Shopsmith Forums

I really can't justify the cost either. My 520 is only 4 years old.

Well,
I had to say no too expensive. When I had a full time job a year ago I know I would have bought it. Now I am at min. wage part time retail and have just enough to keep food and a roof over our heads. It does sound nice though. I wish I could maybe when my ship pulls in I will be able to get one. lol

Nope, don't need it. Converted my 510 to DC five years ago. Maybe $100 invested. Very happy with it.

http://www.firechat.com/ssdc.htm

John

John, can you provide more details on you DC conversion, especially the size of the motor, RPMs, controller, etc? What speeds are you getting at the spindle? Does it overheat when run at slower speeds for prolonged periods? Any changes you would make if doing another conversion? Anything else relevant to the conversion. I see in one of the photos you have the Shopsmith fan sheave mounted on the DC motor -- what's was that about? I ask because I have a one HP DC motor and controller removed from a treadmill that I'm thinking of mounting to a 10ER, but your installation is also of interest.

Are all DC motors inherently variable speed?

pennview wrote:John, can you provide more details on you DC conversion, especially the size of the motor, RPMs, controller, etc? What speeds are you getting at the spindle? Does it overheat when run at slower speeds for prolonged periods? Any changes you would make if doing another conversion? Anything else relevant to the conversion. I see in one of the photos you have the Shopsmith fan sheave mounted on the DC motor -- what's was that about? I ask because I have a one HP DC motor and controller removed from a treadmill that I'm thinking of mounting to a 10ER, but your installation is also of interest.

Yes, overheating was a major problem I had when trying to use DC motors in the Mark V headstocks a few years ago. I finally went with a 1/4" aluminum plate (Approz 6"x9") across the bottom of the headstock casing. I used the motor pan screw holes to hold the plate. I removed the idler sheave from the idler shaft and replaced it with a V-belt pulley. I mounted the motor on the bottom of the 1/4" plate and the DC controller on the top of the plate. I left the motor pan off as the DC motor was too long to fit inside the motor pan. I used a link belt from the motor to the idler shaft pulley. I modified a speed control assembly to mount the pot and used the speed control handle to turn the pot. I ended up using a 220 VAC input and 180 VDC output controller with a 180 VDC 2 1/2 HP motor. I added a fan and shroud on the end of the motor for additional cooling.

kalynzoo wrote:...(We've been happily married for 42 years (39 here)... Sending back my 5 year old power head for $200 seems foolish as shipping will probably eat up most of that. Guess I might look for a stand to make a mini-SS for the bandsaw and put a grinder or polisher on the right side...Am I re-inventing the wheel here?:eek:

Thanks! I'd sorta had that thought about not sending the headstock back, but it solidified when I read your comment. Shipping for me is $173edit--OOPS! not 173 but 137. Still keeping.. Packing it up, sealing it up, toting it down to the Post Orifice, the hassle in general, = $27.01, so I lose money on it. I'm keeping the oldie. And my Speed Reducer, which I haven't even had a chance to use.
I can see many uses for the stand-alone power head, driving accessories and such, since it can be stationery...

ashbury wrote:... The SS forum has well over 6100 members and we probably haven't heard, nor will hear from even 100 of them. ...

Somebody heard, somewhere. When I got my e-mail and checked the 'click here for more info' box I got a message saying Sold Out! But you can click here to get in line (so to speak).

Even hot cakes don't sell that fast!

keakap wrote:Somebody heard, somewhere. When I got my e-mail and checked the 'click here for more info' box I got a message saying Sold Out! But you can click here to get in line (so to speak).

Even hot cakes don't sell that fast!

They do when you only have less than 2 dozen!

BTW Early birds were buying a place in line!;)

JPG40504 wrote:...
These plus attributes are somewhat off set by a coulpa unkowns. ...

One more: possible serious atrophy of the thumb/index finger combination when no longer undergoing the extreme exercise of turning that teensy post on the speed changing knob from low, to low.
Frankly I may well miss the ability to crack open brazil nuts with my thumb and finger pinch.

Ed in Tampa wrote:...
For $1900 you can get a lot of very nice wood working equipment today.

...if you are a new woodworker you would have to buy a $3500 machine then spend $1900 on an upgrade. For that kind of money you can outfit a shop with some very nice equipment and have money left over.
....

This seems to be the most popular argument against the ShopSmith.
And it seems compelling, but...
Isn't there something about small shops and "footprints"?

Did a few oranges fall into the bag of apples?