I have not purchased even one Shopsmith, Mine is a hand me down from Dad, who got it from his Father in law.
Making me the third generation owner of this machine.
I have only used this one SS (Most of my Life)
How many shopsmiths have you had?
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terrydowning
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 1678
- Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Windsor, CO
The Shopsmith bug bit me bad back in 2007.
I have eleven Shopsmiths plus a couple extra cases. Five 10E & 10ERs, one Greenie, two 520s with PowerPro headstocks, and two 510s and maybe another 510. I had to pack everything in my basement in 2008 for a total renovation of the house and I started picking up the 10E/ERs for around $50 except on that was completely restored. I had a 520 which I upgraded. My father bought it in 1988 as a 510 & ever single SPT. My other 520 was one list on Craig's List in Maryland for $500 and included a new bandsaw and 4 paper boxes full of accessories.
I had intended to set up a wood shop before the house was renovated. I added on a 15' x 18' foot to the rear of my garage. I figured I'd keep the tools set up, but in hind sight, that was a mistake as I would of needed to take up most of my garage space. I also have just about every other item shopsmith has ever made. It would be easier for me to list the things I don't have.
I also took advantage of the 20% sale coupons Shopsmith used to provide whenever I bought something. Then other things popped up on Craig's List & Ebay from time to time: speed changer for the 10E/ERs, speed increaser/reducer, stand alone OPR, and a stand-alone bandsaw- you name & I have it, the lathe duplicator- all except for the Crafter's Station and the compressor or spray paint accessory. A old Magna/Shopsmith employee in Reno gave me 3 cartons of stuff for next to nothing that he was no longer going to use. Bob Fulwinder, I believe was his name. I think he passed away. He had a totally restored Mark VII with all necessary spare parts for me, but I had to decline as I ran out of space.
Relatives and friends just started giving me stuff and who could say no... <smile> Back in 2007, I thought Shopsmith was going down hill, so I bought 3 of everything needed to completely rebuild 3 headstocks. Most of that stuff can't be used with the new Power Pro. That's okay. I ended up with a lot of other stuff from people who might only list a Mark V, but they included boxes of everything. I have a stand-alone planer & a way-tube mounted planer.
I've been a student of the Bill Mayo Academy of Advance Shopsmith Rebuilding and have the skill and experience to rebuild the motor and install a forward/reverse switch. I just don't have the interest I used to have. I have every single book Nick Engler ever authored, there are two sets of book, but a big red one too.
My home is finally renovated & the wife is happy, happy. Now need to move her stuff out of my shop & my stuff out of her basement.
I have eleven Shopsmiths plus a couple extra cases. Five 10E & 10ERs, one Greenie, two 520s with PowerPro headstocks, and two 510s and maybe another 510. I had to pack everything in my basement in 2008 for a total renovation of the house and I started picking up the 10E/ERs for around $50 except on that was completely restored. I had a 520 which I upgraded. My father bought it in 1988 as a 510 & ever single SPT. My other 520 was one list on Craig's List in Maryland for $500 and included a new bandsaw and 4 paper boxes full of accessories.
I had intended to set up a wood shop before the house was renovated. I added on a 15' x 18' foot to the rear of my garage. I figured I'd keep the tools set up, but in hind sight, that was a mistake as I would of needed to take up most of my garage space. I also have just about every other item shopsmith has ever made. It would be easier for me to list the things I don't have.
I also took advantage of the 20% sale coupons Shopsmith used to provide whenever I bought something. Then other things popped up on Craig's List & Ebay from time to time: speed changer for the 10E/ERs, speed increaser/reducer, stand alone OPR, and a stand-alone bandsaw- you name & I have it, the lathe duplicator- all except for the Crafter's Station and the compressor or spray paint accessory. A old Magna/Shopsmith employee in Reno gave me 3 cartons of stuff for next to nothing that he was no longer going to use. Bob Fulwinder, I believe was his name. I think he passed away. He had a totally restored Mark VII with all necessary spare parts for me, but I had to decline as I ran out of space.
Relatives and friends just started giving me stuff and who could say no... <smile> Back in 2007, I thought Shopsmith was going down hill, so I bought 3 of everything needed to completely rebuild 3 headstocks. Most of that stuff can't be used with the new Power Pro. That's okay. I ended up with a lot of other stuff from people who might only list a Mark V, but they included boxes of everything. I have a stand-alone planer & a way-tube mounted planer.
I've been a student of the Bill Mayo Academy of Advance Shopsmith Rebuilding and have the skill and experience to rebuild the motor and install a forward/reverse switch. I just don't have the interest I used to have. I have every single book Nick Engler ever authored, there are two sets of book, but a big red one too.
My home is finally renovated & the wife is happy, happy. Now need to move her stuff out of my shop & my stuff out of her basement.
One Greenie, Two Mark 7s,Three 510s and much more…
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idcook
- Gold Member
- Posts: 472
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:48 pm
- Location: New York (Alley cat country), New York
Alas, but two — but I’m a mere pup in Shopsmith years.
That said, I may get hold of my first ER within the next couple of days. I’ve silently promised myself that it would be my final purchase so far as the mains are concerned, buuuuuut… I’m subconsciously considering joining the Grail Quest to acquire (or slowly build my way to) a VII.
That said, I may get hold of my first ER within the next couple of days. I’ve silently promised myself that it would be my final purchase so far as the mains are concerned, buuuuuut… I’m subconsciously considering joining the Grail Quest to acquire (or slowly build my way to) a VII.
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2centsworth
- Gold Member
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:35 pm
- Location: Georgetown, TX
Seventeen and counting...
We moved into a townhouse 18 months ago after downsizing from a large home. I sold all my tools and was content to simply start over once I got a new place. In October I told my wife I was going to buy another shopsmith having owned a complete setup back in the mid 80's. Well Fred Sheldon was nice enough to let me come visit and once I saw his shop it was down hill from there. I starting hunting and 8 months later I have bought and sold 17 units. Two 10ER's are being refurbed at Skip's in Dallas and I am working on several Mark V's as we speak. I have managed to pay for all the tools in my garage and cover the cost of the refurb's. I have made numerous trips and brought back many a shopsmith with accessories in the back of my prius. I have learned so much and gained so much confidence I am almost ready to venture into to the electrical part, almost. I can't wait for the next deal to come my way. 
Jerry Penny
2centsworth
The Woodlands, Tx
SS 520 SN#518424 2000 (reversed motor), Shopsmith 10 E (shorty) fully restored by Skip with DC motor, Shopsmith 10 ER fully restored by Skip with DC motor, Shopsmith 10 ER (under going restoration), Greenie Shorty sanding station, Greenie Mini jointer station, SS Bandsaw power station, SS Planner, SS overhead pin router, SS Belt Sander, SS Strip Sander,, SS Jigsaw, SS Dust Collector, Ringmaster, and still having fun looking for more !
2centsworth
The Woodlands, Tx
SS 520 SN#518424 2000 (reversed motor), Shopsmith 10 E (shorty) fully restored by Skip with DC motor, Shopsmith 10 ER fully restored by Skip with DC motor, Shopsmith 10 ER (under going restoration), Greenie Shorty sanding station, Greenie Mini jointer station, SS Bandsaw power station, SS Planner, SS overhead pin router, SS Belt Sander, SS Strip Sander,, SS Jigsaw, SS Dust Collector, Ringmaster, and still having fun looking for more !
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robinson46176
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4182
- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:00 pm
- Location: Central Indiana (Shelbyville)
I bought a 510 new in 1988 after 28 years of wishing for an SS. Then maybe a dozen years later I bought a 500 for $200 at a farm equipment consignment auction. I was the only one there that really knew what it was. The only bid against me was a guy that knew that "it was some kind of saw". 
Around 10 years ago I started buying a lot of stuff for my retirement and my woodshop was a high priority. I wanted it to be ShopSmith based and the disease sat in fully. By the time I got it stopped I had bought at least 25 more ShopSmiths. Many were quite nice and a few were just hulks, the rest fell somewhere in between. A few were just bare machines but most had other items included. I agree that the best way to acquire SPT's is with a machine package deal. I started setting them up in my basement shop (24' X 40' along with the stand-alone's I had. I used to say that you can't have too many ShopSmiths but I finally decided that anything over about 6 is just too many.
Right now I have my 510, 2 500's, one of my Mark VII's, my 10-ER and a mini.
I'm planning to make the 2 500's into shorties this year. Either this winter when it is cold out or even this summer when it gets too hot to work outside. The basement shop is quite warm in winter (sometimes too warm
) and is air conditioned in summer. I like to work outside and in the farm shop when I can but I don't do as well with temperature extremes as I used to. AC in the old barn that we made into the farm shop years ago would be kind of a joke and in the winter you couldn't get it warm if you sat it on fire. I tend to base my work (play) on weather sometimes.
Most of my other SS stuff is stored in stacks of parts in a former smallish grain bin where I stored a little over 3,000 bushels of corn before I retired. I haven't sold any of my excess yet or am not even sure if there is such a thing as an excess.
On a side note I have a sort of similar situation with "vintage" tractors which is where my activity has been the last few weeks (and have kind of short changed this great site a little ). The current project there is at 17. Nothing of real high value or extra fancy, just everyday tractors, some like the ones I grew up using mostly during the 1950's. Like the ShopSmiths some are quite good tractors and a few are hulks that only a die-hard old iron lover like me would tackle. I keep saying that all of them need something and some of them need about everything.
Some rambling dribble follows...
I fully intended to stay busy after I retired. I can't possibly live long enough to run out of projects.
I did think that my dicky-ticker was going to shut me down last year but I'm back with a vengeance... OK, old man levels of vengeance but doing well. Doing things that I have not been able to do in years. I do have some low back pain that I haven't whipped yet that tends to keep me from very long walks but I have discovered that I can now run for very short distances with out running out of breath (or back pain). I call it "the 100 yard high speed waddle". I do it several times a day. Usually only about 300 to 500 feet.
Now about these 6 horses...
.
Around 10 years ago I started buying a lot of stuff for my retirement and my woodshop was a high priority. I wanted it to be ShopSmith based and the disease sat in fully. By the time I got it stopped I had bought at least 25 more ShopSmiths. Many were quite nice and a few were just hulks, the rest fell somewhere in between. A few were just bare machines but most had other items included. I agree that the best way to acquire SPT's is with a machine package deal. I started setting them up in my basement shop (24' X 40' along with the stand-alone's I had. I used to say that you can't have too many ShopSmiths but I finally decided that anything over about 6 is just too many.
Right now I have my 510, 2 500's, one of my Mark VII's, my 10-ER and a mini.
I'm planning to make the 2 500's into shorties this year. Either this winter when it is cold out or even this summer when it gets too hot to work outside. The basement shop is quite warm in winter (sometimes too warm
) and is air conditioned in summer. I like to work outside and in the farm shop when I can but I don't do as well with temperature extremes as I used to. AC in the old barn that we made into the farm shop years ago would be kind of a joke and in the winter you couldn't get it warm if you sat it on fire. I tend to base my work (play) on weather sometimes. Most of my other SS stuff is stored in stacks of parts in a former smallish grain bin where I stored a little over 3,000 bushels of corn before I retired. I haven't sold any of my excess yet or am not even sure if there is such a thing as an excess.
On a side note I have a sort of similar situation with "vintage" tractors which is where my activity has been the last few weeks (and have kind of short changed this great site a little
). The current project there is at 17. Nothing of real high value or extra fancy, just everyday tractors, some like the ones I grew up using mostly during the 1950's. Like the ShopSmiths some are quite good tractors and a few are hulks that only a die-hard old iron lover like me would tackle. I keep saying that all of them need something and some of them need about everything.Some rambling dribble follows...
I fully intended to stay busy after I retired. I can't possibly live long enough to run out of projects.
I did think that my dicky-ticker was going to shut me down last year but I'm back with a vengeance... OK, old man levels of vengeance but doing well.
Doing things that I have not been able to do in years. I do have some low back pain that I haven't whipped yet that tends to keep me from very long walks but I have discovered that I can now run for very short distances with out running out of breath (or back pain). I call it "the 100 yard high speed waddle". I do it several times a day. Usually only about 300 to 500 feet.Now about these 6 horses...
.
--
farmer
Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
farmer
Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
I have owned five to six dozen Shopsmiths set up as my personal Shopsmiths, my memory is quite bad these days. I did not plan on this but it came about over time. I added a second and third Shopsmith about 30 years ago. I did not want to do the change over for different tasks. Over 20 years ago, Shopsmith closed all their retail stores so I set my goal at that time to acquire as many really cheap Shopsmiths as I could for stock piling parts for when I retired. I started making trips every few months around Florida picking up 2 to 5 Shopsmiths each trip over the next 20 years. There were 50 to 80 Shopsmiths always listed for sale (Craig’s List and newspaper ads) in Florida (still is). Most of these Shopsmiths were disassembled and stored for parts until I retired.
When I retired 12 years ago, Shopsmiths became my full time hobby as I had been repairing and rebuilding them over the past 20 years. My daughter-in-law owns half interest in Florida’s Largest Home Show company so I got a free booth 3 times a year to display Shopsmiths and gave out many thousands of business cards offering repairs and rebuild of Shopsmith equipment. I tried to have 5 Shopsmiths set up in my shop starting then. Customers picking up their equipment would review my personal Shopsmiths and many made offers that I most often accepted ( 6 to 8 a year). I started rebuilding the nice ones for my personal use that I was buying to replace the ones that I sold. Almost all my Shopsmiths were sold to customers who already owned a Shopsmith or had owned one in the past or had a grandfather, father, kin or kids who owned a Shopsmith so I never had to set up or align any Shopsmith for a customer or make house calls. I do not remember selling to anyone not familiar with the Shopsmith equipment. I was building MINIs and SHORTYs, some with a reversible motor, regular 500s and 520s during this time. I only owned one 510 for my personal use and quickly sold it. I would try to sell any 510 parts as an upgrade kit or parts and make a 500 or a 520 from each 510 Shopsmith. My declining health has restricted me these days from having much play time with my Shopsmiths, give up my Home Show booth and doing very limited repair and rebuilding work. I am happy to answer anyone Emailing me Shopsmith questions.
When I retired 12 years ago, Shopsmiths became my full time hobby as I had been repairing and rebuilding them over the past 20 years. My daughter-in-law owns half interest in Florida’s Largest Home Show company so I got a free booth 3 times a year to display Shopsmiths and gave out many thousands of business cards offering repairs and rebuild of Shopsmith equipment. I tried to have 5 Shopsmiths set up in my shop starting then. Customers picking up their equipment would review my personal Shopsmiths and many made offers that I most often accepted ( 6 to 8 a year). I started rebuilding the nice ones for my personal use that I was buying to replace the ones that I sold. Almost all my Shopsmiths were sold to customers who already owned a Shopsmith or had owned one in the past or had a grandfather, father, kin or kids who owned a Shopsmith so I never had to set up or align any Shopsmith for a customer or make house calls. I do not remember selling to anyone not familiar with the Shopsmith equipment. I was building MINIs and SHORTYs, some with a reversible motor, regular 500s and 520s during this time. I only owned one 510 for my personal use and quickly sold it. I would try to sell any 510 parts as an upgrade kit or parts and make a 500 or a 520 from each 510 Shopsmith. My declining health has restricted me these days from having much play time with my Shopsmiths, give up my Home Show booth and doing very limited repair and rebuilding work. I am happy to answer anyone Emailing me Shopsmith questions.
Bill Mayo bill.mayo@verizon.net
Shopsmith owner since 73. Sell, repair and rebuild Shopsmith, Total Shop & Wood Master headstocks, SPTs, attachments, accessories and parts. US Navy 1955-1975 (FTCS/E-8)
Shopsmith owner since 73. Sell, repair and rebuild Shopsmith, Total Shop & Wood Master headstocks, SPTs, attachments, accessories and parts. US Navy 1955-1975 (FTCS/E-8)
5. 1st there was the '47 model 10 from my wife's uncle. Next an '80's model 500. then I decided the '47 needed some spare parts so a yard sale find resulted in a 10ER. An irresistible deal on craigslist brought home another, newer '80's model 500 with band saw, jointer, joint-matic, and a bunch of odds and ends. Finally, because I liked the red in the dials and to replace some rusted legs, a greenie. Yes, I'm addicted.
Paul B