"Shopmith knockoff"?

notlem · Post by **notlem** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:35 pm

I saw this post on Craigs List:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/2297641596.html

I'd like a genuine Shopsmith, but I'm not financially ready in the price range that the decent ones are going for, at least ones that include the extra tools. Anyone know about these "knockoff" versions? Are the identical rebrandings by Shopsmith, for the retailer, or are they cheap copies? Compatable with SS?

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:52 pm

Cheap copies and WHERE ya going to get parts?

notlem · Post by **notlem** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:12 pm

That's what I suspected. Too bad, it looked like a decent deal. Back to saving the pennies and watching for a good deal again.

Weird that they could make such a similar looking machine without stepping on Shopsmith's patents.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:18 pm

notlem wrote:That's what I suspected. Too bad, it looked like a decent deal. Back to saving the pennies and watching for a good deal again.

Weird that they could make such a similar looking machine without stepping on Shopsmith's patents.

The patents were long expired! But not the biscuit jointer!:D

Note the jointer is 6" not 4".

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:27 pm

If you were ready to spend $500 on that then you are very much ready to buy a real used Shopsmith no cheap copies needed. I got a Mark VII with jigsaw and jointer for $300 and just acquired another Mark V my second for $85 and a DC3300 for $35 so you can get a lot of machine for $500. You have to be patient and obsessive about watching the classifieds online and locally they come up quite often and you have to be Johnny on the spot to get the really good deals as they don't last long.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:31 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote:If you were ready to spend $500 on that then you are very much ready to buy a real used Shopsmith no cheap copies needed. I got a Mark VII with jigsaw and jointer for $300 and just acquired another Mark V my second for $85 and a DC3300 for $35 so you can get a lot of machine for $500. You have to be patient and obsessive about watching the classifieds online and locally they come up quite often and you have to be Johnny on the spot to get the really good deals as they don't last long.

Where else but CT?

Not in KY!:(

chucks · Post by **chucks** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:31 pm

Don't know about Kentucky, but I've gotten some awesome buy's here in Phoenix.

notlem · Post by **notlem** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:42 pm

chucks wrote:Don't know about Kentucky, but I've gotten some awesome buy's here in Phoenix.

Great! I'm in Phoenix too. I'll keep a look out.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:20 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Where else but CT? Not in KY!:(

I did a quick search of several of Kentucky's CL sites and found some Shopsmiths but I see what you mean the folks selling those must think they are made of solid gold. One listing showed a Mark V that was visibly rusted and weary and the asking price was $750.....

But if you keep at it and are persistent the deals will expose themselves sooner or later. And don't be thrown off by the asking price a lot of these guy's will let them go for much less if you offer some green. And if not no biggie just wait for the next one.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:34 pm

notlem wrote:I saw this post on Craigs List:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tls/2297641596.html

I'd like a genuine Shopsmith, but I'm not financially ready in the price range that the decent ones are going for, at least ones that include the extra tools. Anyone know about these "knockoff" versions? Are the identical rebrandings by Shopsmith, for the retailer, or are they cheap copies? Compatable with SS?

This is a Total Shop machine. Shopsmith internal parts will not fit in this headstock and are not available new. I have been selling a rebuilt Shopsmith headstock as a replacement. I have some limited Total Shop parts. I find the Total Shop based machines are well built but suffer from lack of lubrication the same as the Shopsmith. This machine has a double bearing quill and a more powerful and longer 1.5 HP 110/220 VAC motor (16.8 AMP 110 VAC, 8.4 AMP 220 VAC). It uses cast iron main and extension tables. The headstock is 2" longer The Total Shop has 1.675" way and bench tubes vs 1.75" for the Shopsmith, however the Shopsmith headstock lock wedges does tighten on the Total Shop way tubes and all Shopsmith SPTs and attachments will fit the Total Shop machine.

I have the Total Shop operating manual and parts listings available. I have some Total Shop SPTs and parts available. I have repaired a few of the Total Shops so I can answer most questions. Contact me if any questions.

I have a few extra Total Shop headrests available which makes an excellant SPT support end for a Shopsmith 10E/ER machine. This allows you to mount and operate most Mark V SPTs on the earlier 10E/ER machines.