Shopsmith Forums

Flyboy718 wrote:I know nothing about these things. This one is for sale for $200. I assume its a Mark V because the manual says Mark V. I have just started getting into woodworking and my Dad says these things are great. I would like you guys to tell me if this is a good deal for $200 and if all the parts are there? I have a Harbor Freight mini-lathe but I would think that the lathe on this Shopsmith would be leaps and bounds better? Is the lathe there in the picture? I really can't tell. Please help!

I think it is a good deal. The Mark 5 looks clean and well cared for and with the bandsaw too, score.

The lathe parts are there, the tool rest and tailstock are in your second photo center row right side. there is also a face-plate in that photo.
I don't see any lathe chisels, but presumably you have some for your mini-lathe. Also I don't see a drive center or a dead/live center for the tailstock.
The tailstock on the Shopsmith is 2 Morse taper which is common. The drive center is Shopsmith specific, attaches to the 5/8" shaft with a setscrew.
The are available new from Shopsmith and used on Ebay.

[/quote]I think it is a good deal. The Mark 5 looks clean and well cared for and with the bandsaw too, score.

The lathe parts are there, the tool rest and tailstock are in your second photo center row right side. there is also a face-plate in that photo.
I don't see any lathe chisels, but presumably you have some for your mini-lathe. Also I don't see a drive center or a dead/live center for the tailstock.
The tailstock on the Shopsmith is 2 Morse taper which is common. The drive center is Shopsmith specific, attaches to the 5/8" shaft with a setscrew.
The are available new from Shopsmith and used on Ebay.[/quote]

Ok Thanks! That is my main concern is that the lathe is good, I need something to try my hand at making bowls. She said that the tailstock is missing, which I could just "borrow" from my lathe. I also do not own a band saw or a drill press so it would fill those voids for me. I am wondering that by purchasing this, I would be coming out ahead instead of buying stand alone tools of which I do not have a band saw, drill press and thinking the lathe would be better quality than the Harbor Freight that I currently own

jsburger wrote:

ERLover wrote:To my eyes it looks like a Greenie, not a Goldie that preceded the Greenine.
If it runs and no bearing squealing with the Band saw it is an excellent price. $200 for it without the BS in my area is the bottom price if running and good shape. The caster sets go for 40$ ish on E Bay alone.
DONT turn the Speed Dial unless it is running!!!!!!!!!

Just to keep the record straight the Greenie preceded the Goldie.

Greenie 1953-1960
Goldie 1960-1963

Sorry JB, I got my pre's and pro's mixed up

Flyboy718 wrote:

I think it is a good deal. The Mark 5 looks clean and well cared for and with the bandsaw too, score.

The lathe parts are there, the tool rest and tailstock are in your second photo center row right side. there is also a face-plate in that photo.
I don't see any lathe chisels, but presumably you have some for your mini-lathe. Also I don't see a drive center or a dead/live center for the tailstock.
The tailstock on the Shopsmith is 2 Morse taper which is common. The drive center is Shopsmith specific, attaches to the 5/8" shaft with a setscrew.
The are available new from Shopsmith and used on Ebay.[/quote]

Ok Thanks! That is my main concern is that the lathe is good, I need something to try my hand at making bowls. She said that the tailstock is missing, which I could just "borrow" from my lathe. I also do not own a band saw or a drill press so it would fill those voids for me. I am wondering that by purchasing this, I would be coming out ahead instead of buying stand alone tools of which I do not have a band saw, drill press and thinking the lathe would be better quality than the Harbor Freight that I currently own[/quote]

Unless buy the stand alones in the upper price range and the bit of time to switch modes on the SS, you did just fine.

That's just about the same as my original! I think just a few months older! It will do you right, for sure, and that's a pretty fair price if it runs. Bearings and belts will probably need attention, and you may want to upgrade the motor, but it's a solid beast there!

If you are turning bowls only to start, the tailstock can wait as you likely will mount stock to a faceplate, run the carriage and headstock to the right, and use the tool rest to do most of the turning on the end of the machine.

Using the bandsaw, you can likely shape the general shape of the bowl, and by tilting the table, even cut the angle of the profile before you attach it to a faceplate.

That will make turning it easier as you don't have to rough cut the stock to general shape with the chisels.

The tailstock will help you turn cylinders and round stock, but if your passion is bowls, you should have a great start with that, after you do your cleaning and lubrication setups.

Everett

That is a smoking' deal! I paid $350 for a mid-80s Mk 5 w/o the bandsaw. It needed some work to get it up and running right but now it's great. Shopsmiths are pretty easy to repair/rehab and almost everything is available for them*. If you haven't already jumped on this deal, do it quickly before someone else does.

-Steve

*although I've had a saw table insert on back-order since May.