The New ShopSmith

[woodburner]

I've been enjoying reading all the talk about the new headstock SS wants to put out with electronic variable speed and such.

I also find this funny because when this forum first started I posted a thread suggesting that SS should market such a headstock. I got the idea from using my lathe with this same type of drive system and I love it.

You should have read the replies. Everyone who wrote a response hated the idea. "Nothing but trouble and problems" is basically what everyone wrote back then. No one wanted the electronics or computer parts in the headstock because of all the "problems" they will create, and the parts won't last like the mechanical system SS currently uses.

And now, when SS actually wants to market a headstock like I decribed years ago, everyone is all excited and can't wait for it. A lot of you have even wrote that you want to be one of the first to buy the new electronic headstock.

What changed?

[fjimp]

I've been enjoying reading all the talk about the new headstock SS wants to put out with electronic variable speed and such.

I also find this funny because when this forum first started I posted a thread suggesting that SS should market such a headstock. I got the idea from using my lathe with this same type of drive system and I love it.

You should have read the replies. Everyone who wrote a response hated the idea. "Nothing but trouble and problems" is basically what everyone wrote back then. No one wanted the electronics or computer parts in the headstock because of all the "problems" they will create, and the parts won't last like the mechanical system SS currently uses.

And now, when SS actually wants to market a headstock like I decribed years ago, everyone is all excited and can't wait for it. A lot of you have even wrote that you want to be one of the first to buy the new electronic headstock.

What changed?

Woodburner,

Actually it's all your fault. Present a good idea, allow us to chew on it for awhile and your idea makes you a hero. I just hope you are wise enough to not point out what slow chewers we are. fjimp

[jgrounds]

Another hurdle for many SS customers is point of manufacture. Teknatool is New Zeland based and where historically many of their products were manufactured. The also have a large manufacturing presents in China in recent years. This company was refered to in some of the discussion concerning the new SS product.

John

[dusty]

I went looking for that thread, Woodburner. I can't find it. How about a pointer to it.

[Ed in Tampa]

I've been enjoying reading all the talk about the new headstock SS wants to put out with electronic variable speed and such.

I also find this funny because when this forum first started I posted a thread suggesting that SS should market such a headstock. I got the idea from using my lathe with this same type of drive system and I love it.

You should have read the replies. Everyone who wrote a response hated the idea. "Nothing but trouble and problems" is basically what everyone wrote back then. No one wanted the electronics or computer parts in the headstock because of all the "problems" they will create, and the parts won't last like the mechanical system SS currently uses.

And now, when SS actually wants to market a headstock like I decribed years ago, everyone is all excited and can't wait for it. A lot of you have even wrote that you want to be one of the first to buy the new electronic headstock.

What changed?

Woodburner
I don't think anything has really changed other than the people responding to these two threads. People don't usually post unless they have a strong opinion on the subject.
In the thread where you suggestted the variable speed power head my guess is the people that had an axe to grind with computers responded.
In this new thread where SS announces the new powerhead I think people that want the latest and greatest are responding.

What I don't understand is people saying I don't care what it costs I want it.
Frankly I thought or at least was hoping that attitude was lost in this new economic climate we are living. I believe it is that "exact" attitude that got us into the problem to begin with. If people really sat down and counted the cost of the "thing they just had to have" most wouldn't be spending on credit and our money would be worth more than the paper it was printed on. But I'm afraid that seems to be not the case and so I don't think we have even touched the bottom of this economic crisis this country in. To me it looks like it is going to get a lot worst before people start thinking before spending.
My opinion.

[bucksaw]

The problem with electronic controls is that it might be difficult to replace the parts as the tool ages. Will you be able to pass one of the Shopsmith onto your kids if the speed control fails 15 or 20 years from now? Who knows.

[headstock]

Whew, with all this talk of the demise of the Shopsmith Inc. we all know and love I find myself reflecting on the great history and tradition of the Company and the Machine. Who would have thought that a 21st century economy could halt a true icon. But who would have ever thought that a Chrysler or a GM would be bankrupt too.

The new motor (in the works for 2 years plus) just wasn't released in time. I know that it was suppose to generate some much needed revenue, but it just didn't happened soon enough. Would it have been enough....doubtful.

Of course the motor was also designed to combat some of the e-bay, craig's list, used MKV market trading, etc. that really hurt the company over the last few years.

Can a renamed company address the needs of a great owner base and sustain...I don't know all we can do is cross our collective fingers.

[JPG]

I went looking for that thread, Woodburner. I can't find it. How about a pointer to it.

Methinks he is referring to Nick's post on the workshop companion 'forum'.

[woodburner]

Dusty,

I went looking for it too. Seems all the threads I started during the first year that the forum was here are gone for some reason.

I became a forum member in July 2006 and the only things I can find are just a few replies I made that year to other threads. Seems everything else was deleted up to May 15, 2007. Me thinks Shopsmith might have done some house cleaning of the forum back then, or only so many threads are saved. Wish I knew what happened to them. I started a lot of threads back in 2006 and got a lot of great responses.

Oh well.

I do remember discussing this type of headstock on the older Yahoo Shopsmith forum and maybe the Shopsmith Users Group site years ago too. I do not know if they are still there either. I haven't visited the Yahoo site since this forum was started. I'm sure I used a different screen name back then too.

I'm sure you would have got a kick from all the replies I got about this type of headstock back then. I'm just glad to see that owners are now on board with this idea.

I also remember discussing this type of headstock at my first Traveling Academy back in 2002 with the other students and instructor Doug Reid. Doug said it sounded like a good idea, but the cost of retooling the factory to manufacture such a headstock was out of reach at that time. Sounds like they are now on the right track if they have another company with this type of experience design and build it for them. All they need to do is make sure the quality is there.

Not sure why the company Teknatool has come up in the discussion. Haven't read anything from Shopsmith about them making the new headstock, though they do make a very nice line of lathes and lathe accessories. There are a lot of other tool companies who make this type of drive system. The lathe I own that has this drive system is manufactured in Europe with no Chinese parts. Hopefully that will make some of the SS owners relax a bit if Shopsmith goes there to have them built.

[dlbristol]

I guess I'll ask at the risk of sounding dumb, but should I go ahead with some of the purchases I planned or wait or what? I don't know what to do with the little info we have at this point.