Shopsmith Planer, New Value?

theheater · Post by **theheater** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:38 am

OK. I checked on the web. I found one made in 1992 that was "never really used", on eBay, which sold, after 28 bids, for $637.50. This is not a free standing unit, it mounts to a Shopsmith. I found other completed listings for the same type of planer (non free standing) for anywhere from $300 for a well used unit to $510.00.

(It would appear that buyers aren't worried about the capacitors.)

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:16 am

I don't know much about capacitors and wouldn't know if they were operating properly or not, but the bottom line for a buyer will likely be does the planer operate properly - if I were buying a used planer, I'd plan on bringing a few pieces of hardwood with me and run them through the planer to see that it is operating smoothly and how clean a cut it makes.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:45 am

dgale wrote:I don't know much about capacitors and wouldn't know if they were operating properly or not, but the bottom line for a buyer will likely be does the planer operate properly - if I were buying a used planer, I'd plan on bringing a few pieces of hardwood with me and run them through the planer to see that it is operating smoothly and how clean a cut it makes.

Amen!

My intention was not to get into a technical debate about capacitor life. But especially if selling it as new old stock, it would be good to make sure that it actually works. Even without a belt, you could plug it in and make sure that both motors operate.

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:56 am

As far as the missing belt goes, I'd contact Shopsmith and buy a new one and install it and then make sure the planer is operating properly - you'll fare much better on your selling price if the machine is fully functional and you can demonstrate that. To use your car analogy, I wouldn't want to buy a car that had a missing fan belt, regardless of how simple and inexpensive it is to fix, I'd just as soon know exactly how well it runs and be able to drive it off the lot without having to work on it, or if I did have to work on it, the selling price would reflect it.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:07 am

Capacitor(electrolytic) concerns with the feed motor control circuit?

Sorry Dennis. I could not help myself!:D

When ya have some spare time, search for a thread regarding feed motor control circuit.

Nothing more than a light dimmer circuit!

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:25 am

[quote="JPG40504"]Capacitor(electrolytic) concerns with the feed motor control circuit?

Sorry Dennis. I could not help myself!:D

When ya have some spare time, search for a thread regarding feed motor control circuit.]

I found a thread with some pics. Guess I should have looked inside of mine first!

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:58 pm

Here's a link to the parts diagram for the pro planer stand, which includes the belt I assume you're looking for (part #113 in diagram):

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/proplanerstandexpview.htm

If you then go to this link and go down to Ref#113, you'll see the part#, description, price ($9.61) and a link to buy it online, or you can call SS with the part # and they can take your order over the phone:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/proplanerstandpartslist.htm

As a side note, one benefit you can list in your description is that all these parts are still available from Shopsmith. One of the great things about SS is that they have parts and accessories available for all their machines dating back to the 1950s...not many companies can boast that. The process of locating and purchasing replacement parts is also simplier than it is for most similar machines (try to find such diagrams and online purchase links readily for DeWalt, Bosch, Makita etc...)

theheater · Post by **theheater** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:36 pm

Hi, Dgale:

Thanks for all your very useful help, and thank you to all the others who have chimed in as well!

I need to know what to say about the advantages so any words on this are greatly appreciated. It is made in USA. This is certainly important to me.

Also, what about the adjustability of this planer compared to what else is readily available to the consumer, such as that DeWalt (which in my uneducated opinion is not even in the same class as the SS)? Up and down, feed speed, etc.?

Blades? Are the blades on this planer different than what you would find else where?

I will take a few more pictures of some things and post them for comments. There is one thing I found with the planer that I found for sale on eBay and it is advertised as a planer wheel you put on a drill press (it is an aluminum wheel with blades on it).

Thanks again, dgale, for your links and helpful advice, you really have assisted me in not having to reinvent the wheel on this. The only problem is the more I learn about this planer the less I want to get rid of it!!! The price for a new one is a lot! There are two items I need to purchase. One is the owner's manual, the other is that belt. Yes, item #113 is exactly what I need. Thank you.

(I did watch the video on Shopsmith's web site on aligning or changing the blades on this thing.)

apexsunguitars · Post by **apexsunguitars** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 4:55 pm

you're best bet will be fedex for a freestanding model, parcel post is really cheap but maxes out at 75 lbs. I ship guitar amplifiers occasionally and have had good luck with double boxing them while placing a layer of that 1" pink wall sheathing in between the two boxes. Its hard to find that thickness down south but you should have no problem finding it up there. If doing that then I would pull off any handles and also the feed motor. If you get a really good price on it though then then i would crate it as bill suggests and make sure those shipping idiots dont back you into an insurance claim. I dont know about fedex but UPS will sell you insurance but wont often honor it unless THEY do they packing and they charge a hefty price.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:23 pm

theheater wrote:Hi, Dgale:

Thanks for all your very useful help, and thank you to all the others who have chimed in as well!

I need to know what to say about the advantages so any words on this are greatly appreciated. It is made in USA. This is certainly important to me.

Also, what about the adjustability of this planer compared to what else is readily available to the consumer, such as that DeWalt (which in my uneducated opinion is not even in the same class as the SS)? Up and down, feed speed, etc.?

Blades? Are the blades on this planer different than what you would find else where?

I will take a few more pictures of some things and post them for comments. There is one thing I found with the planer that I found for sale on eBay and it is advertised as a planer wheel you put on a drill press (it is an aluminum wheel with blades on it).

Thanks again, dgale, for your links and helpful advice, you really have assisted me in not having to reinvent the wheel on this. The only problem is the more I learn about this planer the less I want to get rid of it!!! The price for a new one is a lot! There are two items I need to purchase. One is the owner's manual, the other is that belt. Yes, item #113 is exactly what I need. Thank you.

(I did watch the video on Shopsmith's web site on aligning or changing the blades on this thing.)

Check out the following review -- it supports your argument that the SS planer is in a class apart from the usual "lunchbox" planers. Don't skip the reader comments -- lots of good quotes and endorsements in those.

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/156#comments