Considering a ShopSmith Purchase

[roopurt5]

In regards to the self-study course, has it changed appreciably over the years? I don't know for sure, but I think my copy that I got with the owner's manual was from 1956-ish. Has it been updated at all? Would it be worth buying the newer version?

[ssmdjz]

I do on know where you are located George but I know a guy near Flint Michigan that has a Shopsmith system that is like brand new and he is trying to sell it at a very low price. Let me now if you are interested.
Steve

[Sazerac81]

Safety first as I say. You engage and do your best work when you are comfortable with the operating parameters of the machines you are using. Eye protection, ear protection, dust mask, various assist devices to push wood around sharp, spinning blades.

Don't jump head long into a project. Get some cheap wood and try some test cuts/runs on whatever machine you are using.

Absolutely make sure everything is aligned as well as you can get it all aligned to the best of your instrument's ability. So dial guage is really useful, calipers, squares.... You'll probably spend a lot of time initially making sure alignment is perfect, which will make your life a lot easier down the road.

But definitely safety should be paramount as woodworking accidents happen quickly, whereas woodworking success is a gradual process.

Cheers,
John

[recurvearcher]

First off,I echo what everyone else has said. Shopsmith is a perfect way to get into Woodowrking. It's a very flexible and capable machine. I second the suggest of picking up a copy of "Power Tool Woodworking For Everyone" by R.J Decristoforo ISBN-13: 978-0835955676.
It covers almost anything you would want to accomplish with a Shopsmith. Also make good use of the resources of this forum and the many videos etc. Mostly just have fun and be safe!

[skou]

Sorry guys, if I'm out of line here, but
I wouldn't advise jumping into the deep
end, at the beginning.

Find a decent USED Mark 5 (or V) for
a few hundred dollars. If you decide you
like the way these machines work, and
get a New Mark 7, and a bunch of SPTs,
you now have 2 machines to mount
other goodies on.

Oh, Shopsmiths are like Lay's potato
chips. You can't just have ONE!

(SPTs, Special-purpose tools. Bandsaw,
jigsaw, scroll saw, belt or strip sanders,
well, you get the idea.)

steve

[charlese]

Sorry, Steve, I an a one Shopsmith owner, and will stay that way.

Honestly, I have never understood the need or desire to own and use multiple machines.

[ERLover]

Sorry, Steve, I an a one Shopsmith owner, and will stay that way.

Honestly, I have never understood the need or desire to own and use multiple machines.

Chuck, if you have the space sure makes life easier as far as set ups for SPTs or a dedicated something, I dont use a band saw much, and at moms have a SS one, and jointer,but at home I have my 14" Delta with a 6" riser kit, for when I do need the extra and resawing, and a 6" x 48" jointer, I dont need the width, but the table length is nice, same thing with a dedicated table saw. But I guess it is what you get used too.

[algale]

I am with Chuck -- just 1 Shopsmith for me! I acknowledge it would be faster to have a fleet of Shopsmith's with my SPTs all mounted and ready to go. But not in my shop space. Besides, since I'm not on a schedule, there's something to be said for "roughing" it and living with my 1 Shopsmith and adding and removing SPTs as its creator (Hans Goldschmidt) intended.

That said, I think Skou's suggestion to try out a used one first isn't a bad one IF a non-basket case modern (510/520) can be found for a few hundred $$ and no more than what it would cost to ship a new Mark 7 back under their 90 day money-back guarantee.

[GoNavy]

I am with Chuck -- just 1 Shopsmith for me! I acknowledge it would be faster to have a fleet of Shopsmith's with my SPTs all mounted and ready to go. But not in my shop space. Besides, since I'm not on a schedule, there's something to be said for "roughing" it and living with my 1 Shopsmith and adding and removing SPTs as its creator (Hans Goldschmidt) intended.

That said, I think Skou's suggestion to try out a used one first isn't a bad one IF a non-basket case modern (510/520) can be found for a few hundred $$ and no more than what it would cost to ship a new Mark 7 back under their 90 day money-back guarantee.

I am with you guys, jumping in with Mark 7 for over four grand not counting SPT's you might want... is crazy... especially if your new to woodworking. I have an old Mk V 500 left to me by my dad, it's still in great shape. I have looked at the Mk7 and frankly I think I like my MkV better, just because things are all digital and fancy looking doesn't make it better, I like the speed dial , it's simple and works fine. I think OP needs to find an old MkV maybe upgrade the table etc...get some SPT's with it pretty sure he do it all for under a grand, he could literally buy every SPT they sell and have a MkV for half of the cost of a new Mk7. These things are tanks, they last forever...and much like old cars you can still work on a SS and fix them should you have a problem, not so sure that is the case with the new Mk7, just like cars these days once they start going digital and putting computer boards in, working on them and fixing yourself becomes a distant memory not to mention any work he does on an old one pays off big in learning how they work, did for me...lol

[JPG]

I am with Chuck -- just 1 Shopsmith for me! I acknowledge it would be faster to have a fleet of Shopsmith's with my SPTs all mounted and ready to go. But not in my shop space. Besides, since I'm not on a schedule, there's something to be said for "roughing" it and living with my 1 Shopsmith and adding and removing SPTs as its creator (Hans Goldschmidt) intended.

That said, I think Skou's suggestion to try out a used one first isn't a bad one IF a non-basket case modern (510/520) can be found for a few hundred $$ and no more than what it would cost to ship a new Mark 7 back under their 90 day money-back guarantee.

I am with you guys, jumping in with Mark 7 for over four grand not counting SPT's you might want... is crazy... especially if your new to woodworking. I have an old Mk V 500 left to me by my dad, it's still in great shape. I have looked at the Mk7 and frankly I think I like my MkV better, just because things are all digital and fancy looking doesn't make it better, I like the speed dial , it's simple and works fine. I think OP needs to find an old MkV maybe upgrade the table etc...get some SPT's with it pretty sure he do it all for under a grand, he could literally buy every SPT they sell and have a MkV for half of the cost of a new Mk7. These things are tanks, they last forever...and much like old cars you can still work on a SS and fix them should you have a problem, not so sure that is the case with the new Mk7, just like cars these days once they start going digital and putting computer boards in, working on them and fixing yourself becomes a distant memory not to mention any work he does on an old one pays off big in learning how they work, did for me...lol

Sorta like Electric Meters eh.