Shopsmith 4" jointer to shelix head

[SShoarder87]

I considered this as well, and have heard someone in the community say they asked SS and the engineer said it was because of one main reason; weight. The heavier it got, the less they'd sell.

Imagine how much more it would weigh with an extra 2" width, plus associated structure, head, etc. The standard 4" is already 53lbs. I did some rough estimates and extrapolated the data a while back based on the 4"s weight, and concluded it could possibly weigh in at around 80lbs.

It's a rough guess, but if the 4" jointers weight is anything to go on...I'd be fine lifting that, as I'm pretty strong, but I could see how most wouldn't want to.

Probably R&D at this point. They'd have to go back to the drawing board to make it lighter, and let's be real. shopsmith is a shadow of its former self in 2024. Much smaller operation now.

It was a long thread that I referenced for you up above, so I will summarize here. I know it is a long shot in 2024 for Shopsmith to take this on, but what about the past 4 decades??? They continued selling an Edsel, long after consumers wanted an Esdel, i.e. Shopsmith 4" jointer = Edsel. In the other thread I pointed out there are more modern cast iron manufacturing methods that result in a much thinner (lighter) casting today. That 4" jointer is way over-built IMHO. Also, the Rikon 8" benchtop jointer I referenced has a beefy looking cast aluminum table and aluminum fences. The Mark V main table is cast aluminum. Why can't Shopsmith make a new 8" jointer with aluminum infeed/outfeed tables that mounts on the Mark V that is light and better performance than the old 4" jointer? Oh, right...it comes down to money, but wouldn't this be a big selling feature for the Mark 7? That 4" jointer is so antiquated and doesn't compete in the market that is available in 2024.

I still would be interested to know, for that proposed 4" jointer head from Shelix, how many cutter knives did they plan for it?

They never actually gave me any info on cutter knife amounts. I never made it that far with them after realizing the potential cost. They expected deposits and the cutterhead plus dimensions, before work would commence on R&D.

There may be hope yet, though. I recently watched a youtube video on SS. And the jointer is actually on the new CEOs radar.

A youtuber called "shop nation" did a factory tour with the CEO of SS, and the CEO mentioned what we're talking about. The video is called "the last American power tool company is (almost) dead" if youre interested.

The CEO said, and I quote "should we make a 6" jointer? Probably, but that would be a major investment. And we don't have the capital for that right now."

Not the 8" that we would prefer, but I guess it's something.

[RFGuy]

They never actually gave me any info on cutter knife amounts. I never made it that far with them after realizing the potential cost. They expected deposits and the cutterhead plus dimensions, before work would commence on R&D.

There may be hope yet, though. I recently watched a youtube video on SS. And the jointer is actually on the new CEOs radar.

A youtuber called "shop nation" did a factory tour with the CEO of SS, and the CEO mentioned what we're talking about. The video is called "the last American power tool company is (almost) dead" if youre interested.

The CEO said, and I quote "should we make a 6" jointer? Probably, but that would be a major investment. And we don't have the capital for that right now."

Not the 8" that we would prefer, but I guess it's something.

Thanks. Yeah, I was just curious. That Rikon 8" benchtop jointer has what they call a "helical style" cutter head, but it doesn't look like that many knives on it. It got me to thinking that a 4" jointer head is awfully small to put carbide cutters on, or said another way, I wonder if you'd get the bang for the buck trying to make it into a true helical head for such a small head? I saw that Shop Nation video before and I agree it would be a major investment, but remember Shopsmith was bought out by private equity. That is what Nick is and his background. I don't know how many investors he was able to pull in, but my understanding is it wasn't just a "oh, let's rescue this great American company". I thought the intent was to reinvigorate it and use the fact that it is Made in USA as a selling point. So, IF there are substantial investors behind it, then why not launch new products to grow the company??? This has been the question that I, and others, have been asking ever since we learned that private equity had bought out Shopsmith. What is their game plan? Do they intend to grow? IF so, by how much? What would justify private equity taking ownership of a company like Shopsmith, IF it was only just to keep the lights on? Honestly, it has been a year later and I am afraid the answers are not much clearer today than when this was announced a year ago. IF we knew what their plan was, what their product & marketing strategy were, it might be easier for all of us to get on board and support them 110%. It certainly would be easier for me to get excited for them. JMO.