Shopsmith Forums

I had been on the original pre-order list back before it was available, but an imminent move had me cancelling the order.
Today I drove to the Grandville MI Lowes store where Dave was doing PowerPro demos and surprised him by saying I didn't need to see it work, I just needed to order it. I was pleasantly surprised to get my 10% Lowes Veteran's discount off from the demo pricing, and my Lowes card got me 18 months interest free financing.

I wish I was the sort of person who loved spending money. Spent the rest of the day questioning my purchase, even though I think it is the wisest money I could spend to increase capabilities (table saw / lathe) in my space-limited workshop. I'm finally winding down.

I do hope to find a basket case SS in the area to make use of the fine innards from my current headstock, but at the moment there are only a few wishful thinkers on Craigslist.

So, did you get a 'complete' headstock, or the diy upgrade?

Got the DIY upgrade.

I will enviously look forward to the pics of the new arrival! Congrats!

paulrussell wrote:Got the DIY upgrade.

Good Boy!!!

Dave hopefully will be getting a call from me soon.

A bit off topic, but something I have a strong opinion on, and which was reinforced when I walked into Lowes today.

The Shopsmith needs a makeover. I'm not saying to switch ladies. I am saying a new outfit on the same gal we have all come to love. When I walked into Lowes the Shopsmith demo wws right out front, yet still easy to overlook. The drab grey just blends into the background like it is part of the building -- might as well be a support pillar or I beam.

I believe that Shopsmith should take the colors from the PowerPro control and revisit the paint scheme of the base machine. Work in the red, the blue, the black, and the white to make something that says this is a machine for today and tomorrow, not a relic of the past.

It was not surprising to me that at 56 years old I was the youngest one expressing interest in Shopsmith. Yeah, fresh makeup isn't gonna bring Shopsmith back to former glory, but I am sure it would lead to a few more sales, and every sale counts.

Congrats. I see the closet demo to me is Meritta Ga next month.

I'm going to the Feb. 19 demo in Gaithersburg, MD (which is where I live). I've seen the demo once about a year ago but had to travel about an hour to see it. This is too close not to go.

Glad to welcome you into the group of us that love our PowerPros.

I don't believe that anyone who has the powerpro wants to go back to the old version, well I do know I sure don't.

I do still worry a bit about how long it will stay running without any repairs and just how much replacement parts are going to cost. I've had that worry from long before I got mine and that and the cost were prime factor holding me back. It took me a while to get the money together and pull the trigger..... but so far well worth it.

Now I'm thinking of doing another machine, same way as last time, from the kit version. A second machine upgraded would allow me to get rid of one other stock machines, saving some space would be nice in my garage.

Have to see if it the powerpro or the drone that wins out....

Sure would be interesting to know how many powerpro have been sold. Most of the demo visits I have attended people have shown interest but not many sales, at least at that point.

The thing that I wish most for is a remote control for the powerpro. Not sure that will ever happen but if it did they might be able to get a few more dollars out of my pocket.

Ed