How many shopsmiths have you had?

skou · Post by **skou** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:32 am

Let me calculate;

Lawton OK, 1 E converted to ER, '84.

San Jose, baby brother has it now, 1 (2) E convert.

Mesa, my (later) boss bid me up on it, We both
went to pick it up, he later sold it to me. Went
through trailer fire. 1 (3) ER, with Mk5 headrest,
my conversion. Needs restoration.

E model 7447, "lost" in the fire. 1 (4)

Since the fire, 3 more ERs. 3, (7)

So, 7 of them, all model 10s.

Yes, I also would rather spend $150 or 175
on a whole unit with the speedchanger, than
$125 on the speedchanger. Besides, if you break
down a Model 10, they don't take up much room.

steve

"Wild Bad Bob" · Post by **"Wild Bad Bob"** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:28 am

Toymiester, why????
"The ER10s are so labor intensive to restore that I keep these around as a wall mounted drill press, a vertical mill and one waiting for restoration."
I picked one up in great shape for its age this spring, and am thinking of restoring it to a show pony this winter.
Bob

Toymeister · Post by **Toymeister** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:08 am

rbursek wrote:Toymiester, why????
"The ER10s are so labor intensive to restore that I keep these around as a wall mounted drill press, a vertical mill and one waiting for restoration."
I picked one up in great shape for its age this spring, and am thinking of restoring it to a show pony this winter.
Bob

Well that's not precisely clear but I can say an average 500;with no spts fetches 5-600 here. Add spt or two and I get 6-750. I don't know from experience but I speculate a er10 would gross 250.

I am too particular I replace bearings, belt, switch, repaint. Perhaps 75 in parts if I use Chinese bearings. Add the cost of machine the devotion that went back to the machine and I keep them. I started with the er when I came to buy a 500 and found the er. It was a sad deal. The wife wanted it gone and a husband with dementia.

Buying it, restoring it felt right, carrying on the usefulness of it. That may not make sense to some. The boards on the bench were from a treethat predated president. Lincoln's time in office.

Toymeister · Post by **Toymeister** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:17 am

Oh, forgot to add I am I. Huntsville Al. Which is esssntially a post WWII town with the bulk ot growth from the space race and NASA build up. Overlay that with ss that were available and I search long and far go get er s as they just are not found here. I don't think that translates into greater demand though but I have a greater effort to get the machine.

"Wild Bad Bob" · Post by **"Wild Bad Bob"** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:22 am

Still do not why they are "ER 10", "labor intensive to restore"?

Toymeister · Post by **Toymeister** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:29 am

rbursek wrote:Still do not why they are "ER 10", "labor intensive to restore"?

Two reasons most mark v that I buy do not to be restored and all of the e models need new bearings and some have pitting on the main tubes.

So comparing the two the e models are labor intensive. One was not that much better than Mickeys er. I beat the head off the tubes with a soft face hammer

"Wild Bad Bob" · Post by **"Wild Bad Bob"** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:41 am

Now I understand, "comparatively speaking", they, "ERs" are in need of some TLC, where, the newer models are plug and play for you. Plug and play is nice, but in reality, a 60 year old ER needing some TLC is not a lot of work, but all is relative.
Thanks for the clarity.

Toymeister · Post by **Toymeister** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:54 am

rbursek wrote:Now I understand, "comparatively speaking", they, "ERs" are in need of some TLC, where, the newer models are plug and play for you. Plug and play is nice, but in reality, a 60 year old ER needing some TLC is not a lot of work, but all is relative.
Thanks for the clarity.

I have kept every e and er that I have purchased. Mark v come and go

videobear · Post by **videobear** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:35 pm

My Shopsmith is like my wife. Only one in my life, but there are ongoing expenses for maintenance and upgrades! Started as a secondhand Mark V, went to a 510, 520, Powerpro Mark 7. Added a number of SPTs, too.

donalexander · Post by **donalexander** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:39 pm

I have purchased 3 Shopsmith's. The first one was a 500 I bought new somewhere around 1978. I paid $999 then. A couple of years ago I wanted to upgrade to a 520 and found the upgrade too pricey. So I sold my Model 500 for $600, bought a nearly unused 510 for $500 that came with a bandsaw. I sold the bandsaw for $150 and then SS put the 510 to 520 upgrade on sale. I've forgotten what I paid for the upgrade but I do remember thinking I ended up making money on the "conversion" of my Model 500 to a 520. After all this I decided I needed a 10ER and found one in remarkably good shape once I cleaned it up. I was drooling over the rebuilds being done here and I wanted to do the same. But, after cleaning my $60 10ER up, it really didn't need paint, just some wax and the only part missing was the cheesy blade guard. I found one locally on eBay and now I have a Model 520 and a 10ER both in excellent condition. It was a silly purchase because I only use the 10ER as a lathe.

So three Shopsmith's for me. A Model 500, a model 510 converted to a 520, and a 10ER