Shopsmith Forums

Changeovers? I solved that issue. I just started buying Shopsmiths. I have more now than I had anticipated. I had an addition built onto the read of my garage. I added a 100 amp subpanel- a 'little' over kill, but my main panel is 75 feet away and was almost full. I plan to have my Shopsmiths set up in stations. I may not have enough room, but then I'll just part with what I don't need. I think I have almost one of anything Shopsmith ever made. It's worse than a substance addiction. But the fact of the matter is I really didn't pay all that much for the Shopsmiths themselves. I have parted with a lot of dough to restore the headstocks as I am a believer in changing bearings over 10 years old. It gave me an excuse to buy a used press and some other toys. But one thing it has not helped is my relationship with my spousal unit. If I begin to get on her pack ratting, she automatically goes for the Shopsmith card! Doh! She is relentless! But I enjoy restoring old tools.

I have a few standalone machines and it takes much longer to do anything on them than the shopsmith. They all have giant storage tables built in and I must unbury them before each use. Not a problem with SS.

John

8iowa wrote:Ed, you may be a little too cynical too soon. Glen Huey of Popular Woodworking is testing a Power Pro Shopsmith. I think that we can be certain that there will be a published review.

8iowa

First let me say I rank Popular Woodworking very low I rarely even pick it up to browse when I'm in browse mode at Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Secondly I willingly paid the price I did for my Shopsmith because at the time it was well engineered, built in Americam, was the only real space saving alternative out there and it had a slight cost advantage over individual machines then on the market. Today the engineering is old, it isn't build exclusively in America, there are (perhaps arguably) better space saving altenatives out there and the price of the today's Shopsmith far exceeds the cost of individual equivalent machines presently on the market.

Thirdly if we are totally honest we will all admit to times when we have switched from one mode to another and realized we needed to tool one more piece. Example we switch from saw mode to drill press and realized we miscounted and we need one more piece for out project. However we have lost our exact saw setup and can't decide what to do next drill all the pieces we now have tear down and switch to saw mode cut, try to replicate our original setup and cut, then switch back to drill mode or to drill and try to replicate our drill setup. Or switch back now, replicate our saw setup and cut the extra piece and then go back to drilling.
If Glen doesn't mention this situation in his review he would not be honest. And if he does mention it he has to paint it in a very negative light one that Shopsmith has been faulted over time and time again.

Fourthly and most important I love my Shopsmith, it serves my purpose and suits my situation perfectly. However I'm not going to try to convince people that a Shopsmith is not a serious compromise compared to individual machines.

If the article does not focus to some degree on the above three points/limitation then it will be a less than honest review.

I really like my Shopsmith. As a hobbiest, working in a garage/shop space has always been a concern. My previous tools, a lightweight table saw, a portable drill press, a portable bandsaw, etc each required storage and then required setup on my workstations. Sure I might have two power stations in operation, but work space conversion was still a major issue. Finally I was able to purchase a SS after years of drooling at State Fairs. I truly appreciate it's solid platform and quality.
That said, to appreciate a SS you need to touch it, see it, realize the relative ease of operation. I sincerely feel SS has made a serious mistake by abandoning its demonstration mode of sales. Even the best magazine review will not encourage a future user to purchase a machine that seems "Rube-Goldberg" with it's attachments and tilting platform.
Just my opinion, and we all know what free advise is worth.
Enjoy

Ed in Tampa wrote:8iowa

First let me say I rank Popular Woodworking very low I rarely even pick it up to browse when I'm in browse mode at Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Secondly I willingly paid the price I did for my Shopsmith because at the time it was well engineered, built in Americam, was the only real space saving alternative out there and it had a slight cost advantage over individual machines then on the market. Today the engineering is old, it isn't build exclusively in America, there are (perhaps arguably) better space saving altenatives out there and the price of the today's Shopsmith far exceeds the cost of individual equivalent machines presently on the market.

Thirdly if we are totally honest we will all admit to times when we have switched from one mode to another and realized we needed to tool one more piece. Example we switch from saw mode to drill press and realized we miscounted and we need one more piece for out project. However we have lost our exact saw setup and can't decide what to do next drill all the pieces we now have tear down and switch to saw mode cut, try to replicate our original setup and cut, then switch back to drill mode or to drill and try to replicate our drill setup. Or switch back now, replicate our saw setup and cut the extra piece and then go back to drilling.
If Glen doesn't mention this situation in his review he would not be honest. And if he does mention it he has to paint it in a very negative light one that Shopsmith has been faulted over time and time again.

Fourthly and most important I love my Shopsmith, it serves my purpose and suits my situation perfectly. However I'm not going to try to convince people that a Shopsmith is not a serious compromise compared to individual machines.

If the article does not focus to some degree on the above three points/limitation then it will be a less than honest review.

I can't resist a good ole fashioned debate.

You may not care for Popular Woodworking but obviously a lot of others do. I don't subscribe (because I cut way back and PW didm't make the cut) but it is one of the first magazines I pickup to read at the coffee shop when SWMBO takes me to the mall.

Cost is a purely personal issue]if you look[/I].

kalynzoo wrote:I really like my Shopsmith. As a hobbiest, working in a garage/shop space has always been a concern. My previous tools, a lightweight table saw, a portable drill press, a portable bandsaw, etc each required storage and then required setup on my workstations. Sure I might have two power stations in operation, but work space conversion was still a major issue. Finally I was able to purchase a SS after years of drooling at State Fairs. I truly appreciate it's solid platform and quality.
That said, to appreciate a SS you need to touch it, see it, realize the relative ease of operation. I sincerely feel SS has made a serious mistake by abandoning its demonstration mode of sales. Even the best magazine review will not encourage a future user to purchase a machine that seems "Rube-Goldberg" with it's attachments and tilting platform.
Just my opinion, and we all know what free advise is worth.
Enjoy

Free advise is great, especially if it comes from someone who is emotionally involved and sincere.

I know this might be hard to believe but I give it out (free advise that is) all the time.

[quote="dusty"]I can't resist a good ole fashioned debate.


Cost is a purely personal issue]

I mentioned cost only to show the reasoning I used to justify buying the SS. At the time they were valid today they don't exist.

Dusty by old engineering I mean that, the SS was engineered when tilt tables were common. When most on/off switches were toggles instead of what is common today a large paddle switches. SS fence was ahead of the times when engineered but today's fences surpass it. SS was engineered when there wasn't a common miter slot size today there is but SS is still using old technology/standards.

I don't think I being unloving by mentioning SS shortcommings I see it as being realistic. Besides I thought that was the one of the purposes of this forum to discuss and learn how others have over come various shortcommings in the Shopsmith.

Ed in Tampa wrote:I mentioned cost only to show the reasoning I used to justify buying the SS. At the time they were valid today they don't exist.

Dusty by old engineering I mean that, the SS was engineered when tilt tables were common. When most on/off switches were toggles instead of what is common today a large paddle switches. SS fence was ahead of the times when engineered but today's fences surpass it. SS was engineered when there wasn't a common miter slot size today there is but SS is still using old technology/standards.

I don't think I being unloving by mentioning SS shortcommings I see it as being realistic. Besides I thought that was the one of the purposes of this forum to discuss and learn how others have over come various shortcommings in the Shopsmith.

I believe that you are correct on the purpose of the forum - to share opinions and experience.

It is my experience that a tilting table is a necessity of design. If you stabilize the table and tilt the arbor for the saw - how do you propose to incorporate the other functions of the Mark V. There are times that I wish I could tilt the arbor but they are very few.

This thread seems to re-occur often....my Shop Smith is what it is. With all the SPT's I have it is an awesome machine. Now we have the best of all worlds. We can acquire older equipment that is fantastic and at the same time have the ability to upgrade it to New Technology. I think the phrase goes "All this and heaven too!"

Everyone I know has what they can use(or what makes them happy) As long as you can make sawdust and keep the better half happy...then all is good!

Ed:

I couldn't disagree with you more in regards to Popular Woodworking. Their editor, Chris Schwarz is one of the best woodworking editors "out there". In addition, he is a super guy. One can email him with a question, and he actually answers personally.

In early October, Popular Woodworking is putting on a woodworker's simposium in Cincinnati. I'm seriously considering making the 800 mile drive from Gainesville to attend. http://woodworkinginamerica.com/GeneralMenu/