520 Upgrade placed today.

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:35 am

hehe, you jest but two 520 upgrades was what first caught my eye that items were being duplicated. I was looking at the running total and thought, hmmm, how did I get over 2K so quickly. LOL
I called 10 minutes after customer service opened and Stan took care of the duplications for me. It was just an extra dial indicator and two dado inserts, still I'd have hated to send them back.
Once a toy is in my hands I never wanna let go.

I'm still pumped about the upgrade! I can't wait to get the ole boy ready for some serious work.

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:41 am

Friends, it started about 10 years ago when my father passed on his little used 510. Having two daughters at home and then college expenses helped me fight the urge to buy one more... But the last few months have put me on a first named basis with all the Shopsmith customer service folks. Several weeks ago, I actually made a pilgrimage by driving all night to Poe Ave to go to the factory outlet store; only to find out it had been closed.

But they felt sorry for me & let me in from the cold. I was able to meet Nick who taught me how to spin a hammer without it landing in my forehead. I got to see the factory- a dream come true. I put in a huge order there right on the spot. But all good things come to an end & I had to drive home... Home which my computer is; where I have the Shopsmith Ebay page as a book mark; where of course he Shopsmith Owner's page is my home page....

The addiction though as resulted in some good things. Like I know my FedEx Ground driver by first name. My Ebay wins have resulted in my knowing the UPS guy perhaps even better. Sorry, but Ebay offers much better values... Yet Shopsmith and their weekly specials ensures a plain brown box reaches my doorstep almost each week.

I need help <tear falling down cheek...> Yes, my wife has threatened to leave me. But then why won't she go? I could buy so much more...

Seriously, if Shopsmith could do like what Harley Davidson did, and have an annual open house, where people get to tour the floor and watch some operations, there might be more interest in a product that in many cases is older than the user. I was amazed to see how the old 10 ERs where used in many of the machining tools used to make the parts in those parts that are manufactured on site. The set up of the factory floor is something many people have no idea of, as much of the manufacturing capability of our country has moved or been forced out of business due to the influx of foreign products. But that's another subject for a rant/blog.

So two weeks ago, the opportunity presented itself & I bought two more- a 1981 Model 500 & a 1989 510. The price? $125 for the 500. Apparently they thought the headstock was no good. But it helps to plug into a live outlet... The 510, was an Ebay win. Didn't have the tables, but I got it for $229. I want to buy more, but....space. so I am building a wood workshop by extending my garage. Yes, I will buy more!

In recent days I have met people much older than I. One gentleman is 89. His experience with Shopsmith began in the 40's. Another gentleman in 90-something and he is/was a wood master who would never own something he could used his own hands to cut wood with. Best of all, I met a guy, less than 30 minutes away, who wheels & deal Shopsmith products. His entire home is loaded with Shopsmith everything. He even has a Shopsmith Crafter's Station in his dining room. His porch has plently of both Model V & 10ER tubes- those things are heavy! His basement has 10Es & 10 ERs, jointers, rip fences- you name it, he's got it. He is... the Shopsmith Master.

But a man must know his limitations. We don't need to read directions or ask for them either- at least no more thanks to Garmin. Yes, folks, my name is Tony and I am, a Shopsmith Addict...

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:56 am

Tony, that was beautiful. (tears in my eyes) (think Bill Murray Caddyshack)

The tubes are heavy!
I wouldn't have realized that so much of the mark V's wt. comes from them if I hadn't gotten my shorty completely disassembled. Even the shorter tubes were substantial.

My name is Pinkie and I'm a Shopsmith-A-Holic.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:23 pm

pinkiewerewolf wrote:.....................I don't know if this has happened to anyone else but I was having some difficulty using the online ordering system.
Strangely, (and I didn't catch it on the final order form) the site doubled some of my orders......................

Hi Pinkie,

I too have had similar experiences. I always double check my order (in case I forgot something

) and frequently must delete the duplicates. No big deal, just a little irritation

.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:36 pm

dusty wrote:.......................

Opps......when I checked the quantities doubled. Now I have two Mark V 520s on backorder.

Oh No!!!!

What is SWMBO going to say????

Or have you already paid the taxes???? The wait....

He he he he

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:06 pm

A bit of confusion on my part with the 520 upgrade.
When SS is talking about a way tube stop collar are they talking about the rubber tube that came with the 520 upgrade?
The directions mention a way tube stop collar to help line up the blade to the table insert opening.
Thanks in advance.
pinkie

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:40 pm

pinkiewerewolf wrote:A bit of confusion on my part with the 520 upgrade.
When SS is talking about a way tube stop collar are they talking about the rubber tube that came with the 520 upgrade?
The directions mention a way tube stop collar to help line up the blade to the table insert opening.
Thanks in advance.
pinkie

Hey pinkie,

Yes, the instructions leave a little to be desired. I never did send them my feedback on the typos, misspellings and ambiguities.

Yes, I put that rubber collar between the headstock and the main table carriage as a spacer.

- Chris

eldyfig · Post by **eldyfig** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:53 pm

My envy is growing. I need the 510 to 520 upgrade.

Okay, at this point it might not be a need, but I really want it.

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:51 pm

Thanks Chris, I'll slide the headstock back on now.

Tony, the differences in the upgraded parts is very dramatic.
The pieces I am replacing are 6 years older than I am, of course I could use a replaced part here & there.

shydragon · Post by **shydragon** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:19 pm

Yes, I can understand the addiction. I've been into this less than a month and I've already placed (7) orders and all but one of those being multiple items. I have two shipments in transit, and two orders not shipped.

The worst thing is I keep looking at the 520 upgrade and that Overarm Pin Router.

Then there is ebay and Craigslist. Man oh man, I missed out on an awesome deal on Craigslist up in Kelso. Mark V, jointer, strip sander, belt sander, scroll saw, planer, bandsaw and numerous other items for $900. By the time I got a hold of the guy, it had been sold.

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520 Upgrade placed today.

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