Shopsmith Forums

Hi, my name is Steve, and I've got a cast iron addiction.

It's been 3 weeks since I've indulged in cast iron.

(You guys.) Hi, Steve!

Not only do I have 400 pounds of American cast iron cookware, but I'm looking at my 5th Shopsmith ER. Granted, this one comes at a KILLER price, has most of the usual stuff (including a MUCH needed 4th sanding disc) but also a (and I hate to say it) piece of aluminium. (or, aluminum for you colonials.) It has the rare ER B SPT adapter, and is going for less than the adapter should go for, in real life.

Yes, this is supposed to be funny, but it's also a serious issue with me. Since outside of my 3 cats (DO NOT GO THERE:D ) I live by myself in a 650 SF apartment, and am considering turning the bedroom into a workshop. SWMBO is not in the picture, unless you talk to the oldest cat.

The good thing, this new ER will break down, except for the way tubes, to 2 rectangular milk crates full of parts. the base is wooden, and I will not take it. (Got 4 sets of metal legs and casters.) I'm hoping that since it comes with the SPT adapter, it will be a single-wedge design.

Enough of that, when do we start the 12 step group?

steve

I don't think there is anything like a twelve step group here. I have a real problem myself with letting a deal on anything slip by. Especially tools. It's a good thing there isn't a lot of Shopsmith tools selling in my local area area else I would be up to my eyeballs in Shopsmiths.

I feel your pain.

Let's see:
1. One for a drill press, wall mounted.
2. One for a lathe
3. One for a sanding station
4. One for a tablesaw & jointer
5. One for the jigsaw

Seems kinda light to me -- where's the spare? And which one do you change over when you need to do some horizontal boring?

And your other problem is, the 10ER is 3rd-rate in table-saw mode, especially for cross-cutting. So what you need is MORE cast iron. A good old 50's vintage DeWalt radial arm saw, to be specific. I'm still kicking myself for letting a really nice 3hp, 14" one get away from me a couple weeks ago. 500 lb of mostly cast iron for $75 ... just about the going scrap price. And the beauty is, these things can take up almost no shop space -- just build it into a workbench, and swing the arm out of the way when not in use.

Glad I could help.

Of course there is a 12 step program. When you get to owning 12 Shopsmiths you are part of the program !