Exciting News From Your Friends At Shopsmith

[robinson46176]

I'm still mulling it over. As far as shipping is concerned, might be a good excuse for a road trip once school is out if I do decide to convert.
BPR

I have yet to begin to mull... And won't until I hear an approximate price. Still, I can "ponder wistfully".
I am only 2 hours from the factory and we have Ohio friends not far from there in two directions so I would also probably haul it rather than ship. That is "IF" it requires factory upgrading.

[paulrussell]

I've heard that it is gonna cost more than a box of Tic Tac breath mints, and less than a Boeing 747.

Or maybe not.

[keakap]

It will be interesting to see what SS does and how it effects their future. Let us hope they use the correct model to set their price.

Looks like the Regime in D.C. continues to steamroll this country's economy, and if so that means the best thing ShopSmith can do is make as many of the new headstocks as possible before the cost of parts and labor rise the expected 40 to 50%. The company will then be able to stay in business at least as long as the parts inventory lasts.
Either way I'm glad the upgrade is coming out now while my money is still good.

[keakap]

I'm still mulling it over. As far as shipping is concerned, might be a good excuse for a road trip once school is out if I do decide to convert.
BPR

Aha! Road trip! Great idea.

Guess I'll go down to the yacht club and see if anyone's going that way soon...

[fhahnel]

Can't wait!

EXCITING NEWS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT SHOPSMITH

I have an update regarding some FANTASTIC news for all current Shopsmith MARK V Owners, as well as those of you who may have considered adding a MARK V to your home workshops.

A new, updated MARK V Headstock is coming soon!
As I announced several months ago, Shopsmith will soon be introducing an all-new, upgraded, computer-driven Headstock for the Shopsmith MARK V. Called the Shopsmith PowerPro, this Headstock will feature a number of new capabilities that Shopsmith MARK V Owners have been asking for. These include (but are not limited to) the following: More power, Broader speed range, Run in forward or reverse direction, Lowered electrical power requirements, Shopsmith product quality and warranty support, PLUS lots more (additional info to follow soon)

As always, this new Shopsmith product will be Spectacular
There have been some Forum comments regarding the delay of this introduction... and that's why I feel that I need to explain.

First and foremost, Shopsmith's policy has always been to deliver ONLY top-quality products. Shopsmith Tool owners already know this. Many of you own 30, 40 or even 50+ year-old machines that are still delivering great woodworking results, often with ZERO parts failures.

With Quality as our watchword, we've tested and re-tested the PowerPro under stringent standards that even the highest-end competitive machines would have trouble passing... and put it through multiple rounds of revisions and upgrades over the past year or so to ensure that it's the absolute best product we can produce!

During this developmental phase, some new technologies have been introduced that we've been able to incorporate into the PowerPro. Their discovery and eventual incorporation into this new product have also caused some added delays along the way... but you can take my word that although the delays have been longer than we would have liked, the results will be well worth your wait.

You will be able to upgrade your current MARK V to this new technology
The PowerPro is truly a quantum-leap into the 21st century Shopsmith MARK V that you've been waiting for... and, of course, as always, you'll be able to upgrade your current Model MARK V with this new technology at a fraction of the cost of a complete new machine. Our initial offering will be for these Headstock Upgrades, followed by complete, new Shopsmith PowerPro Machines, 30 to 90 days later. PLUS... as always, all of your current accessories will work with the PowerPro Headstock, without having to make any additional adjustments or changes.

Here's what our MARK V Owners have been asking for
So, watch for our announcement and get ready to step up to the 21st Century Woodworking Wonder... the all-new, Shopsmith PowerPro Headstock. It's been a long time coming... but you won't have much longer to wait. I assure you, it will be well worth it!

Here's a great picture of the PowerPro Control Panel

Bob Folkerth

Shopsmith

[riot_nrrd]

Spoke with customer serivce today. Powerpro is still in testing... everyone is working hard... they will try to have an e-mail update out to everyone somewhere around the middle of June.

<sigh>

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway, yay
And I wonder if I'll ever get my 'Pro
Or will I ever see that day

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me numb
Is keepin' me on the forum'

And I imagine how easy it would be
How smooth cutting 3" oak could seem
But I, I fantasized about that work
When I was thinkin' about how good the wood could be

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me numb
Is keepin' me on the forum'

And tomorrow might not be the day
I'm no prophet and I don't know vendor's ways
So I'll try use my 510 for now
And stay right here 'cause these are the waiting days

(These are the waiting days)
And stay right here 'cause these are the waiting days
(These are the waiting days)
(These are the waiting days)
(These are the waiting days)
(These are.....the waiting days)

[paulrussell]

I'm a little curious about the safety ramifications of being able to rotate in both directions. There are a lot of tool designs that count on things going only one way. I've heard it speculated that one of Shopsmith's earlier products was retired because of its counter-rotational ability.

[JPG]

I'm a little curious about the safety ramifications of being able to rotate in both directions. There are a lot of tool designs that count on things going only one way. I've heard it speculated that one of Shopsmith's earlier products was retired because of its counter-rotational ability.

The Mark 7 was discontinued the same time the Mark 5 was. When Magna American chose to discontinue the shopsmith line.

When JOHN Folkerith purchased the ss rights etc. he had a decision to make. Produce more than one version, or resume production on the most previouslly successful model. I think he made the correct decision.

Be prepared to see a warning label to NOT run the saws in reverse. This would apply to any arbors not having a keyway/slot .

Common sense tells you the blades will not work in reverse, but some idiot could figger out to mount the blade backwards also!

[paulrussell]

The Mark 7 was discontinued the same time the Mark 5 was. When Magna American chose to discontinue the shopsmith line.

When JOHN Folkerith purchased the ss rights etc. he had a decision to make. Produce more than one version, or resume production on the most previouslly successful model.

I really wish there was more Shopsmith history on the history page. Why did Magna stop making the Shopsmith? What happened to Magna afterwards? (I read somewhere that they made lawn tractors for a while.)

What convinced John Folerith that a product that had been out of production a decade could have another good run? It really is an amazing story. I also would love to see some of the old Shopsmith "infomercials."

Be prepared to see a warning label to NOT run the saws in reverse. This would apply to any arbors not having a keyway/slot .

Common sense tells you the blades will not work in reverse, but some idiot could figger out to mount the blade backwards also!

I'd put money that the new and improved idiot is gonna beat the PowerPro to market.

[JPG]

I really wish there was more Shopsmith history on the history page. Why did Magna stop making the Shopsmith? What happened to Magna afterwards? (I read somewhere that they made lawn tractors for a while.)

What convinced John Folerith that a product that had been out of production a decade could have another good run? It really is an amazing story. I also would love to see some of the old Shopsmith "infomercials."



I'd put money that the new and improved idiot is gonna beat the PowerPro to market.

Keep in mind there are two 'Magna's in the history'.

Magna Engineering - original group of post-war engineering folks that created the Model 10E, Er and Mark 5(greenie). It was sold out to Yuba tool co.

Magna American took over from Yuba Tool Co. and I believe created the later Goldies Mark 5 and the gray Mark 5.

Yuba had some liability problems(lawsuits) and 'got out'.