Mark V to VII upgrade

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:10 am

Has anyone else taken a look at the latest e-mail special? If so, is it worth taking advantage of it?

BPR

BigSky · Post by **BigSky** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:45 am

ryanbp01 wrote:Has anyone else taken a look at the latest e-mail special? If so, is it worth taking advantage of it?

BPR

It is worth it if you want an under table shaper on your Shopsmith that bad.

Shopsmith has the upper hand here; for this particular item, they are the only game in town. Pay their price or go without!

Mark VII or Mark 7

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:44 am

The reason I asked is that while I don't use a router all that much (yet) if this would be a reason to do as a substitute for a traditional router table and get some room made in the shop. FWIW, I haven't yet decided to upgrade to the Power-Pro.

BPR

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:57 pm

The direction comment would be relevant to your 'model'!

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?p=90740&postcount=4

cobalt60 · Post by **cobalt60** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:04 pm

I'm a fan of my SS, even the table saw, but as far as I'm concerned, there "is not such thing" as a router/shaper function. It's simply not good enough for any work, and a mid-range router like a PC 690 is significantly better and safer.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:02 pm

With the 5200 rpm top speed on the traditional headstock, it is a little slow as a shaper, and definitely on the slow side for two cutter router bits. On the plus side, the 1 1/8 HP motor has more cutting torque than the largest universal motor router.

While the double tilt upgrade may be a marginal choice for the old type headstock, The Power Pro changes the equation quite a bit. It becomes a very good shaper, and will outperform any router table when using larger diameter cutters. Keep in mind the fact that even a 3HP router does not produce 3HP when the speed is reduced to 10,000 rpm, the recommended speed for larger router bits.

The double tilt provides the interesting choice of either under table or over table routing/shaping. There certainly are applications where one is preferred over the other. You do not have this choice with a router table.

I have a PC 690 router, and this tool has it's important place for hand held uses, and is indespensible for cutting dovetails on a dovetail jig.