Mental meanderings on Shopsmith past, present and future

[charlese]

Two things about the past - 1) Memories, and 2) We can never go back there!

We can reminisce, but that will never reconstruct the past. We really live for the future, not the past. Tomorrow will be the future we plan for today. If we don't get to the future - we die!

Yeah! Some of the things in the past were nice - Some weren't so good. Shopsmith has had those same experiences. What does the future hold? ????????

[Ed in Tampa]

I'm sure there are those that will disagree but I think the biggest problem Shopsmith has is price. When I bought my Shopsmith I priced the cost of a tablesaw, drill press, lathe, sander/grinder and the Shopsmith price beat them. Had it not, I would have bought them instead.

In today's market a customer can get an excellent tablesaw for $600 a variable speed drill press for $300, a super lathe for $1000 with many lesser but equally capable for a lot less, sander/grinder for $200, a nice 14" band saw for $500, a 6 inch jointer for $400 and a planer for $600. The total around $3600 which is not much more than the basic Shopsmith without the bandsaw, jointer, and planer. To add the Shopsmith SPT like Planer, jointer, bandsaw you would add nearly $2000 more in cost.

I could outfit my shop for even less since I would go with a $300 lathe, tablesaw for $700, sander/grinder for $200, bandsaw for $800, planer for $350, and $200 drill press for a total of $2500 and I would have an excellent standalone tool workshop.

People talk about not having enough room from these figures above you could build/buy a nice 12x14 shop to put it all in and still be less than the Shopsmith cost.

I believe Shopsmith priced themselves out of the market and I don't know why. They had an excellent product and with the cost savings from using automation in manufacturing should have left them hold their prices instead of the steady increase that didn't happen in the other major manufacture lines. A Delta Unisaw today costs nearly the same as a Delta Unisaw did when I bought my Shopsmith.

[JPG]

I'm sure there are those that will disagree but I think the biggest problem Shopsmith has is price. When I bought my Shopsmith I priced the cost of a tablesaw, drill press, lathe, sander/grinder and the Shopsmith price beat them. Had it not, I would have bought them instead.

In today's market a customer can get an excellent tablesaw for $600 a variable speed drill press for $300, a super lathe for $1000 with many lesser but equally capable for a lot less, sander/grinder for $200, a nice 14" band saw for $500, a 6 inch jointer for $400 and a planer for $600. The total around $3600 which is not much more than the basic Shopsmith without the bandsaw, jointer, and planer. To add the Shopsmith SPT like Planer, jointer, bandsaw you would add nearly $2000 more in cost.

I could outfit my shop for even less since I would go with a $300 lathe, tablesaw for $700, sander/grinder for $200, bandsaw for $800, planer for $350, and $200 drill press for a total of $2500 and I would have an excellent standalone tool workshop.

People talk about not having enough room from these figures above you could build/buy a nice 12x14 shop to put it all in and still be less than the Shopsmith cost.

I believe Shopsmith priced themselves out of the market and I don't know why. They had an excellent product and with the cost savings from using automation in manufacturing should have left them hold their prices instead of the steady increase that didn't happen in the other major manufacture lines. A Delta Unisaw today costs nearly the same as a Delta Unisaw did when I bought my Shopsmith.

Blame it on Nixon!

[robinson46176]

I'm sure there are those that will disagree but I think the biggest problem Shopsmith has is price. When I bought my Shopsmith I priced the cost of a tablesaw, drill press, lathe, sander/grinder and the Shopsmith price beat them. Had it not, I would have bought them instead.

In today's market a customer can get an excellent tablesaw for $600 a variable speed drill press for $300, a super lathe for $1000 with many lesser but equally capable for a lot less, sander/grinder for $200, a nice 14" band saw for $500, a 6 inch jointer for $400 and a planer for $600. The total around $3600 which is not much more than the basic Shopsmith without the bandsaw, jointer, and planer. To add the Shopsmith SPT like Planer, jointer, bandsaw you would add nearly $2000 more in cost.

I could outfit my shop for even less since I would go with a $300 lathe, tablesaw for $700, sander/grinder for $200, bandsaw for $800, planer for $350, and $200 drill press for a total of $2500 and I would have an excellent standalone tool workshop.

People talk about not having enough room from these figures above you could build/buy a nice 12x14 shop to put it all in and still be less than the Shopsmith cost.

I believe Shopsmith priced themselves out of the market and I don't know why. They had an excellent product and with the cost savings from using automation in manufacturing should have left them hold their prices instead of the steady increase that didn't happen in the other major manufacture lines. A Delta Unisaw today costs nearly the same as a Delta Unisaw did when I bought my Shopsmith.

But none of them would say "SHOPSMITH" on the front and we probably wouldn't bother with getting together to talk about them.
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[dusty]

Available space has a lot to do with it. When I bought my Shopsmith about the most I could count on was the space afforded by a one car garage or a corner in the basement of a small house. Look at the photos being posted by many of the wood workers on all the various wood working sites today. Very few of them (though there are some) are working in an area as small as a one car garage. With this increased amount of space to work in, the combination tool (The Shopsmith) has lost much of its charm.

Couple that with the number of high school students that will graduate this year and have no ideal (and don't want to know) what a gouge is or how a rip saw differs from a cross cut saw and you have still another answer.

[ryanbp01]

I bought mine brand spankin' new at a demo (520-50th anniversary edition) Since then I have spent plenty on growing the system. I just didn't want the hassle of continually changing out tools for new ones. I also wanted something which still be around when I retire, hopefully, in another 10 years. I figured that buying in the present would greatly help in the future when I very well could not afford such a purchase.

I have always maintained that Shopsmith needs to keep their name in the public eye. While the internet is great, I wonder how many potential woodworkers out there who have heard about Shopsmith in the past think that because you no longer see the Shopsmith name in woodworking publications or woodworking shops that the company no longer exists? It is my belief that partnering with Lowe's such as they did a few years ago was the wrong thing to do. Lowe's, after all doesn't cater to woodworkers; they are after the DIYers. Same with Home Depot and Menard's. I think it would have made more sense to partner with someone such as Woodcraft, or Wood Magazine and take advantage of the woodworking shows they put on. If you don't get you name out, how in the world do you expect anyone to think you still exist outside of this forum?

BPR

[riot_nrrd]

You know, I don't know about the sexy paint scheme, but if I was in the driver's seat, here are some things I would do:

1.) Stop selling the 500 and the 510.
2.) Stop using proprietary sizes (e.g., miter slots, 1 1/4" arbors).
3.) Upgrade to a larger jointer and bandsaw
4.) Emphasize the variable speed aspects of the SS - and explain why that is good
5.) Reduce the product line - get rid of things like the biscuit joiner, oscillating sander kit, etc...
6.) Focus on the high-end tools and accessories (Incra, Kreg)
7.) Start advertising in the woodworking mags, emphasizing heritage and made in the USA
8.) Join up with Rocker, Woodcraft, or someone as their primary channel

I guess to sum it all up, stop trying to do it all - focus on core products, let the market cover other areas, and get your name out there.

RiotNrrd

[dusty]

I think they have made an announcement that they no longer sell or support the 500 (that is 500 unique parts) and I would bet that they have not built a 505 for sale in years.

If you mean, offer equipment with standard miter slots, I would not argue but there are a few machines out there with the "Shopsmith" miter bar and I would hope they continue to support it.

If you want to use a standard arbor, do so. It is available.

I'm neutral on a larger bandsaw and/or jointer except to say "mine serves me well".

Along with emphasizing variable speed they need to emphasize the small size of the Shopsmith. One of its strengths is that it is a full function shop in a small space.

I agree that they should reduce the product line. Quit selling things like oil, rags, paint, marking and measuring tools, etc. Make the offering Shopsmith specific. Don't sell things that Shopsmith does not manufacture or are not manufactured specifically for Shopsmith.

I agree that they should emphasize their association with Incra, Kreg and others of equal stature if their products are specific to the Shopsmith.

Advertise and associate with established magazines and outlets but be careful claiming "Made in the USA". That may be a stretch these days.

[easterngray]

I second everything Dusty says. I also feel like mentioned above that the gray color is boring. The Shopsmith is such a cool design - the two tone paint jobs offered inb the past (greenie, goldie) are much nicer looking. I for one like the goldie color - bring it back, I say!

As for me, I feel that the most painful loss given Shopsmiths "skin of their teeth" financial condition these days is the lack of mailings and catalogues. This is the time of year that the annual "Spring Project Days" catalogue would arrive. I miss getting it, and all the other mailings, as well of course as the full catalogue.

I understand that the website serves as the catalogue these days, but it just isn't the same. Alec

[dusty]

I

I second everything Dusty says. I also feel like mentioned above that the gray color is boring. The Shopsmith is such a cool design - the two tone paint jobs offered inb the past (greenie, goldie) are much nicer looking. I for one like the goldie color - bring it back, I say!

As for me, I feel that the most painful loss given Shopsmiths "skin of their teeth" financial condition these days is the lack of mailings and catalogues. This is the time of year that the annual "Spring Project Days" catalogue would arrive. I miss getting it, and all the other mailings, as well of course as the full catalogue.

I understand that the website serves as the catalogue these days, but it just isn't the same. Alec

I agree that a "new" hard copy catalog would be nice. My old 2008 catalog is just about ready for the trash. But please, not just a reprint which is what the last two or three versions were.