I touched my first pro today

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fiatben
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Posts: 736
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:39 pm
Location: northwest Arkansas

I touched my first pro today

Post by fiatben »

Well, honestly, I never thought the backwoods of Arkansas would ever rate with the powers that be, but, lo and behold, the other day I got a postcard announcing that the new SHOPSMITH MARK VII POWER PRO would be demonstrated at my local Lowe's! Of course, I had to go see....
SO.... I was there at 10AM for the very first demonstration, in spite of ice, snow, freezing rain, etc. Mike is definitely enthusiastic about his product and kept things light while focusing on what the group seemed to be interested in.
I want one!! Oh, no way I can afford it on a part-time income while taking care of my parents, but I still WANT one.
He stuck a piece of pine on that thing, went thru the flowchart menu for what he was doing (then overrode it up to what would be normally considered too fast) and then attacked it with the chisel. And it hummed like nothing was wrong. He went to tablesaw mode and literally jammed a piece of poplar thru there. And it hummed like nothing was wrong. Then he went the to sanding disc and was shoving the wood against it so hard I was afraid he'd slip and grind off all his knuckles. And it hummed like nothing was wrong.
Add the passcode security, the great menu selections, instant 110/220 conversion, the lack of noise, the double lift feature, REVERSE......
Man, I WANT ONE!!!
This definitely takes the level of multi-purpose tools (if not woodworking tools in general) to a whole new level.
Did I mention that now I want one????
'55 Greenie #292284 (Mar-55), '89 SS 510 #020989, Mark VII #408551 (sold 10/14/12), SS Band Saw, (SS 500 #36063 (May-79) now gone to son-in-law as of 11-11), Magna bandsaw, Magna jointer 16185 (May-54), Magna belt sander SS28712 (Dec-82), Magna jigsaw SS4397 (Dec-78), SS biscuit joiner, Zyliss (knockoff) vise, 20+ hand planes, 60s Craftsman tablesaw, CarbaTec mini-lathe, and the usual pile of tools. Hermit of the Hills Woodworks, a hillbilly in the foothills of the Ozarks, scraping by.
saminmn
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Posts: 366
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:32 am
Location: Northfield, MN

Post by saminmn »

fiatben wrote:Well, honestly, I never thought the backwoods of Arkansas would ever rate with the powers that be, but, lo and behold, the other day I got a postcard announcing that the new SHOPSMITH MARK VII POWER PRO would be demonstrated at my local Lowe's! Of course, I had to go see....
SO.... I was there at 10AM for the very first demonstration, in spite of ice, snow, freezing rain, etc. Mike is definitely enthusiastic about his product and kept things light while focusing on what the group seemed to be interested in.
I want one!! Oh, no way I can afford it on a part-time income while taking care of my parents, but I still WANT one.
He stuck a piece of pine on that thing, went thru the flowchart menu for what he was doing (then overrode it up to what would be normally considered too fast) and then attacked it with the chisel. And it hummed like nothing was wrong. He went to tablesaw mode and literally jammed a piece of poplar thru there. And it hummed like nothing was wrong. Then he went the to sanding disc and was shoving the wood against it so hard I was afraid he'd slip and grind off all his knuckles. And it hummed like nothing was wrong.
Add the passcode security, the great menu selections, instant 110/220 conversion, the lack of noise, the double lift feature, REVERSE......
Man, I WANT ONE!!!
This definitely takes the level of multi-purpose tools (if not woodworking tools in general) to a whole new level.
Did I mention that now I want one????
Soooo what will a Fiat bring when sold?:D :) :D

I went to a demo a couple of week ago. I gotta get a lot more serious making sawdust to go for one myself:D
Sam in Northfield, MN
A day without beer......could have been better :p :D :p
Mark V 500 - S/N 100990, Mark V 510 - S/N missing, SS Band Saw, SS 6" Belt Sander, SS 4" Jointer, SS Scroll Saw, SS DC3300
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db5
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Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:20 pm
Location: Oklahoma City

Post by db5 »

I touched my first pro today

When I saw that title I thought it was from a high school student who had his first encounter with a woman of negotiable virtue.:eek:
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benush26
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Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:06 pm
Location: Montana

I could see that

Post by benush26 »

db5 wrote:I touched my first pro today

When I saw that title I thought it was from a high school student who had his first encounter with a woman of negotiable virtue.:eek:
Both can provide hours of enjoyment and bring a smile to the face :D

Both can be cost prohibitive :eek:

With both of them, the more practice the better the user. :o

Both can make a significant other rather jealous of the time you spend and the extra finances involved in continuing. :(

I am certain there are MANY other similarities, but those few quickly came to mind.
nil
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Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:39 am
Location: Mountain View, CA

Post by nil »

I also touched my first pro today... but I bought it in July 2012, so I try to use it a little every day. I only wish I had the kind of time to spend in my garage that I would if I were retired (I have a job and two kids under four).

I was so impressed at how well it ripped through some hardwood furniture I was modifying.
charlese
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Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:46 pm
Location: Lancaster, CA

Post by charlese »

Hi nil! Don't fret too much! Time goes by sooo fast - kids grow - you get older (more mature:) ) and that time will come!!!!

Enjoy the youth of the kids - and soon you'll find they will want to help in the shop. Maybe even volunteer to help clean up.

I still vividly remember my boy's reminders to put the tools back where they belong.:rolleyes:
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
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