Shopsmith Forums

Here's one that somebody might want to take a look at. Comes with a Goldie scroll saw.
http://york.craigslist.org/tls/4386720977.html

Never realized that the Mark VII had different legs... What else is different?

ChrisNeilan wrote:Never realized that the Mark VII had different legs... What else is different?

It was both ahead of its time and kind of not ready for prime time (IMO). Hopefully a few of the folks who own these will fill in more details but some of the main differences I understand are:[INDENT]Built in vacuum dust collection system (probably a first but kind of a failure because it was underpowered)
[/INDENT][INDENT]Double tilt allowed under-table routing and shaping
[/INDENT][INDENT]Reversible motor (necessary for under-table operations)
[/INDENT][INDENT]Head stock and carriage moved on way tubes via plastic tracks built into way tubes via hand cranks (a good idea, particularly in vertical mode, but also kind of a failure because the tracks broke).
[/INDENT][INDENT]A table that could be attached to the main table with tubes (kind of a prototype to the 510 floating table concept)
[/INDENT][INDENT]A different speed control mechanism (the guts of which are plastic and prone to melting).
[/INDENT]

If you are nearby and it works, jump on this like a chicken on a bug. You can part this out and double/triple your money. Better, if you have room for it clean it up and use it. It is a great machine. Check the Speed control cam to make sure it is in good shape.

For a few years starting about 9 years ago, I was able to buy over a dozen Mark VII Shopsmiths in Florida, each with a non-repairable headstock at really cheap prices. I made motor mounts to mount the reversible motor in the Mark V headstock motor pan. I used the Mark VII main table with extension table and carriage and modified two base arms to make it into a double tilt Mark V machine. I still have dozens of Mark V headrests but few base and base arms left. I quickly sold all of these machines to local woodworkers but had to quit doing this conversion as I could not longer find any Mark VIIs for sale in Florida. I saved only one nice Mark VII frame, main table with extension table, carriage and tubes but never got time to assembly it. All the remaining Mark VII parts were sold or scraped.

For about 6 years starting around 2004, there would be around 50 to 80 Mark V Shopsmiths always listed for sale on Craig's List in Florida. I was able to maintain communications with about half of the sellers for long periods of time and ended up buying close to a hundred Mark V Shopsmiths doing this time. I rebuilt the headstocks and sold all the nicer looking Mark V Shopsmiths, SPTs, accessories and parts. I only kept the corroded, rusty and filthy parts and sold most of the remaining parts.

db5 wrote:If you are nearby and it works, jump on this like a chicken on a bug. You can part this out and double/triple your money. Better, if you have room for it clean it up and use it. It is a great machine. Check the Speed control cam to make sure it is in good shape.

Yeah, no crap! (I couldn't really say the right expression.)

I'd be all over this, like "a chicken on a june bug."

steve