Shopsmith Forums

Ed in Tampa wrote:Dusty
I certainly wasn't suggestting that SS are lame woodworking machines. I have done plenty of projects on the SS and each one has flaws most are caused by me but some are the result of faults in the SS. In each case these faults needed craftsmenship to hide them, perhaps it is more devious mind rather than craftsman ship But let us be honest if you align your SS to .005" and that much slop is to much for you, you need to be a craftsman to be able to hide them. That was what I was trying to say and apparently failed miserbly doing so.

Ed, my comments were not directed at you or anyone else on the forum. I was simply stating my opinions about the reliability/adjust-ability/maintainability of the equipment that many of us work with - Shopsmith in general.

I will also acknowledge that I do not move my Mark V around much and when I do it is done very carefully. Because the Mark 5/V is built the way it is, flexibility (twisting) becomes an issue. Tight tolerances are difficult to maintain if you roll it around the shop much - so I don't.

If we went to my shop right now to verify all of these alignment points - several would likely fail but not by much. They would not be off by enough to adversely effect the work I do. I suspect the same can be said about anyone's equipment.