Shopsmith Forums

I need some advice. There is a Shop Smith coming up on auction in a few weeks and I would like a general idea what the max price I should bid. It appears to be a 510 and has a belt sander, jointer, and bandsaw. With it there are 3 or 4 plastic milks craters full of stuff for this unit. I can only tell by the flyer I got as there is not an advanced viewing of it until auction day. The last few that went up for sale in this area has went cheap but the auction guys tried to bid everything that went with them seperate from the saw and I did not want a saw and then have to buy everything else. I know the auctioner on this sale so I will talk to him on sale day. Thanks Ivan

sawmill wrote:I need some advice. There is a Shop Smith coming up on auction in a few weeks and I would like a general idea what the max price I should bid. It appears to be a 510 and has a belt sander, jointer, and bandsaw. With it there are 3 or 4 plastic milks craters full of stuff for this unit. I can only tell by the flyer I got as there is not an advanced viewing of it until auction day. The last few that went up for sale in this area has went cheap but the auction guys tried to bid everything that went with them seperate from the saw and I did not want a saw and then have to buy everything else. I know the auctioner on this sale so I will talk to him on sale day. Thanks Ivan

Condition, condition, condition, condition.(one for each major item)

Crate contents.

After inspecting the 'wares', decide what it is worth TO YOU. Then bid (slowly and tardily) up to that amount.

Good luck with the 'bundling'.

With a bit more luck, you will be the only one 'interested'.

Generally speaking I would not go over $1500, but prime condition and crate contents might raise that. The same can be said for the opposite direction!;)

In your favor, it is listed as "shopsmith with attachments'.

Save some money for the Rockwell jointer.

It appears to have been used much. Not bad, but better than sitting around. Lotta saw dust around the vent plate.

Nothing earth shaking in the crates except two sanding disks. Make that 'ONE' disk.

Outward appearances do not reveal any major defects.

However the degree of sawdust on everything cannot appeal to some folks.


So I think you might be able to get this for a third of what I said above.


Good Luck!

I'm not sure where you saw photos of the items being auctioned but based on the description and jpg's comments, I'd put a value for a 510 with those SPTs at $800-$1200…I'd consider $1500 if it was pretty much pristine but it sounds like it's not really in that condition (i.e. many of the items still unused in their original boxes etc). If they decide to auction the items separately then I become much less interested and/or set the prices accordingly but if I was someone who didn't already have all these SPTs, I'd be hesitant to have to bid on things separately and wonder which items I might end up with…

As was suggested and is always good auction advice, set your maximum price beforehand and stick to it…don't get caught up in a bidding frenzy or you'll overpay. Don't seem overly interested and only bid when you need to…i.e. let others bid as they wish and come in late when it's close to closing…assuming it hasn't exceeded your max bid.

Pictures of it are on Don Hower auction sight and it is the sale on Kelly Road in Lake City