Shopsmith Forums

swampgator wrote:The three objections verbalized to me was:

1. insufficient power as a lathe
2. too much time in setups and too many setup
3. "No one who has one has any projects" therefore, it considered a toy.

I just take my pix in once in a while to show off. They still fume about the setups. My response is that each set up takes me under a minute. And, i can do things with one machine in a very small space. Just leave it at that.

Great thoughts and good discussion here. Thanks for all the thoughts.

1 Really? What do they want to turn? Remember that balcony support tree/column?

2 Stand alone tools also require 'setting up'. Especially drill presses. Setup for routing, I see NO difference except a ss is easier.

3 There are many here who can contradict that!



Just as I thought negative attitude, hearsay opinion . . . .

[quote="JPG40504"]1 Really? What do they want to turn? Remember that balcony support tree/column?

2 Stand alone tools also require 'setting up'. Especially drill presses. Setup for routing, I see NO difference except a ss is easier.

3 There are many here who can contradict that!



Just as I thought negative attitude, hearsay opinion . . . .]

We might as well just quit trying to get the message across to the "non-believers". I had a mentor many years ago who had a saying: (that probably was not his, but it was the first time I'd heard it)

"There's 3 things in life you can never do:
1) You can't climb a fence that's leaning towards you,
2) You can't kiss a girl who's leaning away from you,
3) And you can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn

I figure #3 refers to the separate tool guys.

trainguytom wrote:We might as well just quit trying to get the message across to the "non-believers".

I don't know about that. I think Paul (Shipwright) has been making some progress on the Lumberjocks site with his projects and blogs where he extolls the virtues of Shopsmith equipment. It is kind of hard for the separate tool folks to look down their noses at Shopsmith equipment when the proof of its capabilities is staring them right in the face and is winning awards against projects built on stand alones. Of course Paul is a superior craftsman and could probably built an award winning project with a dull butter knife and Elmer's Glue....

This forum is another way to get the message across. In fact, I definitely wouldn't have bought my Shopsmith without this forum and its members' (mostly) enthusiastic endorsement of its capabilities and, more importantly, documentation in photographs of what can be done on a Shopsmith.

I have said before that seeing is believing with Shopsmith and they need to do a better job on the Shopsmith.com website of showing what the Shopsmith is capable of. What is needed is professionally produced and edited short video clips that demonstrate the machine's functions and let it shine.

trainguytom wrote:This is one of the difficulties that brick & mortar places now face. It's gotten so easy to buy on the web that many of us will simply buy that way. Even though I love to browse the aisles of the store to see, feel & touch stuff, I'll only do that if it's real handy. (The closest woodworking store to me is almost 2 hours away, so I only get to do that when I'm in the area for another reason)

The problem this (ease of web shopping) poses for the Woodcraft store owner is that he/she still has to pay the rent, utilities, staff, etc, while his parent company makes it so easy to bypass the local store. Agreed, if you're not close to the store the web is the way to go, but if you're "in the neighborhood" shouldn't we buy locally whenever possible, or be prepared to watch those local stores go away. (and not grumble if they do)
Maybe that will be the trend anyway. Look at the changes in web buying in the last 10 years. Where will we be in 10 more?

Anyway, those are just some random thoughts.

I am the other way... No, not that... I seldom buy on-line. I do "shop" on-line but generally buy from a store even if I have to drive some. I use the on-line sites for descriptions, specs, general pricing etc. much like I used the big catalogs like Sears and Wards, but I like to deal with people in person. Often I find the store price about the same as on-line but without the shipping.
I also am like a lot of guys, when I decide to buy something - "I want it yesterday"!!!!!
After all isn't that the American way?


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robinson46176 wrote: I also am like a lot of guys, when I decide to buy something - "I want it yesterday"!!!!!
After all isn't that the American way?


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Good grief how do you manage to wait that long:) Jim