Shopsmith Forums

I got my Greenie with all the normal accessories plus a band saw, jointer, belt sander and jig saw for $225.00 a few weeks back (Craig's List). It didn't run, but I found a 1 1/8 HP motor on Ebay for just over $100 when shipping was included.

It's now all together and running well, and I'm happy as a clam. Considering that I was contemplating the purchase of a decent band saw and drill press (as opposed the the Chinese cheapies I've been using) this was a heck of a deal.

[quote="JPG40504"]Must be folks in NW Arkansas are too savvy to give stuff away!]

Just checked Craigslist and someone local (as in here in my town) has a 10ER, working condition, and they're asking $350 for it as is, and the pics didn't show any accessories other than it is currently set up as a table saw.

The last one I saw in a garage sale was just a basic Mark V, didn't even have the casters, much less most of the basic accessories, and they were asking $500.

I paid $400 for my '55 Greenie with a bandsaw, and felt fortunate at that.

You guys are killing me with stories of getting TWO jointers with a unit, or picking one up for $50. Do you guys find similar great deals (steals) on belt sanders?

fiatben wrote:Just checked Craigslist and someone local (as in here in my town) has a 10ER, working condition, and they're asking $350 for it as is, and the pics didn't show any accessories other than it is currently set up as a table saw.

The last one I saw in a garage sale was just a basic Mark V, didn't even have the casters, much less most of the basic accessories, and they were asking $500.

I paid $400 for my '55 Greenie with a bandsaw, and felt fortunate at that.

You guys are killing me with stories of getting TWO jointers with a unit, or picking one up for $50. Do you guys find similar great deals (steals) on belt sanders?

Here is a site you might want to try

http://www.craiglook.com/

Enter your city and the radius you want it to search.

In the search enter shopsmith or "shop smith"

Good luck.

I suppose it depends on a person's location. I am close to the major cities in the Northeast. I've also found Shopsmiths in out of the way places. Having 5 sisters & family all over the place has resulted in some good deals. I found a completely restored 10ER for $150 in Florida- near Jacksonville, I think. I have purchased several in Long Island for under $100. One 10E was not restored- the former owner was a machinist and kept it looking brand new. I bought a 500 for $150. I didn't realize another member had checked it out before me & passed on it as the motor didn't power on. I never checked, but I suspect the outlet in the storage place was dead as it turned on when I got it home. My last one, a Greenie was given to me so the owner could make some space. He paid $100 for it and all the SPTs 10-15 years ago. You have to keep your eyes open because there are many who make a lot of money picking up the Shopsmiths and then parting them out. The bizarre thing is these parts sometimes go for more than Shopsmith who might even have the same item on sale. But like Tony Soprano said once,"There is enough garbage for everyone," with respect to his sanitation business which was being preyed on by one of the other 'families.' My wood shop was just spray foamed a second time. So I can finally put the sheet rock up & hopefully have my shop set up with stations. I do not care for reconfiguring the Shopsmith each time I want to use a different SPT. I took a trip out to Shopsmith several years ago & noticed this is how they had the former retail store set up. Nick & Drew were doing the Sawdust Sessions then. Nick showed me how to spin a hammer like he does. It takes practice! His fingers never left his hand. I've noticed Jacob Anderson's DVDs, he has his shop with a Shopsmith mounted vertically on a wall in his shop. But the good thing is, one Shopsmith is all most people will ever need. They will last forever & now that headstock has been upgraded to cut down on the number of potential points of failure. I wish I hadn't rebuilt all my headstocks, but I enjoy rebuilding/restoring old tools.

Hermit, I am with you I am in northeast OK and they are few and far between. Most of the good deals on ER's I found in KC and had my brother pick them up and then I would make a trip up there to get them. But he said enough is enough and they are heavy so I guess he isn't planning on doing that for me anymore. Did find a nice 510 in Tulsa for a buddy the other day with a strip sander and bandsaw for $400 and thought that was a very good deal since it came with a ton of blades and extras. I did find a really nice MKVll the other day with a jointer still in the box never used and a bandsaw. The MKVll was still in excellent condition and everything works fine but I had to give $600 for that but the guy was in his 90's and I didn't feel like trying to talk him down since it belonged to his father and the both had used it in the past. But ER's and MKV's are very scarce around the Tulsa and OKC area at any really good prices. The guy that lives behind me has an older 500 that is not even complete and he thinks it is worth at least $500. He wonders why it doesn't sell.
Location Location Location has always been the rule.

fiatben wrote:Just checked Craigslist and someone local (as in here in my town) has a 10ER, working condition, and they're asking $350 for it as is, and the pics didn't show any accessories other than it is currently set up as a table saw.

The last one I saw in a garage sale was just a basic Mark V, didn't even have the casters, much less most of the basic accessories, and they were asking $500.

I paid $400 for my '55 Greenie with a bandsaw, and felt fortunate at that.

You guys are killing me with stories of getting TWO jointers with a unit, or picking one up for $50. Do you guys find similar great deals (steals) on belt sanders?

Fiatben - In April I posted in the Swap-N-Sell on Woodnet that I was looking for SS belt sander. I received a PM from a guy in Chicago who wrote that I could have his for the shipping cost. When I enquired about age and condition, he said he did not know the age and had never used the sander in the two years since buying the used equipment. Then he wrote "I have all my other ShopSmith stuff if you want it! I hate the infernal machine and my headstock is in dire need of a tune-up and I'm not very talented in that area. You can have it all for free."

So for the cost of gas to drive from South Bend to Chicago, I brought home a 1984 Mark V, with the 520 upgrade which he bought from SS, the bandsaw, jointer, belt sander and jigsaw, SPT storage cart, molder package, router package and other misc. stuff.

The Mark V was mostly just dirty and after cleaning, oiling and adjusting, is running smoothly. The tables on the bandsaw and jointer were rusty, but not pitted and the bandsaw tires looked new after applying some belt conditioner. Everything else has been cleaned, lubed and adjusted and is in good working order.

After two months I am still shocked that the guy would just give it all away!

S Brian wrote:After two months I am still shocked that the guy would just give it all away!

Not a very profitable machine for him was it?
I don't know how people can afford to give away something so costly (especially with the 520 upgrade) when it is such a sell-able item. But who are we to question such a gift...
Congrats.

And for those not familiar with Indiana, South Bend and Chicago are not very far apart... I have driven farther for a DQ Blizzard...

robinson46176 wrote:
And for those not familiar with Indiana, South Bend and Chicago are not very far apart... I have driven farther for a DQ Blizzard...

About 90 miles from South Bend to the Chicago. A friend rode along to help load and unload and four hours later it was all at my house in The Woodshop Below.

Oh, I forgot an added expense. I rented a bundle of 5 or 6 moving blankets from U-haul for $5 and change.

robinson46176 wrote: I have driven farther for a DQ Blizzard...

Just not too often in the winter!

My score was a cast-iron tabled bandsaw for $50.00. I was visiting family in Las Vegas with my brother, and saw a bandsaw on ebay. I won the bid, and since it was in Phoenix, we picked it up on the way home. (Oh, it came with extra blades, and the adapters for driving it. Also has a box, with all the storage, and even more {I've got 3 sets now} lathe tools.)

Now, I know what you're all thinking. A Mk5 bandsaw won't easily mount on an ER, especially without those fancy (read EXPENSIVE!) adapters. Found a Mk5 headrest, and adapted it to fit the ER.

Bandsaw especially with one of Skip's DC motors, works just fine.

steve