I recently picked up a Mark V and it came with a few different things and I am trying to understand what all the capabilities are of this machine.
Included - Disc Sander attachment, Table Saw attachment, Lathe chuck, lathe tool rest, and disassembled band saw.
The table saw doesn't have any safety attachments and the blade seems a little off. I have no idea if the bandsaw works as I need to reassemble it to test. I also read the Shopsmiths take a 1 1/4 in arbor blade and not a 5/8. Seems like I can order a 5/8 arbor to "retrofit" it for about $35 on shopsmith site, is this worth doing for the increase in available options for blades?
Are there any attachments that can be picked up for a decent price to improve the setup? I know I need to be on the look out for upgraded casters as the ones that are on it are pretty bad. I think the upgraded casters will require some modifications but that doesn't seem too challenging.
I have some other tools but id like to have as many options on the Shopsmith as I can to save space. Right now I have the following
Dewalt Planer (DW735 I believe)
Dewalt Double Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
A couple of hand me down routers
A few basics like palm orbiter sanders, circular saw, shop vac.
Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. I am excited to get the machine going!
Just picked up a Mark V and have a few questions
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chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4048
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: Just picked up a Mark V and have a few questions
Bmaatl,
Hopefully you already found my posting to you in Dating a Mark 5 by it's serial number. It looks like in your post there you tried to add a picture but it didn't come through for some reason. Adding pictures to posts can be very helpful in understanding what is being talked about.
In your post above you said,
Did you get an Owner's Manual with your Mark 5 and the Bandsaw? These will be a starting point for learning what you can do with them and how to properly maintain them. If you did not get a Bandsaw Manual it is available to download for free as a PDF from the Manual & Information list under the Learn section of this website. There are two Bandsaw manuals there, one for the older Bandsaw with the cast iron table and one for the newer aluminum table. The manual will help you get that Bandsaw back together and set up for use. In the same place you can find the Mark V 500 (same as a Mark 5) Owner's Manual for sale. Manuals for other Mark V models are also listed there and the difference in the Mark V models is the Table/Fence system it has. If your Mark 5 has been upgraded, it could be a Mark V 510/505 or 520 now.
Besides the Owner's Manual there are two companion books/instructions that you may find helpful. The first is the book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone. This book shows woodworking techniques using the Shopsmith tools. It was first published in 1953 and featured the Shopsmith Model 10ER which was the predecessor to the Mark 5. Revised to have the Mark 5, the 2nd edition was released in 1955. The current edition is the 4th. This book covers uses not included in the Owner's Manual. The other helpful instruction book to consider is the Shopsmith Mark V Self-Study Guide. It walks you through doing different tasks to help you get to know your Mark V better.
Shopsmith has used a 1-1/4" Arbor for the Mark 5 since its introduction in 1954. It can use 5/8" Arbor hole blades and many users opt for that. Having a 5/8" Arbor will give you additional flexibility on blade choices.
Changing to the upgraded 3" Casters is not a difficult task. Yes, you will need to drill new holes in the legs to raise the Retractable Castor Assembly. There is a problem owners with older Retractable Castor Assemblies have when upgrading which is the location of the foot pedal on the rod. Older assemblies had the foot pedal closer to the end which interferes with the 3" casters rotating to change the direction to roll. Newer assemblies have the foot pedal a bit further away from the end of the rod.
You asked,
Hopefully you already found my posting to you in Dating a Mark 5 by it's serial number. It looks like in your post there you tried to add a picture but it didn't come through for some reason. Adding pictures to posts can be very helpful in understanding what is being talked about.
In your post above you said,
That would be nearly impossible to explain here. There is so much you can do with a Shopsmith Mark 5 and the accessories including SPT's. The Mark 5 is a 5 in 1 tool meaning it is a Table Saw, Disk Sander, Drill Press, Horizontal Boring Machine (drill press laying down) and a Lathe. With additional accessories and SPT's like the Bandsaw you can do so much more.I am trying to understand what all the capabilities are of this machine.
Did you get an Owner's Manual with your Mark 5 and the Bandsaw? These will be a starting point for learning what you can do with them and how to properly maintain them. If you did not get a Bandsaw Manual it is available to download for free as a PDF from the Manual & Information list under the Learn section of this website. There are two Bandsaw manuals there, one for the older Bandsaw with the cast iron table and one for the newer aluminum table. The manual will help you get that Bandsaw back together and set up for use. In the same place you can find the Mark V 500 (same as a Mark 5) Owner's Manual for sale. Manuals for other Mark V models are also listed there and the difference in the Mark V models is the Table/Fence system it has. If your Mark 5 has been upgraded, it could be a Mark V 510/505 or 520 now.
Besides the Owner's Manual there are two companion books/instructions that you may find helpful. The first is the book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone. This book shows woodworking techniques using the Shopsmith tools. It was first published in 1953 and featured the Shopsmith Model 10ER which was the predecessor to the Mark 5. Revised to have the Mark 5, the 2nd edition was released in 1955. The current edition is the 4th. This book covers uses not included in the Owner's Manual. The other helpful instruction book to consider is the Shopsmith Mark V Self-Study Guide. It walks you through doing different tasks to help you get to know your Mark V better.
Shopsmith has used a 1-1/4" Arbor for the Mark 5 since its introduction in 1954. It can use 5/8" Arbor hole blades and many users opt for that. Having a 5/8" Arbor will give you additional flexibility on blade choices.
Changing to the upgraded 3" Casters is not a difficult task. Yes, you will need to drill new holes in the legs to raise the Retractable Castor Assembly. There is a problem owners with older Retractable Castor Assemblies have when upgrading which is the location of the foot pedal on the rod. Older assemblies had the foot pedal closer to the end which interferes with the 3" casters rotating to change the direction to roll. Newer assemblies have the foot pedal a bit further away from the end of the rod.
You asked,
This will depend on what tasks you want to be able to do with your Shopsmith tools. If buying used do shop around. Use caution if buying used as condition may be a factor. Don't buy something because it is cheaper than new only to have to do a bunch of repairs to make it work again and cost more in the long run than new. I have seen many times used items for sale that end up costing more when including shipping than buying new from Shopsmith.Are there any attachments that can be picked up for a decent price to improve the setup?
Last edited by chapmanruss on Wed Mar 05, 2025 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
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chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4048
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: Just picked up a Mark V and have a few questions
To show what I was talking about yesterday. In upgrading to the 3" Casters for the Retractable Castor Sets the pictures below show the difference between the two for the Foot Pedal location. The first picture is the older version with the Foot Pedal closer to the end of the Drive Rod and the Cam.
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The picture below is the newer version which you can see the distance from the Foot Pedal to the Drive Rod end was increased.
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The newer version has enough Foot Pedal clearance to not interfere with the 3" Casters being able to continuously swivel 360 degrees. The design of the 3" Castors having ball bearing swivels put the wheel and frame farther off center. The Shopsmith 3" Casters are shown below. You can compare the difference between the Castors from the pictures above which includes the 2" Castors and 3" Castors below.
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To solve the problem some owners have cut off (shortened) the end of the Foot Pedal that interferes with the castor being able to swivel.
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- Retractable Casters - Mark 5.jpg (222.75 KiB) Viewed 12501 times
The picture below is the newer version which you can see the distance from the Foot Pedal to the Drive Rod end was increased.
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- Retractable Casters - Mark V.jpg (116.91 KiB) Viewed 12501 times
The newer version has enough Foot Pedal clearance to not interfere with the 3" Casters being able to continuously swivel 360 degrees. The design of the 3" Castors having ball bearing swivels put the wheel and frame farther off center. The Shopsmith 3" Casters are shown below. You can compare the difference between the Castors from the pictures above which includes the 2" Castors and 3" Castors below.
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- premium caster set SS.jpg (29.89 KiB) Viewed 12501 times
To solve the problem some owners have cut off (shortened) the end of the Foot Pedal that interferes with the castor being able to swivel.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Re: Just picked up a Mark V and have a few questions
The simplest, least expensive and best solution for wheels, if the foot pedal mechanism is working properly but the wheels are bad is this, Shepherd Hardware 9790 2-Inch Swivel Stem Caster, available on Amazon for about $6 each. I have them on three Shopsmith’s and they are great. Just pull the old casters out and push the new ones in. No need to cut or redrill anything. The fit the older mechanisms much better than the 3” wheels.