My first Shopsmith - Inherited

[l0rens]

My aunt new how much I enjoy woodworking and when my uncle died she gave me his shopsmith. I'd never had the opportunity to work with him so I don't really know what I've got. Here are some photos of what she brought me.

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It appears to be a table saw (no saw blade), a disk sander, and a lathe (no tool rest.

How can I determine exactly which model I have here? Where do I find serial numbers and model Number?

How can I determine what accessories will work with this particular unit?

I have no manuals or parts list. Are these available somewhere?

What are the most popular accessories that I should be looking to add?

The power head appears to run quietly and smoothly accelerates to high speed.

[jg300da]

Looks to be in decent shape. That's an original MarkV. The seriel number is located on a small round perferated plate on the lower spindle on the left side of the headstock (viewing unit from the front, on/off switch side). Looks like you're missing the upper and lower saw guards along with blades and arbors.
Shouldn't take much to get it operational. Check out the Shopsmith site to get a listing of the items included with the base unit, then you can determine which items you need.
Good luck

[dusty]

You have what looks like a real nice machine; a Shopsmith Mark 5 Model 500. Appears to be no rust which tends to indicate "well cared for".

Please don't run it much until you have had a chance to lub and oil it.

Exactly what model....get the serial number off the power head (headstock) and look it up here:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serialnumber.htm

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/productmanuals.htm

Browse around this website and you'll learn all sorts of things that you need to know.

Welcome to the forum and to woodworking. Let us know if we can help. Don't hesitate to come here with your questions.

A couple other locations to spend some time:

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Sawdust_Sessions.htm

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Site_Map.htm#Support

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm

[charlese]

...
How can I determine exactly which model I have here? Where do I find serial numbers and model Number?

How can I determine what accessories will work with this particular unit?

I have no manuals or parts list. Are these available somewhere?

What are the most popular accessories that I should be looking to add?

The power head appears to run quietly and smoothly accelerates to high speed.

Hi l0rens! First of all - Welcome to this Forum! You have received a great gift from your Aunt and we are happy you have found this site.

By perusing the Forum along with the various Shopsmith Web Sites, you will be able to find out anything you want. Don't be hesitant to ask any question on this Forum. I have yet to see any question go unanswered.

Dusty has given you a great start to various sites, in which you can find the answers to your questions. In addition, you can phone Shopsmith to ask questions. You'll find them to be the most supportive Company you've ever dealt with. Ask them for a printed catalog, which when you get one, you will find it to be a useful supplement to the computer pages.

P.S. Nice Photos!

[paulmcohen]

Welcome to the forum.

I did notice that the tail-stock which is usually mounted on the right side for spindle turning is currently on the left.

You might want to decide what you want to do with it before you look for missing parts. Shopsmith has had several upgrades over the years and you might want to do an upgrade with newer parts rather then replace the missing parts. For example for lathe work, you are missing the tool rest post and tool rests; you can get the original 500 post and one of several rests, or you can purchase the newer Universal Tool Rest (banjo) which Shopsmith sometimes offers as a kit all of the tool rests, or if you get really serious you might want the Shopsmith Universal Tool Rest (banjo) and a third party modular tool rest.

The cost of each option is generally more then the previous but generally gives you more flexibility or IMHO a better experience.

The same is true for the missing saw guards, first let me say "DON'T USE THE SAW WITHOUT THEM". You can purchase the missing guards and a saw blade arbor for the 500 or purchase a 510/520 upgrade which will come with new guards and different arbors. I started about where you did with a new 500 and today own a fully upgraded 520, I did it one upgrade at a time as they became available, I am sure spent a great deal more then just doing one upgrade of course for me that was not an option because I did it over 25 years.

[wa2crk]

Hi;
Welcome to the forum!!!
It appears that you have a good machine that looks to have started life as a "Greenie".That is a machine from the fifties or sixties, but I wonder who painted the headstock (motor unit) grey.
It really looks good however you do need a bunch of parts to make it a safe machine. You may find some of the parts on E-Bay but I was thinking that you might consider upgrading to the larger tables and take your machine from yhe 500 model to the 510 or 520 model.
If you go that route you will get the safety equipment ,the lathe rest a comprehensive manual for the upgrade which will also include the alignment instructions. Certainly not all the info you will need but a real good start.
After an upgrade you can add what you might be missing through E-Bay and other sources as you go.
The upgrades are a lot of money but less than all new stand alone equipment if you buy good stuff.
Keep the group posted on your efforts and don't get discouraged. You will have to "think Shopsmith" and that means to plan your work carefully to minimize changes to setups and you will have a lot of fun.
Bill

[a1gutterman]

..........It appears that you have a good machine that looks to have started life as a "Greenie".That is a machine from the fifties or sixties, but I wonder who painted the headstock (motor unit) grey.......

When I bought my Mark V (with the 510 fence and table system AS AN OPTION) back in 1995, the basic Mark V (model 500) was still available. Best check the serial number out before you decide that it is an "old greenie". And if you look at this web page, http://www.shopsmith.com/markvsite/purchaseNB.htm , you will see that the "basic" Mark V is STILL available (without the 510 table and fence system).

[paulmcohen]

When I bought my Mark V (with the 510 fence and table system AS AN OPTION) back in 1995, the basic Mark V (model 500) was still available. Best check the serial number out before you decide that it is an "old greenie". And if you look at this web page, http://www.shopsmith.com/markvsite/purchaseNB.htm , you will see that the "basic" Mark V is STILL available (without the 510 table and fence system).

I think it is a 505 not a 500 that is still available. The description is a little unclear but it does say it has the T-Slot table, and it has the newer headstock with 2 bearing quill and new power switch. If you look at the power switch in the picture you will see this is the older style round switch, I thought all the 510's came with the newer plastic square switch.

[dusty]

[quote="wa2crk"]Hi]

Bill;
What do you see in the photos provided that indicates this to be a repainted greenie?

Paul;
Please direct me to a Shopsmith page that describes Model 505. I can't find anything that details a Model 505.

l0rens;
You need to research your Shopsmith serial number if you're interested in this machines history. I think you want to do that because if you plan to purchase any parts for it you need to know for sure.

Anyone;
When did the Table Height Adjustment Lever get changed to a wheel?

[johnmccrossen]

Page 3 of the accessory catalogue describes all of the models and differences.