wa2crk wrote:My grampa used to say "Buy the best tools out there, you will only have to cry once."
Meaning, you cry when you buy them, not when you have to buy them again when they break!!
At one time your grampa was probably right but in today's world buying the best does not necessarily mean long life. There are very few tools made today that have retained the quality they possessed even 10 years ago.
That is why I think Shopsmith is special.
But even Shopsmith had problems. When I bought my 510 upgrade I was very disgusted with the quality and I almost got rid of the whole thing. In fact I was so frustrated I stopped woodworking shortly after that for about 10 years. The main table shipped with my 510 had a cup in it. The replacement did also. I still have to contend with the cup everytime I use the machine. I believe the new tables with the new design have solved the problem.
In the last 3-5 years I started back in woodworking and after much soul searching I ordered the 520 upgrade. To me the difference in quality was night and day. My 520 parts were perfection. To me the idea of the 510 was half baked but the 520 was pure genius. I have since ordered many other parts and each one has been outstanding in quality.
I believe this lapse in quality and the present recovery of it is what is effecting Shopsmith sales right now. I think the poor quality around the time of the 510 upgrade had put off many customers. But I think they are slowly returning as they hear more and more people talk about how much quality Shopsmith now has.
I hope Shopsmith learned a lesson.
