Shopsmith Forums

I paid my $150 adoption fee and voila. She is going to need some tlc but I think it was worth it. The jointer is missing the guard spring. Previous owner said the parts aren't available anymore....might just upgrade to the feather board guard. Woot. I'm happy and the wife is happy for me. Win. Oh, S/N 31313. I like it.

Just checked the S/N. 1979 I like it more now cuz that's my birth year. LOL

Definitely upgrade to the feather board guard, and if you can, spring for the auxiliary fence with two feather boards.

It is cheaper than any Emergency Room visit I could ever imagine. If you get hung up in a Jointer, bad things happen.

I try to tell folks that finger joints are things we are supposed to make with Shopsmith tools, not lose with them.

Everett

I noticed that you got the two slot table. That is not the most prevalent one and sometimes hard to find if you're looking for one. They only made them for a short time compared to the rest.

Everett

everettdavis wrote:Definitely upgrade to the feather board guard, and if you can, spring for the auxiliary fence with two feather boards.

It is cheaper than any Emergency Room visit I could ever imagine. If you get hung up in a Jointer, bad things happen.

I try to tell folks that finger joints are things we are supposed to make with Shopsmith tools, not lose with them.

Everett

Very true. When I think back to my finish carpentry days and some of the dumb stuff we did....::shudder:: All in the name of getting the job done on time. No more of that. I will look at those 2 upgrades. Thanks.

When it comes to safety upgrades, I also tell folks that if you won't do them for yourself, at least consider doing them for that child or grand-child you want to introduce to woodworking.

Doing the upgrades together allows you a teaching moment to stress that safety first is the rule, not the exception.

Our kids and grand-kids are some day going to inherit the tools, and hopefully the skills and passion we leave behind in them. We know the tools will likely live on far beyond our usage of them. After all, that's how many here got started themselves.

Could there be a better legacy for us to leave, or a better investment to make in their lives relative to tools? I don't know of one.

Mama may not agree with updating the tool for yourself, but when you add her and the kiddos into the mix, she may well be perusing the catalogs herself.

We shouldn't just build projects, we should also build memories.

Everett

everettdavis wrote:
We shouldn't just build projects, we should also build memories.

Everett

Everett, that's one of the most profound bits of wisdom that I've ever encountered in this hobby. It really rings true for me, as my sister-in-law literally cried last Christmas when I gave her a simple hand-made gift. I'm going to make that one of my guiding principles.

And Skizzity, congrats on a great adoption! It still amazes me that such a wonderful machine can be had for such a modest price. I just wish that I had room to adopt more myself!

Congrats! Looks good!

BuckeyeDennis

I think I am working towards a 'boarding' school or a 'finishing' school for Shopsmiths based on my present machine count.

I do have plans to give away fully restored machines to my sons and sons-in-law. That will take care of 7 since I have 5 daughters and 2 sons.

No - (before someone asks) I am not adopting additional children, just adopting (maybe fostering is a better word) several Shopsmiths.

Thus far, I have never parted with any of them, never parted out a machine, or never sold a part to anyone. I have given some parts away.

Everett

everettdavis wrote:Definitely upgrade to the feather board guard, and if you can, spring for the auxiliary fence with two feather boards.

It is cheaper than any Emergency Room visit I could ever imagine. If you get hung up in a Jointer, bad things happen.

I try to tell folks that finger joints are things we are supposed to make with Shopsmith tools, not lose with them.

Everett

Ditto the very end of a finger! Voice of experience!!!!

Since you have that second hex hole, you might want to consider attempting to add a spring so as to use it when rabbeting(covers the back side of the fence) However the upgrade has it's own cover for that. I prefer the older version for that.