Shopsmith fun with my son

gnuse · Post by **gnuse** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:45 pm

Today DHL showed up with a heavy, long box. My Christmas present to me.

I went ahead and opened it, my prerogative.

As my son is home from college I thought this would be a good opportunity to remove him from his computer and show him the Shopsmith that I had given to his grandfather back in the 80's. I am hoping that it will be his someday, so what better time to introduce him to his future care taking job. It has no screens, keyboards, or digital anything. This is new to him, but "retro" is cool these days.

We replaced the very rusty main tubes, as I had used up all of the emery cloth in the nearby hardware stores trying to save the original ones. Wow, it is getting to look and behave like new. He got some good hands on experience and we spent some quality time together.

Hopefully one last piece will show up from Bill and I will show my son how to make sawdust and smaller pieces of wood from larger pieces!:rolleyes:

Happy Holidays all.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:09 pm

Very appropriate entry Post! Merry Christmas to both of you!

And Also to your wife! She won't have to put up with you guys hanging around the kitchen all the time!

Keepyour fingers out of the Shopsmith as well as the Christmas goodies.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:26 pm

gnuse:

Back in '82, my son (then 17) and I attended a Shopsmith demo at a Holiday Inn. We purchased a model 500 with bandsaw and jointer.This was the start of many years of Shopsmith fun that continues to this day. We both attended the Shopsmith week-end in Dayton last July.

My 500 and the bandsaw and jointer have all been upgraded through the years. My son now has his own 520 and most of the SPT's. I can't think of any other woodworking tool that has generated this kind of intergenerational camaraderie.

By-the-way, very early on I "discovered" paste wax. My bench and way tubes and the cast iron jointer surfaces are still bright and shiney.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:04 pm

Merry Christmas to you and your family, it sounds like you will have one to remember. My oldest boy (now 38) never really had a feel for helping me with the woodworking. However, a few weeks ago, just after my knee replacement, the side gate to the yard broke (rotted through). Guess what, he came over, and using my tools, with just a little direction, built a new wooden gate, and hung it. guess he paid more attention back then, then I thought. Anyway, glad you had quality time with your son. You never know what will become a hobby in the future. I'm doing great with the knee. So Merry Christmas to all.

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:05 pm

It sounds like a great holiday season at your place. Quality time together is one of those things we just can't put a price on, its just so elusive at times.
You'll both remember this for a long time to come.

There were times when I shouldn't have been such a snot when my Dad was trying to teach me something

and it sounds like your son was a willing participant.

Thanks for sharing.

markap · Post by **markap** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:43 pm

Nice - happy holidays to all. Best wishes to all for a healthy and happy new year.

Ron309753 · Post by **Ron309753** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:29 am

I took my 14 year old son to the owner's weekend and we had a great time. One of my projects this weekend is to move the Mark V from the cold garage to the basement so we do some things together! I'm trying to get him interested in doing a 4H woodworking project.