Is the Powerpro coming?

[kd6vpe]

Oh boy,
It is so nice to see Nick here again. And still associated with Shopsmith. What a wonderful surprise. Mr. Folgerth is you read these thank you for keeping Nick in our eyes.

[easterngray]

Wooo-Hooo!! As always Nick, Thanks!

[robinson46176]

I have no idea if I will be buying one soon after they come out or not nor whether I would buy just a headstock or an entire SS. I do know that I am quite pleased with the notion of something coming along that will possibly give SS a major shot in the arm during tough times.
I don't expect the guys that just bought a used one a few months ago for a few hundred dollars to share my excitement for SS as a company. I watched demo after demo and wished my heart out (just ask my family) for 28 years before I was able to buy the new 510 (still like new) that I bought 21 years ago... Somewhere in my "stuff" there are hundreds of copies of SS publications that have the words almost read off of the pages and SS sales flyers wrinkled from the drooling on them.
All of those years that I was wishing so hard I tried to find a used one but they were almost impossible to find. Ebay and Craigs List were not even dreamed about yet and used home woodworking equipment sold higher than blazes back then. Most of it sold by word of mouth to friends.
I believe that this may well be what SS needs and what many in this SS community need. I certainly hope so... I know of no company that deserves it more.

[wlhayesmfs]

Farmer, don't know if I wished as hard or as long. But I do remember watching demos at fairs and wishing I had the money for one. Like you I never saw a used one anywhere. But in 95 at a demo at the mall I finally got my new 510. The wife was down the way shopping and she was not too friendly to the SS employee that was writing up my 510, planer, bandsaw and extras. But in a couple of week you can imagine my excitement when the shipping company delivered my boxes. I spent nights in the garage reading and setting up my new machine. No telling how many times I wiped it off because I got finger prints on the tubes. Probably had 4 coats of johnson wax before I ever cut the first piece of wood. I was probably more excited then than the Christmas I got my first train set.
So now a Brownie and 7 ER's later I am still hooked on SS. I sure hope the pull this off. I have lots of other items I hope to get from them since I have quite moving with my job and making ends meet better.
Lets make some sawdust.

[Ed in Tampa]

Farmer and Bill
I think the stories you related mark the difference between the generation that helped build Shopsmith and the current buyers. I don't see today's buyers drooling over anything. They either buy it or forget it.

I share you guy's stories, I don't know how many demo's I saw. How many plus and minus lists I made to justify my purchase. How many promises I made to my wife that the money would be well spent and etc. I know many many times I priced individual machines to compare costs with the Shopsmith and each time the SS won. Today it is a different story.

Also back then we didn't have Craigslist or Ebay so you either came up with the jingle or you drooled some more.

[kalynzoo]

A similar story. I would go to Fair every year and watch with ah as the demonstrator made little pieces of wood out of big pieces of wood with the many options of the Shopsmith. After many years of silent wistfulness, my wife whispered that I could order one if I really wanted. This was my entrance into the world of SS. After a traveling academy class I quickly found the SS to be my workstation of choice for all aspects of my hobby. Little by little I gave my power tool collection to my children, the took away my tablesaw, small bandsaw, radial arm saw, sanding station, and Craftsman drill press. I had room to play with only one tool platform, and I was happy.
I doubt if I will be the first to order the PowerPro. I bet it will be a costly investment, although I have no knowledge of this. And I am hesitant to be the first to test new technology. But, I bet I will drool enough that soon, hopefully sooner than later, I will upgrade. Just my little story.

[etc92guy]

I don't expect the guys that just bought a used one a few months ago for a few hundred dollars to share my excitement for SS as a company.

Respectfully, very respectfully, Farmer, I disagree.

Yes, I bought my two machines for a little over a hundred dollars. Will I buy a PowerPro headstock or conversion kit for my 500? I don't know. Will it cost more than $100? You betcha. And it should. What's a fair price? It depends on what Shopsmith needs. And how deep my wallet is. Right now that's not very deep. But because I'm employed again after almost two years, hopefully it will be deep enough in the future.

I am truly excited about the Shopsmith company. The fact that I can purchase a used machine, still get parts and support, and upgrade it to the current standard is something to get excited about. The fact that I could learn about servicing and repairing these machines from Shopsmith and Bill Mayo is a priceless opportunity that I am excited about. The fact that I can take for a couple of bucks what is basically a scrap paper weight and return it to its originally designed functionality is something I am excited about. The fact that Shopsmith supports this forum where I enjoy camadere (sp?) with wonderful people who not only share an enthuisasm for this machine, a do-it-yourself conviction, and the hobby of woodworking in all of it's facets is something I am excited about.

I am excited about the PowerPro prospect and what positive things it will do for Shopsmith because I want that company to be around so I can be excited about all the other things Shopsmith does.

I never thought I would own a Shopsmith. I viewed it as the holy grail of woodworking tools. For hobbies, I have a limited budget, and have learned to buy used. I look up to those of you that were fortunate enough to unpack a factory fresh box and not have to scrape rust off a way tube. But that doesn't mean because I buy used that I'm not excited about the Shopsmith company. I am very excited about it.

And I say this all VERY respectfully.

[shydragon]

I only saw one demo, when they were sold here locally at Woodcraft, and took one home that day.

[dlbristol]

I too watched a few demos. I had a vague childhood memory of seeing a SS. My late father in law had one that I never saw and his son gave away!:eek: So as soon as I could afford one I jumped. Last month, I was at a family get together and I mentioned my SS. He looked at me and said, "Dad has uncle Roy's old one out in the barn". Instantly I recalled seeing it in his shop as a kid. I am "negotiating" for the thing now.
Like many of you, I can't always afford a new spt, and I don't always posses the skills to to restore an old one. I then become a hybrid consumer. If I can I will buy new. If not I will buy used at times. I do show off my SS to anyone who will spend the time, and I have created a few "DROOLERS".

[Ed in Tampa]

I only saw one demo, when they were sold here locally at Woodcraft, and took one home that day.

Shydragon
I think you illustrate the point I was trying to make. I think society had changed from when Shopsmith started marketing to where it is today. I probably would have never bought one had I not ran into a demo'er that keep a few Mark 5 at his home storage, I was able to take mine home that same day also. (He lived close to me )

I thought the Shopsmith stores were wonderful. Everytime I traveled through Atlanta I would stop at the store. When I heard they were going to open in a store in Tampa I was almost beside myself with joy. But then they located it in the worst location they could find. An absolute nightmare to find and get into. It effectively cut off all customers from surrounding areas because of it's inaccessibility. We all know the rest of the story, soon all the stores were closed.

I still think Shopsmith should try retail stores again. Not like they did at Lowes or Home Depot but rather in stores like Woodcraft or Rockler or perhaps their own store only this time get it right, both location and store personnel.