Which ShopSmith model do you use in your shop

[JPG]

OKAY. I give up completely. If you send me a Unisaw, I won't reject it. I'll find a place in the shop for it. You can have whatever I have to move out.

I bet you could make it fit without removing anything!:D

[keakap]

...

Many of you will have 'upgraded' models, and I request you specify the upgraded model rather than its original designation. I feel it is more meaningful what you are actually using than what it was when obtained.

So then, is a Power Pro considered a 520?
Is this a marketing question?

[keakap]

I miss this too! Often in defense of Shopsmith you will hear it said "it is for those that don't have room for multiple dedicated machines."

Interestingly I find that, this point is often made by people that own 2, 3 and sometimes 10 Shopsmiths. Obviously if they own multiple SS they have room for dedicated machines therefore their point is lost in the truth of their reality.

Frankly if I had the room for two Shopsmiths I would have a Shopsmith and instead of another one I would have a tablesaw. If I had room for 3 SS I would have shop of carefully placed dedicated machines.

Interesting points there, Ed.
But ever onct in awhile somebody with multiple copies of the multi function wonders tells us about some setup to work some minor miracle, using 2, three or more Shopsmiths tied together in some way, even something as mundane as #2 being an outfeed table. This is what gets my imagination stirred up, and forget all about those other dedicated machines.
Think about it-- a 20' by 20' "shop" that is all "one" worktable!
EEEeee-Hahh!!

[JPG]

So then, is a Power Pro considered a 520?
Is this a marketing question?

If it is an upgraded machine, then it still is what it originally was, but just happens to have a new headstock.

I believe the 'power pro' is only available as a Mark 7, but all models can be 'upgraded' to the power pro power train.

I asked for respondents to indicate what they currently use(as upgraded), but that applies to the 'table' upgrades that move them eventually up to a 520.

I also asked for posting the upgrading info(that included a power pro headstock).

Here be what is currently available:

http://www.shopsmith.com/markvsite/specifications_3.htm

[JPG]

Interesting points there, Ed.
But ever onct in awhile somebody with multiple copies of the multi function wonders tells us about some setup to work some minor miracle, using 2, three or more Shopsmiths tied together in some way, even something as mundane as #2 being an outfeed table. This is what gets my imagination stirred up, and forget all about those other dedicated machines.
Think about it-- a 20' by 20' "shop" that is all "one" worktable!
EEEeee-Hahh!!

I'd get that excited for just a 20x20(empty)!

[robinson46176]

I agree with part of that! However with multiple ss, you can have whichever one you want to do whatever you need. With 'separate dedicated' tools, you can only do on each one that dedicated function.

Flexibility is what you get, not an inconsistency in their 'reality' . 'They' be referring to somebody else as a generalization.

Flexibility is the key word...
I keep saying that I did not choose to equip my shop with Shopsmiths in spite of the set-ups/change-overs but because of them.
I didn't choose Shopsmiths to save space. I have 1400 sq.ft. that I am using as woodshop right now and can easily make it up to 2500 sq.ft. without having to build anything on by just removing stored stuff and taking in more of our old house...
I did not choose Shopsmith to save money. While I am not among the mega rich I did have enough funds available to buy what I wanted at a reasonable price.
I do have some stand alone tools as in my sig line. I also have some extras not listed like several table saws that I may use as semi-dedicated millwork units.
With my Shopsmiths I have a whole string of lathes, drill presses, boring machines, saws and all kinds of sanders. Flexibility...
Only imagination limits the possibilities with a shop full of Shopsmiths. I used my 510 to do boot and shoe work for a few years when I needed to bring some work home. Just had to creat a few special fittings.
See... we all work different... We all make not only different things but entirely different classes of things. Some guys make a "lot" of pens and a few other small items along. I make none. I can see them just wanting one Shopsmith and maybe a herd of pen making accessories. Some guys concentrate on making truly fine furniture of the highest caliber. Again their needs/wants are different. Some guys just want to putter and make few toys. Some are dead serious about woodworking. Some guys may only fire up their Shopsmith a few times a year. Some use them daily.
Is everybody getting my point here??? There just is no such thing as "one size fits all". One man's meat is another man's poison, as they say.
In my case I want to do some light production work. I want to be able to set up and run a run of maybe 20 units or more and do so with a minimum of disturbing my setups while I am making that run. My personal interest runs toward reproductions of early country items like large boxes, trunks and poplar cupboards and pie-safes. Many of them were made by artisans who traveled around often living with a family while building several items for them and then moving on. Then again I expect to make a number of semi-decorative gates and horse stall fronts. I need to make a new set of sides for all three of my trucks. I am going to re-do the interior of a 32' long goose-neck horse trailer that holds 4 horses and has living quarters in the front. Some may remember the "Gypsy wagon" that I built on a trailer a few years ago. I want to build a second one of those but a little different.
We are all different.

[JPG]

Gee! Would you believe some of us are more different than most!:D

[hew]

Memory after 27 years some times gets a little fussy. Now it is time to look for paper work. Hah about 10 ft from my desk I find a yellow invoice with red letterhead says Shopsmith
City - Houston TX Date - 6/2183
Sales person 322 E Weitz Customer Jerry XXXXX Deer Park TX
Qty 1 Part# 500009 Mark V Total value $1299.00 Discount $350 Net Price $949 with Std drill package, Router kit, Molding insert, Shaper kit, Lathe kit, Sanding kit, Casters, 5/8 Arbor, Tax 5%, Total 1592.85 Shipping Collect. Delivery date was 7/5/83
Serial Number is SS-155672
This is before the double quill bearing. The paint is gray splatter texture.

[robinson46176]

Gee! Would you believe some of us are more different than most!:D

This afternoon I took one of my smaller farm tractors and dragged a large old pallet around about 2 miles of the trails around the farm to break up the about 6 inches of hardened snow. About 9:00 PM I told my wife to bundle up for a Christmas eve sleigh ride. We used our red "electric" sleigh (electric golf cart). We only got slightly stuck about three times. We took the trails that lead back through a couple of little woods and up through a couple of acres of what was originally planned as a small Christmas tree plantation. After they got a little size on them I decided that I wanted the trees more than the sales. Some are about 20' tall now. The south end of that plantation is up on a hill that is the highest place in the area where you can see for miles (this is prairie country). It is a location that I have often given serious thoughts to building a new house. You can set up there at night and look out all across the city and surrounds at the lights but still be very much in the country.
Next year we will be using a real sleigh (shop project) and my young Belgian...
Yes, I tend to be different.

[JPG]

. . .
Yes, I tend to be different.

A worthy goal indeed!

BTW - Why would anyone WANT to see the 'city' lights from the country?:D