It is true..

[reible]

Perhaps shopsmith needs to add this to there moto:

"Life is too short to own just one Shopsmith."

Ed

[JPG]

Perhaps shopsmith needs to add this to there moto:

"Life is too short to own just one Shopsmith."

Ed

Touche!!!!

[Tylerh]

Since woodworking is a hobby for me, I see alot of advantage in owning multiple shopsmith's. Me and my wife both want to learn how to turn, so I started looking at lathes. Nice new mid range are still quite expensive. And used? Well if you can make a Craftsman tube lathe ($50 or more?) work good for you then I'm impressed. So here comes along a shopsmith. I got the one and was going to use it a lathe for me and my wife. Then I saw a 10ER (the votes say it's a much better lathe then the greenie). So for $50, plus we'll say $200 for new quill, drive shaft, and motor bearings and a new belt, plus new line cord and switch. Maybe another $10 here for a new quill retract spring and $5 for some missing hardware. Throw in a little elbow grease and you have a basically brand new machine. So for ~$265 you get not only a wonderful lathe that would be at least double for a stand alone, but also a drill press (also very good) and other options. So why not get another one, in better shape, for cheaper if the opportunity presents itself? Then me and my wife each have a lathe to use, then the greenie can be used for some of the other stuff. Table saw, jointer, BS, and all that. I'm in it for less than $700 and I have a shop full of wonderful tools that will be used greatly for the next 50 years or more.

[rjent]

When I joined the forum I had ordered a Mark 7 based on something my father in law told me in the 70's. While waiting for the Mark 7 to arrive, I found a 10ER that was built in '51, the year I was born. I figured what the heck, I will go buy it and fix it up. Peeps here guided me to MickyD's threads and I was hooked. I now own 6 and operate 5 (3 10ER's 1 Mark V 500, and the Mark 7) with the extra adding parts and extension tables etc of the spare 10ER I wouldn't want to run my shop with just one, and use them all on each project, but I see how functional it would be if limited to just one. The 10ER's have certain features that I just like over the Mark 7 and the same can be said about the Mark 7.

Yes, I am addicted

[reible]

Just a short few hours ago I was set up to do some lathe drilling, drill chuck mounted in tail stock with bit. A four jaw chuck mounting a work piece.

Then I came to a point were I need to drill a couple of holes in a round object. One machine you know the drill (yes the drill).

Two machines and one already set up as a drill press...... tilted the table to 45 degrees, aligned the bit the "V" and I was drilling.

Could I have done it with one shopsmith, sure. Was it fun using two, you betcha!

Ed

[dickg1]

I purchased my "Goldie" new (in 1963) when I was 30 years old. Being in the USAF it made a great deal of sense to have an adaptable tool for wood working. Through the years I acquired several SPTs and used them with my "Goldie".

It is now 50 years after I purchased that "Goldie". The SPTs have gotten a great deal heavier and with Bill Mayo's help I have added two SPT storage racks which just happen to have a head stock installed in each.

I purchased my first SS because it was a portable and adaptable power tool. That tool has served me for 50 years. I now have a PowerPro headstock installed on my original frame. The original headstock, on a mini, is supporting my band and scroll saws and a final mini addition is working with my jointer and belt sander.

I guess the point I am making is that as I grow older I have found that rather than having to abandon my original power tool because I now have difficulty lifting and aligning SPTs, as needed, the system design allows me to adapt and use my tools within a reasonable space (1/4 of a two car garage).

If the principle criterion is to store the SS in the space of a bicycle it may be that the operating arena would be severely restrictive for it's use. I maintain that it is the unique ability of the product to grow and adapt to changing needs (i.e. The aging of it's user). To inhabit my available space with stand-alone tools that would duplicate what I have at my disposal would occupy all of the space I have available and leave no room to do useful work. I made a wise decision (second only to marrying a woman who has ignored my faults for 60 years) by getting that "Goldie" 50 years ago.

Dick

[jsburger]

I purchased my "Goldie" new (in 1963) when I was 30 years old. Being in the USAF it made a great deal of sense to have an adaptable tool for wood working. Through the years I acquired several SPTs and used them with my "Goldie".

It is now 50 years after I purchased that "Goldie". The SPTs have gotten a great deal heavier and with Bill Mayo's help I have added two SPT storage racks which just happen to have a head stock installed in each.

I purchased my first SS because it was a portable and adaptable power tool. That tool has served me for 50 years. I now have a PowerPro headstock installed on my original frame. The original headstock, on a mini, is supporting my band and scroll saws and a final mini addition is working with my jointer and belt sander.

I guess the point I am making is that as I grow older I have found that rather than having to abandon my original power tool because I now have difficulty lifting and aligning SPTs, as needed, the system design allows me to adapt and use my tools within a reasonable space (1/4 of a two car garage).

If the principle criterion is to store the SS in the space of a bicycle it may be that the operating arena would be severely restrictive for it's use. I maintain that it is the unique ability of the product to grow and adapt to changing needs (i.e. The aging of it's user). To inhabit my available space with stand-alone tools that would duplicate what I have at my disposal would occupy all of the space I have available and leave no room to do useful work. I made a wise decision (second only to marrying a woman who has ignored my faults for 60 years) by getting that "Goldie" 50 years ago.

Dick

Dick, I couldn't have said it better.

[ERLover]

I just love them for the machines they are and still have CS and all attachments/upgrades fit on a 60+ year old design, post ERs.
The abillity to make shorties/minnies for dedicated uses and have a variable speed at my instant disposal, none of this changing belts on pulleys.
Yes on the used market, via CL you can pick up a basic V for around 200$-300 around me. ER well some just for junk prices on up to about $200 if they know what they have.
Other then a Delta Unisaw table saw, or a old Delta band saw, you cant do better then that.

[db5]

For over 40 years I made do with the Goldie that I purchased new(with jointer used as a sales incentive['free'] and a few 'extras' purchased over the years as needed.

For a while there was a SS store in the Florence(KY) mall that I visited occasionally, but purchased nothing(I did get some SS shop towels from a friend for Christmas one year).

Along came the internet and I rediscovered SS.

From there came the announcement of the impending dispersal sale.

At that time I began watching E-Bay for 'spare' parts in case SS went completely away.

Bought a 510 as a result of being on E-Bay (still not completely refurbished). My intention then was to merely get is functioning correctly for use.

Then along came MickeyD and his greenie!

Than along came a Model 10(with nice extra goodies)(about ready for reassembly ).

And then the Mark VII that is nearing final assembly(shiney painted stuff has sat around so long that I am torn between touching them up or just going ahead and use it).

Another E-Bay thing and I have parts to a Mark 2 that has a E-Bay procured greenie headstock that I use as a 'portable' that mounts on saw horses(no base).

And a shorty in process(initially intended as storage for SPTs) that is now slated to become a rout/shaping station with under table Greenie(now gold and reversible) headstock.

In between a couple of jig saws, scroll saw, SS mounted planer, DC3300 and a box full of other attachments have found their way to my shop.

After 'doing my thing{Damn you MickyD} I have never been reluctant to use them(get em dirty/scarred) for their creators intend purpose(and a few not originally intended nor envisioned by the creator).

Only regrets is that I have greatly exceeded the available square footage in my shop(sorta like Ed's, but vastly more cluttered(not organized in my case).

Addiction? Perhaps, but with a purpose of utilizing them intended.

This forum - addiction- maybe, but the source of much newly gained knowledge and pleasure that I would not have otherwise.

Yes it is an attitude. It is a perceived purpose for the few remaining years I reside on this planet as a sentient being.

So call it as you perceive it!

Well, at least that keeps you off the streets and out of the pool halls.