Would I be crazy?

[charlese]

....While I have finally began to confess to it, I am not the only member of this forum to who the shop and tools are more enjoyable than the actual woodworking.

Yes! I am one of the other persuasion. The only reason I have woodworking tools is to do woodworking. When first joining this forum, I could not understand the total fascination of some with the intricacies of their tools, making them shine like museum pieces, etc. The only thing I want from my tools is to cut, shape, mill wood to make a finished product. Of course, they must work properly.

However - after years of reading and following the tool lover's postings, I realized that many woodworkers have vastly different tastes. over time, I have learned to love and respect those of the "tool fascination group" and truly wish them the best possible happenings in their hobby. Even though I'm not one of them - I have learned from them and feel maybe I could even fit in! (sometimes):)

Ain't this a nice family of Shopsmithers?

[JPG]

Yes! I am one of the other persuasion. The only reason I have woodworking tools is to do woodworking. When first joining this forum, I could not understand the total fascination of some with the intricacies of their tools, making them shine like museum pieces, etc. The only thing I want from my tools is to cut, shape, mill wood to make a finished product. Of course, they must work properly.

However - after years of reading and following the tool lover's postings, I realized that many woodworkers have vastly different tastes. over time, I have learned to love and respect those of the "tool fascination group" and truly wish them the best possible happenings in their hobby. Even though I'm not one of them - I have learned from them and feel maybe I could even fit in! (sometimes):)

Ain't this a nice family of Shopsmithers?

Indeed it is!

Although it appears by way of my posting that I be strictly a 'Machine Man', do understand I am building the collection to enable me to do many of the things I could not previously do(without crazy work arounds). This has limited my recent woodworking endeavors.

I have resting in the todo box projects that I can now seriously undertake with the acquisitions over the past couple of years.

Like Charlese, I do want them to function properly, thence the reason for all the 'refurbishing'. Since my purse is small, I must resort to 'getting' the least expensive items available and hopefully be able to 'resurrect' them at an attainable cost. So far I have been quite fortunate. The scroll saw was an exception, but initial cost was very much in line with 'the plan'. Overall cost less than $150. Fortunately 'labor' cost was cheap!(also got 4 spare bearings since 10 cost less than 6)

And along the way I learn everything(much anyway) regarding the design and functioning of these tools. Priceless when determining if using it as a 'work-around' is an appropriate option. I envision less of a need in the future to have to do those.

[dan1999]

I know that feeling, the urge to buy another machine especially when it is at a good price my only suggestion is if the urge hits you try to get either a 510 or 520. I kept puttering around til I made that last purchase of a 510. Now my son will get a 500 model.

[peterm]

I got into the Shopsmith world about 2 years ago because I was seduced by the high quality of the SS and the prospect of saving space in my garage shop. I sold a bunch of stationary tools and bought an old 500. For a little while I had some extra room, but then a 510 came available for a good price and the toolnut bug infected me. I have had 3 of the 500s. Now I have two 510s, a mini, a dedicated SS drill press and a shelf unit to hold all the SPTs. I am having a ball but probably have less space than I started with.

On the flip side though, the capability factor has shot way up and the occasional woodwork I do is very enjoyable. The casters help with the space issue. I kept track of my costs in an Excel spreadsheet and at present have spent about $625 of "new" money, so SWMBO is happy. I am convinced I made the right move for the type of work I do.

[holsgo]

I too followed the addiction. I got a 1954 for free. The rest followed the same path...got rid of stationary tools, got obsessed with making the shopsmith do things other than the regular and finally actually did work on it. My next projects are affixing the xy vice to a table and then slowing the bandsaw with a speed reducer.

[dusty]

I too followed the addiction. I got a 1954 for free. The rest followed the same path...got rid of stationary tools, got obsessed with making the shopsmith do things other than the regular and finally actually did work on it. My next projects are affixing the xy vice to a table and then slowing the bandsaw with a speed reducer.

An X/Y Table Attachment sounds like a very good idea. I have often wondered, when in drill press mode, why there is no x/y facility. I have sorta done that with a piece of plywood that has a t-track but it was a kluge.