Shopsmith Forums

Hi guys

I am hoping that I'll be able to enjoy a bit of a Christmas bonus...and was thinking of upgrading my 510 to a 520.

What do you guys think? Is it a worthwhile upgrade?

I would be upgrading from a late 80's or early 90's markv 500 that was later updated to 510. Does that make any difference when considering the 520 upgrade?

Is it worth the price tag to go new or would I be better of looking for a used 520?

Thanks for sharing your opinions!

Geo

Had a system glitch...sorry for the multiple post

If an admin could delete them, I would sure appreciate it,

Geo

Geo,

I bought a 510 this year for $500 (Craigslist) and then upgraded it when the upgrade when on sale. It doesn't happen often and I forget now what I paid but I think the fence and the fence rails are far superior on the 520 compared to the 510. I know others here are not convinced and like most opinions, they're worth what you pay for them...and they're like certain body parts best not mentioned - everyone has one.<g> My guess is you'll love the upgrade.

Don

eagleta2 wrote:Hi guys

I am hoping that I'll be able to enjoy a bit of a Christmas bonus...and was thinking of upgrading my 510 to a 520.

What do you guys think? Is it a worthwhile upgrade?

I would be upgrading from a late 80's or early 90's markv 500 that was later updated to 510. Does that make any difference when considering the 520 upgrade?

Is it worth the price tag to go new or would I be better of looking for a used 520?

Thanks for sharing your opinions!

Geo

donalexander wrote:Geo,

I bought a 510 this year for $500 (Craigslist) and then upgraded it when the upgrade when on sale. It doesn't happen often and I forget now what I paid but I think the fence and the fence rails are far superior on the 520 compared to the 510. I know others here are not convinced and like most opinions, they're worth what you pay for them...and they're like certain body parts best not mentioned - everyone has one.<g> My guess is you'll love the upgrade.

Don

My first Mark V was a 520, blind luck I had no idea which was best or why. I loved the 520. A couple of years later I got a great buy on a 510. I couldn't upgrade it fast enough. Without going into details. There is no comparison. Jim

The upgrade cost $475...a used 520, I don';t see that many of them but they are usually $1000-$1500. I suppose you could go the used 520 route if you wanted to have two machines, but you may have to wait a bit before one would show up. Personally I'd do the upgrade and then if you want a second machine at some point (and depending on what you want to use the 2nd machine for - presumably SPTs, drill press, sanding, and/or lathe and not sawing if you also would have a 520), I'd then watch for a good deal on a used 10E/ER, 500, or 510 depending on your needs. All three can be readily found for ridiculously cheap prices if you keep your eye out. At that point you would have a 520 and a second machine for what I'm guessing would be a fair amount less then you would have paid for the used 520 when it did roll around.

When I first saw a 520 (at the old factory store in Dayton) (I miss that place) I wanted to upgrade badly but as I looked at how I use my Shopsmiths I decided that it just was not viable for me ($$$$), Now if I used an SS as a tablesaw more than rare occasions I might go for it but I just don't. As much as I love the SS's I do almost all of my sawing on my Ridgid TS-3650. I'm really impressed by it and glad I bought when I did because the machines that replaced it have little appeal to me...

I tend to mostly use the SS's as power for SPT's (bandsaw, 6"x48" belt-sander, jointer on occasion, jigsaw. Stuff also like buffing wheels, wire brushes, sharpening things and with the disk sanding wheels (regular and conical). My old Mark VII is to be kind of a semi-dedicated dado machine...
I think that I will cut the two fully restored SS's into shorty's to work with the mini I have now. It should save me some room. That will still leave me with the old Mark VII, the 510 and the 10-ER for any lathe work.
The push-me pull-me double drill press keeps me from ever needing to raise any of them to vertical so I don't need to keep them long for that.


.

I upgraded to the 520 from my original 500. I then got a basket case 510 and even after getting it in shape I like the 520 hardware better so I upgraded that too.

Now years later I'm still glad I did the upgrade. Another option at some point is the powerpro, for me I would still do the 520 upgrade first.

Ed

Recommending one model over another is rather difficult. There are features of the 520 that are (to me) worth every penny of the cost but I cannot think of a single thing that can be done on the 520 that cannot also be done on the 510.

I originally had a 510 and was very satisfied with it. I was able to do everything that I had ever needed. Then one day, for some reason that I cannot specifically rationalize, I upgraded to a 520. I have since sung praises for the 520 here on the forum and to some of those who have been in my shop.

Later, one piece at a time (like Johnny Cash), I built up a 510. For awhile I had both and used them interchangeably and cannot honestly say that one performs better than the other. They both do have the larger motor.

I have since converted the 510 into a Shorty and I use it as a drill press (primarily) but it is also the power stand for my jointer.

It all boils down to what do you want in your shop because they both work well.

Just did a Google search & found an 'older' 510 upgraded to a 520 for sale in New Haven, CT for only $250. What condition might it be in? I have no idea.

Check out this sad-looking 520 for sale for $500:
http://redding.craigslist.org/tls/3412459650.html

Stored outside and rusting away...assuming they have all the basic parts, definitely worth $500 and some rust removal and other repairs as needed.