Shopsmith Forums

I only want to say that my post about infomercials was meant to be funny.

I bought an old machine and I am tickled to death with it. I've never had so much fun with a single machine I've ever purchased. The fact that the design of the model I am using has been upgraded/improved 3-4 times since my incredibly fun machine was produced makes the Shopsmith people some of the the best thinkers out there.

If I said anything that was off putting you would probably wouldn't have been bothered by it if we were in the same room. You would have laughed with me as I dreamed up my infomercial and maybe thrown in a couple of things yourself.

My hat is tipped to the guys that keep it running and I promise that as I have money I will do my part to help you out with keeping it running

Shortslvs is proud of his old Mark V 500 and in a few minutes I get to show it to a friend of mine. I bet he has never seen one just like me a couple weeks ago. I am going to let him fire it up, cut something, switch it drill press and drill a hole or two. It's gonna be a fun afternoon

I spent 2-3 hours talking with Nick in Feb 2008. Nick who was working on a Saw Dust Session project. He dropped what he was doing and gave me a sharpening lesson on the strip sander and then a tour. He first taught me how to spin a hammer in one hand. I had no idea who he was other than seeing him once or twice on Saturday Saw Dust Sessions.

We started out with a dull wood chisel and ended up with a razor sharp chisel that went through hard end grain like a hot knife in butter. The best part though was the tour of what was left of the factory. All the stations were still in place. I was most surprised to see the 10E/ERs being used as specialized machine tools to make/machine/mill parts for the new Mark Vs. I tried to imagine the huge building full of people, but it's like a movie where a character is in an empty building, but flashes back to the past when the building was full of employees doing what they do. But then the buzzer went off and the place was empty except for Nick & myself.

Back in those days on the forum, there was talk of a new Mark VIII and what all it might offer. I know one thing, that if Nick knew anything, he was not sharing it with me. I understand why. A company's secrets are no longer secret if people start sharing insider information.

I believe back then the people at Shopsmith had a plan for the PowerPro, but the economic circumstances simply made it almost a gamble to get it off the drawing board and into production. I simply planned to rebuild 3 old Mark V headstocks and was experimenting with DC motors for the 10E/ER like Skip has done on his at mkctools.com

But what an accomplishment along with the double tilt feature which gives us two more functions; hence the name Mark 7. The marriage between Teknatool and Shopsmith is a good one. Granted the DVR motor is not produced in the USA, but it is amazing how well it fits inside the headstock. Does the motor being made in China make a difference? Not to me. Globalization is here and I honestly don't believe a DVR motor made in the US would be cost effective.

Anyhow, I had a gut feeling that Shopsmith was up to something, but not a word was uttered about it to me by Nick or anyone else. I left the building that day with my without any fear of Shopsmith closing. My dog & I drove back home. I am pleased to see the company is still doing what they have to do to keep their lights on.

I just read the toolmonger article- wow. I do not believe forums or web sites should be used to cast aspersions or abrasions on anyone. I read how the machine's longevity works against the company. I fail to see the logic in that being we live in a world of 'planned obsolescence'. There really isn't all that much to a Shopsmith headstock for a person with some mechanical skills. But even if they don't have the skills, there are people like Bill Mayo, Jacob Anderson, and some others along with the company if a person needs a repair/overhaul. Bill will even put a reverse switch in for a customer if they want.

The Shopsmith is one of the few manufactured products people still use after over 65 years with the 10E/ER and 59 years on a Mark V Greenie. I think the machine's longevity it the reason why so many people still use it and are able to pass them down or sell them. A well maintained Shopsmith will permit almost anyone to create almost anything they can think of. With the new motor, I saw a guy turn a 12 foot log. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbzEz0-7X0 Wow.

Didn't Nick once say the only limiting factor on a Shopsmith lathe was the a wall or something to that effect? Nick 'taught' me most of what I know on the Shopsmith via those Saw Dust Sessions. He & Drew were far ahead of the pack in terms of using the Internet to reach people. Doug Reid is making You Tube videos demonstrating the Mark 7. The MArk 7 is one powerful machine.

I was reading through parts of this thread again. I was paying some attention to the conversations about DVD's shipping and costs. I would like to have some of the DVD's and in the future, as the money is avail, I plan to get some of them.

Maybe this idea has come up, been tossed around, and then tossed out, but I subscribe to a couple of sites that have "Premium" access. There is tons of content available to people that are willing to pay once a year or once a month for that content. I have one friend who makes his living off of his site by providing "Premium Membership" and greater access to his material through that membership. I understand that he is just one guy and a company making money off of something like that would require a different set of numbers.

But how much do they make each year selling DVD's in comparison to what they could make by making them available (without shipping, ordering, inventory...) to those that were willing to pay a small monthly fee for access.

Like I said early I have a friend that makes his living off of this. He is an expert in his field and he puts a lot of info out there free, but his kids gotta eat. He now employs people who constantly help him to add to the content of his premium membership page.

I wonder how much Shopsmith could make off such a site and how many people could be employed and how many people on this forum could submit video's and tips, plans and the DVD's (which would no longer be DVD's that need to be burned, packaged and shipped).

Right now if they made available the - info they are trying to sell - through a premium members site I would subscribe. Then all they have to do before the bill comes due again next year is add content and they got me for another year. Get all those videos off youtube and put up teasers on youtube that link to the premium site. I bet it would even generate sales of equipment to brand new Shopsmith owners. Then for us that already have SS just put out specials each month that are only available to their premium members.

I am new and if I am covering ground that has already been cleared please ignore me, but I am new and this forum is great. I have gotten a lot of information here and I am thankful, but I would like to get more from SS and a DVD for $35 is something I would like to have but you would make more money off of me charging me monthly to have access to that video and all the other great things SS has to offer.

Now that I have solved all of Shopsmith's problems I am going to try and solve some of my own problems. hahaha

There was a specialized web site down in Florida that Bill Mayo was a part of. I don't recall the name of it. Bill- are you there?

backhertz wrote:There was a specialized web site down in Florida that Bill Mayo was a part of. I don't recall the name of it. Bill- are you there?

Yes there was an Online Shop Class that both Bill and myself were involved in. I was in an early video on cabinet making where I demostrated biscuit jointing and glue up. Dr Dave was owner and Bill and myself helped him build the shop and set up for the one and only class that was conducted. The project never really got fully up to speed when medical issues caused the plug to be pulled on the project.

Ed in Tampa wrote:Yes there was an Online Shop Class that both Bill and myself were involved in. I was in an early video on cabinet making where I demostrated biscuit jointing and glue up. Dr Dave was owner and Bill and myself helped him build the shop and set up for the one and only class that was conducted. The project never really got fully up to speed when medical issues caused the plug to be pulled on the project.

Yeah, I signed up as a charter member way back then but did not renew for a variety of reasons. I did not know that Bill was involved though he has spoken of Dr Dave a couple times.

dusty wrote:Yeah, I signed up as a charter member way back then but did not renew for a variety of reasons. I did not know that Bill was involved though he has spoken of Dr Dave a couple times.

Bill was initially involved and brought me in a little later. Bill and my involvement was simply helping Dr Dave setup and maintain the shop and I did a few demo's that were videoed. My effort was strictly voluntary and as far as I know so was Bill's, although I was given a membership.

It was a great idea but there were many things that had to be worked out to bring it up to the standard it needed to be. Everything was done live with some editting after the fact but this caused places in the vidoes to be with repeated or hard to understand information. Also there was what media people commonly refer to as dead air when nothing is really happening or being said. I think given time it would have be fantastic.

The shop to the best of my knowledge is now shutdown.