Age Range of Shopsmith Users

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:19 am

How about listing the age when you acquired your first Shopsmith?

BPR

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:56 am

Listing the starting age can be troublesome or misleading also.

I remember going with my dad to acquire the '55 that I am using. He got it from my grandfather, his Father-In-Law. That was 1971, Deduced from the annotation in his original copy of PTWFE, which I still have and use. I was 6 years old and fondly remember riding in the back of the station wagon with it on the trip home. I have only ever used this particular SS for large power tool wood working. I assisted Dad whenever I could. I cut my first piece of wood on it when I was 11. (All hand tools prior to this. Dad insisted that I learn to use hand tools first.) I turned my first bowl on this machine when I was 14 years old, and was finally authorized to Solo (as long as Dad was home). I helped with and performed many projects on this machine over the years.

I adopted the '55 in 2001 once I finally got a house with a garage that I could park it in. I have since replaced all of the belts and done the regular maintenance on it. And the projects keep rolling off of it.

I know of no other production machine targeted at consumers that is as durable as the Shopsmith. Minimal maintenance and repair, maximum capability. I can still get replacement and/or upgrade parts on a 55 year old machine? amazing!

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:58 am

wannabewoodworker wrote:I am 47 and remember when there was a Shopsmith retail store down the road from me. I always wanted one but could not afford it until later in life. I am pretty mechanically inclined so refurbing the machines i have acquired has been easy. Using them has been a little more challenging but only due to my lack of extensive woodworking experience. Although that is coming along nicely. I think many of us didn't have the time or didn't allocate the time earlier in life to accomplish woodworking tasks and the machines were relagated to repair duties only. But as we get older we slow down enough to smell the roses and are compelled to take the time necessary to build some nice things that will stand the test of time. At least that is the way it is for me anyway. I was really bored and disgusted with myself this winter and thought how could I get myself more productive and utilize the Shopsmith's I have acquired. So I started playing around with Sketchup and planning some projects. My only hurdle is the fact that all my stuff is in the garage and it isn't heated so I can't really work out there in the dead of the NE winter. I hope at some point to cure that problem as well.

I'll be glad when I get old enough to slow down...

I turn 69 in less than a month.

.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:02 pm

robinson46176 wrote:I'll be glad when I get old enough to slow down...

I turn 69 in less than a month.

.

Don't start slowing down now. You'd be about 10 years early.

garys · Post by **garys** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:37 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote: My only hurdle is the fact that all my stuff is in the garage and it isn't heated so I can't really work out there in the dead of the NE winter. I hope at some point to cure that problem as well.

I solved that problem by converting the family room in my basement into a family woodworking shop. No more trying to work out in a cold garage or bothering to heat it up before working.
My Wife likes woodworking as much as I do, and we both hate watching TV, so building a woodworking shop was an easy choice for us.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:01 pm

garys wrote:I solved that problem by converting the family room in my basement into a family woodworking shop. No more trying to work out in a cold garage or bothering to heat it up before working.
My Wife likes woodworking as much as I do, and we both hate watching TV, so building a woodworking shop was an easy choice for us.

Gotta appreciate them mid-western farm minded gals!;)

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:50 pm

Pretty soon (God Willing!) we are going to need a new category - - belay that! - - Two new categories! 75-80 and 80+

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:10 pm

charlese wrote:Pretty soon (God Willing!) we are going to need a new category - - belay that! - - Two new categories! 75-80 and 80+

Well said 'Old Timer'!

shorthaul · Post by **shorthaul** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:28 pm

I bought mine in 1990 with bandsaw and jointer. I was 37 then I am 57 now. I was able to show them how to shape the soap box derby cars. I helped my daughter make her "house design" for one of her classes.
I am presently making some inroads for custom made tooling. Mostly a couple of faceplates and some lathe chisels.
I believe that the SS is the thnking man's tool. If you want to be "smooth" you have to plan your setups.

rdewinter · Post by **rdewinter** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:08 am

I bought my first SS in 1990, a brand new model 510. I now have three SS in my dedicated workshop, a 520, a 500 and a 10ER. Currently retired thanks to the recession. Although I have Parkinson's disease, I try not to let that slow me down because I love woodworking and I need to constantly keep busy. I'm 64 years young.

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Age Range of Shopsmith Users

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