Shopsmith Forums

fredsheldon wrote:You should be able to fit at least 4 Shopsmiths in your 1/2 side of the garage. I have a 500, 520, two 10 ER's, a ProPlaner, a Dust Collector, a Scroll Saw and two backup generators and I still have room to spare. That is unless I want to use any of them. Then the wife's car goes out and I'm good to go. .

May I ask why would you need so many if one unit can do it all?

chris jay wrote:May I ask why would you need so many if one unit can do it all?

There are still at least a few of us that get by with just one Shopsmith. If you have the room, having multiple units allows one to switch between functions, say table saw and drill press, without taking things apart, which saves time. Of course, once you have multiple Shopsmiths, you are kind of buying in to the main criticism that gets leveled at Shopsmith, which is that it takes too long to switch back and forth between functions and if you are the owner of multiple Shopsmiths the question arises why not just buy stand alone tools to start with?

I have no room for multiple Shopsmiths and yet I've been tempted to buy a second when I see a good deal.

Al

chris jay wrote:May I ask why would you need so many if one unit can do it all?

I'd like to know the same thing. Fred does have one dedicated to be a lathe.

algale wrote:If you have the room, having multiple units allows one to switch between functions, say table saw and drill press, without taking things apart, which saves time.
Al

Multiple units equals multiple cleanups and more maintenance. Plus from one SS to another, your KNOT going to get the EXACT same angle from a cut to a sanding operation.

beeg wrote:Multiple units equals multiple cleanups and more maintenance. Plus from one SS to another, your KNOT going to get the EXACT same angle from a cut to a sanding operation.

I don't disagree, beeg. I only have one and was just trying to explain what I believe is the reason some people like to have multiple units.

chris jay wrote:Y I did see a SS dust collector on CL today for 100. I might go grab that if I can get there.

That's a good deal, assuming it's working and relatively complete.

I have a shorty 500 dedicated as a Overhead Pin Router setup. I have a 10ER on a Shorty Base dedicated as a Drill Press and Drum Sander. I have a 10ER dedicated as my Bowl Turning Lathe. My 520 is set up as a Band Saw, Disk Sander, Table Saw and Jointer base. Each of the 10ER's only cost me $100 each, the 500 $200 and the 510 (later upgraded to a 520) $300. They fit in my half of the garage and I do a lot of bowl turning and band sawing. I just don't want to have to keep changing over. Do I need all these units. No.
Am I glad I could have dedicated units, Yes.

chris jay wrote:May I ask why would you need so many if one unit can do it all?

Oh you are new!!

If one is good then two must be better...
The car will be fine in the driveway....
Then I can get a few more in the garage...

fredsheldon wrote:I have a shorty 500 dedicated as a Overhead Pin Router setup. I have a 10ER on a Shorty Base dedicated as a Drill Press and Drum Sander. I have a 10ER dedicated as my Bowl Turning Lathe. My 520 is set up as a Band Saw, Disk Sander, Table Saw and Jointer base. Each of the 10ER's only cost me $100 each, the 500 $200 and the 510 (later upgraded to a 520) $300. They fit in my half of the garage and I do a lot of bowl turning and band sawing. I just don't want to have to keep changing over. Do I need all these units. No.
Am I glad I could have dedicated units, Yes.

Fred's setup is unique at best, it works for him and I understand exactly why he has multiple units and dedicated machines. That is why I suggested you find out if you have any SS members close to you. You will see a great deal just visiting and get great ideas on how to set up your own shop. Just as an example Fred uses his one refurbished (like new) 10 er for turning his bowls. Simply put he would rather use his 10 er then beat up his 520 with the new power head. It works for him and as stated he has the same amount of space as you and I do. I would love to duplicate Fred's setup. I was amazed he has only been doing this for two years. Forget everything I've said so far, the biggest thing I got from Fred was the confidence to do it myself ! Good luck and have FUN.

Jerry, you're right in your evaluation, but there's one more detail about Fred's lathe.

Because of the weight of the ER, and the speedchanger, it makes a better lathe, than any 500 series Shopsmith.

Only addition I can see, is to run a DC motor, with a variable speed controller. A DC motor doesn't have the power saving features of the new Power Pro, or the setting buttons, but mine is variable from zero RPMs to 10 thousand RPMs. It's also, with 1.5 HP available, 3 times as powerful as the original ER motor. Turning up or down speed, is the same as turning up or down volume, on your stereo. Just turn the knob.

(I think Fred has already looked at Skip's DC motors.)

steve