Sawdust Sessions". You could follow along week to week and bring your machine up to snuff along with Nick!
Let us know how you make out. Cheers, Alec
1960 Aniversary Model Mark 5 500 "Goldie" with most SPT's
Not having any legs can give you a wide range of platform/base/table/stand solutions to choose from for mounting the Shopsmith. I have seen some beautiful cabinets, some with drawers used as the mounting platform. You can use lockable casters or even use the Shopsmith retractable casters with a homemade bracket on the ends. I use the bench tube bolts to hold the base and headrest to the platform. I use the tube lock bar as a pattern for where to drill the holes.
I would recommend building a couple sawhorses to set the Shopsmith on (clamp the bench tube to the sawhorse) and use it to determine what height you want the Shopsmith. I made my sawhorses short (22") and used 1X2 & 2X4 spacers and clamps to adjust the height until I was comfortable with using the Shopsmith. Of course I am tall so you may want to go with 20" if you are shorter.
If interested in any of these solutions, let me know as I have pictures of the various platforms. Use my home Email as I have not figured out how to post pictures on PM.
Bill Mayo bill.mayo@verizon.net
Shopsmith owner since 73. Sell, repair and rebuild Shopsmith, Total Shop & Wood Master headstocks, SPTs, attachments, accessories and parts. US Navy 1955-1975 (FTCS/E-8)
Thank you so much for your advice guys. I actually asked the seller and it does come with the legs but he removed them for transportation. I asked him about the machine he he gave me the history. His father-in-law bought it brand new from Boston, he thought he would be doing lots of woodwork but ended up almost not using it at all (few cuts here and there, but that's really it), hence the blad and leath set was never ever used!
That being said I know it loos rusty as it has been setting the his father-in-law garage for years not used, I was thinking of using it as is, kinda a beat-up car to lear driving, and if I found that woodwork is really for me then I can invest in a good new(semi-new?) machine.
Or you could order the missing legs from SS, or perhaps find some being offered on the web?
Delta Benchtop planer, Makita LS1016L 10" sliding compound miter saw, Trojan manf. (US Made)Miter saw work center, MiniMax MM16 bandsaw.