Are Shopsmiths for the affluent?

[robinson46176]

They may not be for the affluent, but every really great deal I've gotten on Shopsmiths has been from people who live in houses worth many times what mine is. For example. in May of 2006 I bought my 520 with a jointer, belt sander, and bandsaw on a power stand. They all have 10/2005 dates on them. I rescued them from a 6 car garage they were sharing with a new Corvette, an Escalade, a Mercedes convertible, and an early 30's Ford street rod. The whole package cost me $750 if I remember correctly. The guy thought he wanted to make his own custom furniture. Then he discovered he didn't like working with his hands.

I have seen a number of those guys too. Some of them told me that they were not even familiar with Shopsmith's before buying one. Maybe they had heard of them but had not looked at one. They would admit that they bought it because it was demonstrated well and they ordered on the spot. Those were guys that either had the money free or had good credit card credit.
My wife and I are garage sale fanatics and I get secondary enjoyment from seeing a zillion garage shops and sometimes getting to chat with guys about their shops. I do see a Shopsmith now and then but I can't recall (sorry Shopsmith) ever seeing a Shopsmith in a garage that appeared to be "on active duty". The ones I see appear to be regulated to the same status as those expensive exercise machines that usually have a year or two worth of dust on them unless they are being used as a clothes rack.
I have learned that most of the actual woodworking going on in America is being done in small shops and mostly with small low cost power tools. Not absolutely of course but it is a definite pattern. I see a herd of those small low dollar bench saws. These guys are the ones that want to work with wood no matter what. I used to be one of those guys. My first table saw was a small 8" Sears, made by AMT. I had an AMT lathe, truly a cheap piece of crap but I didn't care, I was working wood. I can't begin to tell you how many of those shops I have seen but about every time there was wood everywhere and a herd of projects in various stages of progress. Busy little shops cranking out wooden items as if nothing else on the planet really mattered. :-)


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[dusty]

If affluence was a prerequisite, I would not have one (or two, or three).

[Beave2012]

I'm not affluent by far, but I have had many in my shop. I'm currently down to just two 520s. However, I do put more money into my hobby than I do a car, or boat, or *name other items*. I saved for my Sawstop and worked hard for my 520s. That being said, I'm not poor, but definitely not rich. My wife thinks I dress like a hobo, and my cars (one for me and one for the wife) are nothing fancy. However depending on who you ask that could be rich. It's all about where your priorities are. Shopsmiths are for those who love woodworking but have little space (or lots and love shopsmith...).

Let's just be honest, Brand new shopsmiths are for those who put a large value and savings on woodworking. Used shopsmiths are for everyone who just wants to do woodworking.

[masonsailor2]

I guess I fall into the category of affluent by most standards. I do have a garage full of sports cars, a 72’ sailboat and more than one home. But that is the result of working two jobs for years, one of which was woodworking. For many years I worked 3 pm to 11pm as an ER Nurse and got up at 0630 every morning and built homes. Days off from the hospital usually meant 12-14 hours working on the current home. My brother did the same thing except he worked produce instead of the hospital. His job was to get the house ready for windows and doors to be weather tight. My part was building all the windows, doors and cabinets while he was pouring concrete and framing. If the house took a little longer to sell we made furniture to match the house. Our wives became real estate brokers to sell the houses. So being “affluent” for me is just where I happened to end up. I still work every day at 65 years old because I still enjoy woodworking and being an RN. Now I get to do woodworking for our home. Throughout all those years I used Shopsmiths. Not exclusively but there was always at least one on site. In the early years all I had was a SS and a Craftsman RAS. I’m not the best woodworker around but I keep trying. But woodworking isn’t about the money. For me it’s about the art of doing it.
Paul

[Ed in Tampa]

I guess I fall into the category of affluent by most standards. I do have a garage full of sports cars, a 72’ sailboat and more than one home. But that is the result of working two jobs for years, one of which was woodworking. For many years I worked 3 pm to 11pm as an ER Nurse and got up at 0630 every morning and built homes. Days off from the hospital usually meant 12-14 hours working on the current home. My brother did the same thing except he worked produce instead of the hospital. His job was to get the house ready for windows and doors to be weather tight. My part was building all the windows, doors and cabinets while he was pouring concrete and framing. If the house took a little longer to sell we made furniture to match the house. Our wives became real estate brokers to sell the houses. So being “affluent” for me is just where I happened to end up. I still work every day at 65 years old because I still enjoy woodworking and being an RN. Now I get to do woodworking for our home. Throughout all those years I used Shopsmiths. Not exclusively but there was always at least one on site. In the early years all I had was a SS and a Craftsman RAS. I’m not the best woodworker around but I keep trying. But woodworking isn’t about the money. For me it’s about the art of doing it.
Paul

Affluent is not a bad word, no one has to explain being affluent.
Affluent means you have enough wealth to met all your obligations and then have a surplus that you can spend on hobbies and the like.

[jsburger]

I guess I fall into the category of affluent by most standards. I do have a garage full of sports cars, a 72’ sailboat and more than one home. But that is the result of working two jobs for years, one of which was woodworking. For many years I worked 3 pm to 11pm as an ER Nurse and got up at 0630 every morning and built homes. Days off from the hospital usually meant 12-14 hours working on the current home. My brother did the same thing except he worked produce instead of the hospital. His job was to get the house ready for windows and doors to be weather tight. My part was building all the windows, doors and cabinets while he was pouring concrete and framing. If the house took a little longer to sell we made furniture to match the house. Our wives became real estate brokers to sell the houses. So being “affluent” for me is just where I happened to end up. I still work every day at 65 years old because I still enjoy woodworking and being an RN. Now I get to do woodworking for our home. Throughout all those years I used Shopsmiths. Not exclusively but there was always at least one on site. In the early years all I had was a SS and a Craftsman RAS. I’m not the best woodworker around but I keep trying. But woodworking isn’t about the money. For me it’s about the art of doing it.
Paul

Affluent is not a bad word, no one has to explain being affluent.
Affluent means you have enough wealth to met all your obligations and then have a surplus that you can spend on hobbies and the like.

I totally agree Ed. You don't have to flaunt it to be consider affluent. We live in a very modest home built in 1972 on 2 acres. The house is paid for as of August 2017. We have a 1992 Ford F250 pickup and just bought a new Toyota 2017 Sienna mini van loaded.

But, we have a guaranteed income all from the federal government that is in the high 5 figure amount after taxes. We also have "retirement accounts" that are approaching a 7 figure amount that we don't have to touch unless we want something that we don't really need.

I have 5 10ER's and 3 MK V's. Am I affluent? I don't think so. I just have enough money in retirement to do what I want any time I want without having to justify or think about it. BTW, my wife still goes to the sale racks when she is looking for new clothes.

[BuckeyeDennis]

John, I definitely think you qualify as “affluent”. And I am working quite hard to join you there before I retire.

Rich? It depends on your perspective.

[badtheba]

I'm 35, living on modest means, with no major complaints (other than government interference in what I can earn/keep). I am self employed and have many clients who would be considered affluent. It doesn't seem like it's always that great for everyone, but many handle it well.

Regarding the post title... Being very new to Shopsmith and starting with a 1951 model, one of the first things I did was went to my dad and asked if he knew of anyone in our family that had ever owned one. He knew people that had them but never in our family. However I commented to him then that I could see both of my grandpas owning one, even though they never did. One was a farmer and worked all his life. I could see him using one every day (fixing tractors, irrigation lines, building barns). My other grandpa was a mechanic for 45 years, and I can picture him using one as well. I'm a computer/networking tech but have a lot of construction and woodworking experience. Poor, modest, affluent, rich, I think just about anyone with the skills and desire to use them could benefit.

[dusty]

John, if you are not affluent, one could not tell by viewing and reading your many posts here on this forum.

An example - Your words: "But, we have a guaranteed income all from the federal government that is in the high 5 figure amount after taxes. We also have "retirement accounts" that are approaching a 7 figure amount that we don't have to touch unless we want something that we don't really need".

Flaunt is another word that comes to mind.

[robinson46176]

There is an old line I always liked to quote. I think I got it from a fortune cookie.

"There are two roads to wealth.
Make more
or
Want less".


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