Shopsmith Forums

Just got a card in the mail from Lowe's announcing an 18th-month no-interest special if you use a Lowe's card and charge something over $299...
The interest-free dates are Aug 23 to Sept 3rd. The cool thing is they apply it to items sold including shipping charges too.

That means anyone tempted for the DVR, a Mark 7, Double Tilt Assy, and a few other things can really save one the demo prices vs the web price and also have a year and a half to pay it off. Plus if you have a military ID card or a VA card (double check on the VA card) you get an additional 10% compliments of Lowe's. If the prices haven't changed since Memorial Day, that means a DIY DVR PowerPro upgrade will only cost you about $2.40 a day- varies slightly depending on sales tax.

Shopsmith is holding demos in three locations:
Atlanta, GA Aug 22nd-25th (Note: special starts on the 23rd)
Northbrook, IL Aug 23rd-25th
Lakeland, Florida Aug 30th- Sept 2

I pre-ordered one of the first 10 DVRs and I received another one about 2-3 weeks after I ordered it on this past Memorial Day special at Lowe's where Shopsmith held a demo in Plymouth Meeting PA. The latest mod took me only 4 hours to install. There is a great DVD, but there have been a couple of changes/improvements to the mod itself, so be sure to follow the instructions in the manual. They include a new power switch and improved some other things. I had no intention of purchasing anything, but rather show my neighbor the new Mark 7. But the bait was hanging & I bit... My latest DVR runs so smooth and the torque it has is amazing.

All of us attending received a complimentary project DVD.

As I recall, they had about a dozen items on the list: Mark 7, Double Tilt Upgrade, the PowerPro DIY, PowerPro new headstock, and more. I am still amazed how this motor, control assy, and display/button panel all fit. Almost as if the Mark V designers in 1953/54 envisioned the PowerPro. Anything with a bearing is replaced, including a new quill (be sure you have the correct quill guide screw- not a regular set screw). It might make some noise until you turn the eccentric to balance the belts & then be prepared to power it on- it even plays a little music (very low volume) when the main power switch is turned on. There is a tiny speaker on the display/button panel.

Doug Reid has a bunch of You Tube Mark 7 videos that are very informative. For those who can't get to a demo, Shopsmith sponsored Doug to produce Webniars which remind me of the old Saw Dust Sessions in a way, but they are focused on the use of the new Mark 7. I have no idea how to get on the Webinar list or if they are still going on. But if you are included, there are good savings to be had following the Webinar on a special email Shopsmith provides offering significant special prices as well. Saving money & making wood chips...life is good sometimes.

Congrats! I get a 10% discount from the two big retail home stores because of a career in the military. I learned these stores like Lowe's also extend a 10% discount to veterans with a VA card. Many retired military and VA card holders never knew they were entitled to this 10% discount. Years ago, it was offered only on federal/military holidays. Now it's offered every day.

Lowe's just started the 5% or 18 month interest-free offer which I learned by accident at a Shopsmith demo this past Memorial Day when the store manger came up to us gathered around and told us it was the second time Lowe's had a 18-month special and for any of us who had retired military or VA ID cards, they would take an additional 10% off at the register if we used the Lowe's card. But this may have changed, so give a call first.

When my neighbor & I went to the Lowe's demo, no one we asked knew anything about the Shopsmith demo. The two I have been to have been located by the front door or by the contractor checkout. If you haven't heard the PowerPro run before, it is so smooth.

But regardless, the demo prices are great and if you can't get to a demo as there are not many demos happening each year, then see if you can get involved with the Webinar if they still have them. You can see Doug Reid doing a lot of things with the Mark 7 which make it very hard to say no to. That DVR motor is amazing. Fire one up to 10,000 rpm without needing a speed increaser and all I can say is wow.

You can also go to You Tube and see Doug Reid's Mark 7 videos.