Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:11 pm
Praise Be To God
I bought my first 500 new (with bandsaw and belt sander and maybe the jointer)at a show in 80 or 81, not having a clue what I was going to build but sold it after the divorce and didn't get the urge again until I became retired.
I bought a less than complete 500 planning to update it to a 510, then bought another 500 with lots of goodies and finally bought a 510 with extras, all in a 6 month time span. I had reacquired the affliction
. Next I bought a old HEAVY duty Craftsman table saw without motor, fence with the idea/semi plan of using the 500s and 510 as auxiliary machines and adding Incra's TS-LS super-system (along with a fancy miter sled gauge combo (and maybe a adjustable router base)) to the ever expanding Craftsman and voila my own new wood shop.THEN... I started looking into the PowerPro (trumpets blaring
). I realized that I could cut wood and make BIG things on the lathe with the power of that motor and started rethinking my shop using PP with double tilt and Pro Fence for many things but still relying on the Craftsman for the big and precise stuff.THEN... As I was looking at the SS Index page I saw some of the Incra stuff. I had known about the V120 from the forum but WOW there was lots and lots of cool things that SS had incorporated in to their site to be a one stop shop. I even found the TS-LS adapted to the SS. AND THEY EVEN HAVE THE ULTIMATE PACKAGE available!!!!!!
AND THEN... My whole thinking changed. I figured out that though it may cost a bit more I could get all of what I wanted from Shopsmith to work on my Shopsmith. Total extra cost if I cannot buy it when it's on sale maybe 5%. If I can afford it when it hits sale prices I can actually get it CHEAPER than buying from separate vendors.
Between, getting the PP on a Lowe's card, selling the two 500s one whole and one for parts, selling Dad's ER and some financial restraint, me and Social Security can get it all!! Though selling one of my vehicles would certainly help matters.
Now the ONLY time I have called SS CS to place an order I have gotten this WONDERFUL woman (don't remember which one) who if all CS for every company was a great as her... wouldn't that perfect!
Parts that stand up to the test of time (rather than planned obsolescence), CS that (at least in my case) was the best, and a company that cares enough to try and stay there for me to be able to buy new when I can, and providing this incredible forum for free.
THAT company I can and should do what ever I can do to keep it going.
Again, just my 2 cents.
Ben
