To 520 or not, that is the question...

[Sazerac81]

Quick questions to all of you who have converted from a 510 to 520. Was it worth it?

If so, why was it worth it?

What major advantages or disadvantages do you see with the conversion from 510 to 520?

I have been thinking hard as to why I would convert to the 520. I find it hard to align multiple tables to the exact same height with my 510 system using the extra connecting rods and the floating tables.

I mean, it's pretty good, but they are usually off by 1/16" to 1/32".

It seems that the 520 makes aligning them exactly a lot easier due to the securement method.

The 520 rip fence seems like a massive improvement, but that's just from my impression of youtube videos.

I would love to hear from any actual converts or from those who have both setups in play.

Cheers,
John

[reible]

I'm sure people are getting tired of me telling this over and over and over again but since people keep asking here we go again.

I had gotten a new machine in 1976 and did most if not all the upgrades along the way. The only thing I held out on was the 510/520 changes. I had set aside some money for when I retired and some of that was for the upgrade to a 520. I still think that was the best move for me. At a point after that I began thinking this machine is getting really old and if it has a failure I'll be stuck without a table saw/sander/drill press/well all of the normal functions plus the SPT I had would be useless.

I shopped around and found a basket case 510 local and at a fair price so I got that and did the repairs and fixed a few issues and I now had two machines. Perhaps if I had the 510 first it might have been different but I felt the 520 was a much better design and like it much more then the 510. I had an alignment issue when the rip fence had to align between the main table and the extension tables. I never did get that resolved to a level that I was happy with.

I debated for awhile if I should spend even more effort and possible expense with the 510 or simply upgrade it to a 520. I tried to find a reason to not upgrade and the only one I could come up with was the money. So I spent the money and how I have two 520's. The fence and rail system are more to my liking then the ones on the 510.

I have also added two 500's to the shop. To be honest I like the 500's better then the 510 so if I had to rank order them it would be 510 then 500 and then at the top 520.

Now we have some people who are perfectly happy with the 510 so perhaps the one I had was a sort of dud???

Now to add to that I really like the dual tilt option, I was able to get extension tables to align on one side and then work on the other side, something I could not get before that upgrade. I have that on one of my machines and plan to do the other 520 with it this summer.

And of course there is the powerpro. I have two of those as well and while expensive they really are a super upgrade.

Ed

[trjohns22]

I have a 500 to 520 upgrade and like it. I believe the leveling of the tables would be exactly the same for both 510 & 520 moving verticle when both are properly aligned. To me the big advantage is the fence configuration and clamping.

[jsburger]

Quick questions to all of you who have converted from a 510 to 520. Was it worth it?

If so, why was it worth it?

What major advantages or disadvantages do you see with the conversion from 510 to 520?

I have been thinking hard as to why I would convert to the 520. I find it hard to align multiple tables to the exact same height with my 510 system using the extra connecting rods and the floating tables.

I mean, it's pretty good, but they are usually off by 1/16" to 1/32".

It seems that the 520 makes aligning them exactly a lot easier due to the securement method.

The 520 rip fence seems like a massive improvement, but that's just from my impression of youtube videos.

I would love to hear from any actual converts or from those who have both setups in play.

Cheers,
John

IMO it is absolutely worth it. The fence is far superior in both holding power but more importantly in the "T" tracks and to me just it's robustness.

As far as aligning tables vertically using the connecting tubes, I would not and don't do that. While I agree the 520 rails are much better (assuming you installed them at the proper height with the supplied gauge) at that than the 510, I don't think that is the proper way. I use a long straight edge between the main table and the fixed extension table and then install the connector tubes.

If you are just using a floating table then you need the telescoping legs for support and then use the straight edge to bring the floating table up level to the main table or fixed extension table.

To me the 520 upgrade is the best thing SS did until the Power Pro came along.

[Ed in Tampa]

I have owned a Shopsmith since the mid 80's. Like others I did most of the upgrades as they came out. That included the 510 upgrade. I have never regretted anything more than the 510 upgrade.
I loved my 500 and hated the 510.
I swore never to buy anything Shopsmith again.

I finally saw the 520 upgrade and it corrected everything I hated about the 510. I got it and fell back in love with Shopsmith. My opinion the 510 upgrade should be removed from the Shopsmith product line.

I may upgrade to dual tilt however I am in no rush. As far as the power pro I would love to have it and I can well afford it, I just can not justify the excessively high cost of it.

It is quickly getting to the point where we don't need two vehicles. If and when I get down to one car and if I'm still doing wood working I will have room for a standalone table saw and I will buy one. If Shopsmith ever drops the price of the power pro to a reasonable price I will have it.

[jsburger]

I have owned a Shopsmith since the mid 80's. Like others I did most of the upgrades as they came out. That included the 510 upgrade. I have never regretted anything more than the 510 upgrade.
I loved my 500 and hated the 510.
I swore never to buy anything Shopsmith again.

I finally saw the 520 upgrade and it corrected everything I hated about the 510. I got it and fell back in love with Shopsmith. My opinion the 510 upgrade should be removed from the Shopsmith product line.

I may upgrade to dual tilt however I am in no rush. As far as the power pro I would love to have it and I can well afford it, I just can not justify the excessively high cost of it.

It is quickly getting to the point where we don't need two vehicles. If and when I get down to one car and if I'm still doing wood working I will have room for a standalone table saw and I will buy one. If Shopsmith ever drops the price of the power pro to a reasonable price I will have it.

The double tilt would be nice even without the Power Pro. I am not sure why you would not buy the Power Pro since you say you can afford it.

I was the same way when I bought mine. Money was not the problem but I thought why do I really need it. I didn't NEED it but I wanted it. I was almost ready to buy one when my wife and I went to a Lowe's demo. Dave Folkerth was the demonstrator. This was not the first one we had been to (not by him). We watched the demo and then went on do some more shopping. We discussed the SS. When we were getting ready to leave for home my wife said "are you sure you don't want to go back to Lowe's". This was Dec 2012 and prices were going to go up 1 Jan and I could get my 10% military discount through Lowe's. We went back and we bought a full up Power Pro head stock and the double tilt. I did not even know who the demonstrator was until he signed the invoice. We spent another hour talking about SS and Magna Engineering and trading pictures. It was an incredible experience.

Just remember, the price will probably never go down. Get yours before the next price increase. You will not regret it.

[wa2crk]

I held off on going from 510 to 520 for quite a long time. My daughter and I were at the woodworking show in Baltimore one year and I was a bit flush and I popped for the 520 upgrade. I never looked back. Aside from the Power Pro I would say one of the most useful upgrades and well worth the money.
Bill V

[tomsalwasser]

I loved my 500 and hated the 510. I swore never to buy anything Shopsmith again.

Interesting Ed. I don't recall ever reading about loving 500 hating 510 loving 520. I've only known 510. I'll have to check this out!

[Sazerac81]

I have owned a Shopsmith since the mid 80's. Like others I did most of the upgrades as they came out. That included the 510 upgrade. I have never regretted anything more than the 510 upgrade.
I loved my 500 and hated the 510.
I swore never to buy anything Shopsmith again.

I finally saw the 520 upgrade and it corrected everything I hated about the 510. I got it and fell back in love with Shopsmith. My opinion the 510 upgrade should be removed from the Shopsmith product line.

I may upgrade to dual tilt however I am in no rush. As far as the power pro I would love to have it and I can well afford it, I just can not justify the excessively high cost of it.

It is quickly getting to the point where we don't need two vehicles. If and when I get down to one car and if I'm still doing wood working I will have room for a standalone table saw and I will buy one. If Shopsmith ever drops the price of the power pro to a reasonable price I will have it.

The double tilt would be nice even without the Power Pro. I am not sure why you would not buy the Power Pro since you say you can afford it.

I was the same way when I bought mine. Money was not the problem but I thought why do I really need it. I didn't NEED it but I wanted it. I was almost ready to buy one when my wife and I went to a Lowe's demo. Dave Folkerth was the demonstrator. This was not the first one we had been to (not by him). We watched the demo and then went on do some more shopping. We discussed the SS. When we were getting ready to leave for home my wife said "are you sure you don't want to go back to Lowe's". This was Dec 2012 and prices were going to go up 1 Jan and I could get my 10% military discount through Lowe's. We went back and we bought a full up Power Pro head stock and the double tilt. I did not even know who the demonstrator was until he signed the invoice. We spent another hour talking about SS and Magna Engineering and trading pictures. It was an incredible experience.

Just remember, the price will probably never go down. Get yours before the next price increase. You will not regret it.

True, money is not really the issue. I would most likely derive great enjoyment out of the new headstock and the improvements in stability that the 520 upgrade and conversion to the mark 7 would afford. Ahh, it is a substantial step up in price though considering the amazing deals that old shopsmiths are on craigslist.

I am slowly trying to break the habit of penny pinching my parents instilled in me as my financial situation is in stark contrast to theirs... but a lifetime of being pragmatic with every purchase has made it very hard to just "splurge" if the gains are incremental.

I will eventually get the Powerpro and most likely the 520. I just tend to do a lot of surveying and asking questions from those that have been through the same situation.

Once again, always appreciate the input John!

Cheers,
John

[jsburger]

I have owned a Shopsmith since the mid 80's. Like others I did most of the upgrades as they came out. That included the 510 upgrade. I have never regretted anything more than the 510 upgrade.
I loved my 500 and hated the 510.
I swore never to buy anything Shopsmith again.

I finally saw the 520 upgrade and it corrected everything I hated about the 510. I got it and fell back in love with Shopsmith. My opinion the 510 upgrade should be removed from the Shopsmith product line.

I may upgrade to dual tilt however I am in no rush. As far as the power pro I would love to have it and I can well afford it, I just can not justify the excessively high cost of it.

It is quickly getting to the point where we don't need two vehicles. If and when I get down to one car and if I'm still doing wood working I will have room for a standalone table saw and I will buy one. If Shopsmith ever drops the price of the power pro to a reasonable price I will have it.

The double tilt would be nice even without the Power Pro. I am not sure why you would not buy the Power Pro since you say you can afford it.

I was the same way when I bought mine. Money was not the problem but I thought why do I really need it. I didn't NEED it but I wanted it. I was almost ready to buy one when my wife and I went to a Lowe's demo. Dave Folkerth was the demonstrator. This was not the first one we had been to (not by him). We watched the demo and then went on do some more shopping. We discussed the SS. When we were getting ready to leave for home my wife said "are you sure you don't want to go back to Lowe's". This was Dec 2012 and prices were going to go up 1 Jan and I could get my 10% military discount through Lowe's. We went back and we bought a full up Power Pro head stock and the double tilt. I did not even know who the demonstrator was until he signed the invoice. We spent another hour talking about SS and Magna Engineering and trading pictures. It was an incredible experience.

Just remember, the price will probably never go down. Get yours before the next price increase. You will not regret it.

True, money is not really the issue. I would most likely derive great enjoyment out of the new headstock and the improvements in stability that the 520 upgrade and conversion to the mark 7 would afford. Ahh, it is a substantial step up in price though considering the amazing deals that old shopsmiths are on craigslist.

I am slowly trying to break the habit of penny pinching my parents instilled in me as my financial situation is in stark contrast to theirs... but a lifetime of being pragmatic with every purchase has made it very hard to just "splurge" if the gains are incremental.

I will eventually get the Powerpro and most likely the 520. I just tend to do a lot of surveying and asking questions from those that have been through the same situation.

Once again, always appreciate the input John!

Cheers,
John

I am with you 100% on this. I penny pinched all my life. Now however because of that I am in a position to buy what I need/want with almost no reservations.