It is true..

[Tylerh]

I got my first shopsmith, a 1954 MarkV on June 15th 2016 (my wife found it for free on Facebook, on her birthday!) I fell in love. Then about 2 months ago I found a 10ER on Craigslist for $50. Picked up a few days later. It's the first one I've seen on my Craigslist in the years I've been looking through it. Then what did I see yesterday? http://binghamton.craigslist.org/tls/5833639414.html
Ugh.. what are you doing to me! I had to email him just to ask about the price. That's it. Well after exchanging a few emails, I am now the new proud owner of another 10ER. For.. $40. Who can pass it up!? So yes, it is true, the Shopsmith addiction is very true

[jsburger]

I got my first shopsmith, a 1954 MarkV on June 15th 2016 (my wife found it for free on Facebook, on her birthday!) I fell in love. Then about 2 months ago I found a 10ER on Craigslist for $50. Picked up a few days later. It's the first one I've seen on my Craigslist in the years I've been looking through it. Then what did I see yesterday? http://binghamton.craigslist.org/tls/5833639414.html
Ugh.. what are you doing to me! I had to email him just to ask about the price. That's it. Well after exchanging a few emails, I am now the new proud owner of another 10ER. For.. $40. Who can pass it up!? So yes, it is true, the Shopsmith addiction is very true

Great find. I have 5 ER's and 2 MK V's along with dedicated SS tools (band saw, drill press etc.). Welcome to the club.

[reible]

It is true.

Back when the forum started here very few people had more then one machine. That was before farmer came with his stack to fill the barn collection......

My first machine, factory fresh in 1976 was beginning to worry me. It was running fine and had no issues but as old as it was I began to think that getting a second machine to have on hand just in case made since. Basket case 510 that I got pretty cheap and that was even with the parts need to bring it in to condition.

By then I had upgraded my 500 to a 520 and had added most of the upgrades along the way. I also upgraded the 510 to a 520 and so on.

Next I was wishing I still had a 500 to make use of the fixtures and jigs I had made for that version...... OK so I found one and added it to the collection. That was machine number 3. Wasn't done yet, at the time we were making regular trips to the UP of MI and I was helping out with projects up there for 6 or more weeks of the year. Decide another shopsmith up there was a good idea. Found a 500 and moved it up there. About that time I found a 10ER for a good price and thought it would be a good birthday gift for my brother who lives up that way. Got it fixed it up into working condition and parted with it.

The bad part was parting with it was parting with it. Figured I get another one for me and I did. It has been setting the last couple of years in parts, mostly painted but not quite finished. So if we count that one it is number 5.

I've also upgraded twice to powerpro's. One of those I had gotten a hollow headstock to use for the upgrade which gave me a spare headstock. I'm mostly finished with a shorty to put that on. That is number 6.

I helped my oldest son find a shopsmith a while back. I then helped the middle son by buying him a shopsmith this past summer.

At this point I don't see getting any more and really am thinking of parting with the 10ER and one of the 500's. I think I'm more of a 4 shopsmith sort of person.

Now it pretty common for people here to have a stable of machines. I personally think everyone really should have at least two, but that is just me. BTW I'm one of the normal people here.......

Ed

[Tylerh]

I've been through all 243 pages in this part of the forum. That's what happens, I get something or read about something I want and research EVERYTHING about it. So although I haven't posted much, I feel like I know all of the "normals" here as well as they're specialties and so on. This is an awesome place. Unlike any other forum out there I think. I started woodworking as a hand tool only person, and it would of stayed that way if that darn greenie didn't get dropped in my lap. I'm glad it did, and I have a feeling this won't be my last shopsmith! Oh and also, there is a old MarkVII about 10-15 miles from me. I would own it but asking is $1000. A little to rich for my blood.

[ERLover]

About 3 or 4 years ago this winter I helped my nephew bring in from his garage a greenie he bought for 200$ to his basement. I already had stand alone machines for most stuff. Well it has been down hill ever since. A greenie that I shortened up, 3 ERs, and a grayling. Partially do to the fact of 2 shops now, one at moms and one at home and the other is I just love those ERs.

[UncleSnick]

Hey Tyler,

It's real, but it's not a problem....

Original post: http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/commu ... ml#p205103

I purchased my first ShopSmith, a greenie, in March of 2014. It is in great shape, all original with all standard accessories and several extras such as arbors, lathe chisels, live center,etc. Only needed the original cord to be changed. By May of 2014 I had another, a grey unit. It had been in a flood but must have been in drill press mode. The legs and the buckets of parts were completely caked with mud but nothing was in the head stock. After cleaning, it is like new. No rust, nothing wrong at all. A real find. In Feb ' 15 I picked up a third, another grey unit, with a band saw. This one had been sitting in a basement and was dripped on for years. It was in bad shape. I disassembled it completely, sand blasted, repainted, rewired (Thanks to Bill Mayo and JoshH) and reassembled into a reversible shorty SPT driver. In March '15 I picked up a jointer and in September '15 a jigsaw. In March of '16 I picked up a basket case greenie for parts. It's in pretty bad shape. Haven't started yet but I'm thinking of turning it into a dedicated very shortie drill press.

My wife loves what I make for her but she's starting to think I have an addiction. I don't think so, there's still room in my shop for more! - Nick

[garys]

Addiction to anything is simply a state of mind. If you choose to go that route, then it is real. If you choose to use a Shopsmith as the work tool it was built to be and not something to collect and polish, then addiction doesn't exist.
I have ONE Shopsmith that my Dad gave me in 1988. It has lots of miles of boards through it. I have added accessories as needed, but I don't need another Shopsmith until I fully wear this one out. So, for me, addiction isn't real.

[Ed in Tampa]

I do not understand multiple Shopsmith's.
The premise of the Shopsmith line is the ability of having a full workshop in space needed to store a bike. If space is not the limiting factor, multiple machines, why not buy the stationary machines instead.

If I had he room I would rather have a dedicated table saw than a Shopsmith set up as a dedicated table saw. I would rather have a drill press than a Shopsmith dedicated drill press. I would rather have a dedicated lathe than Shopsmith dedicated lathe.

If I had the room the first thing I would buy is a really nice bandsaw. Which actually is a smaller footprint than a Shopsmith. So I guess I am not understanding the purpose of multiple Shopsmith's.

I understand backup idea but come on wood working is a hobby. If my machine breaks the project will wait until I get the SS fixed. If I was doing production I would not have a SS in the first place.

Help me understand the logic of multiple Shopsmith's. The only thing I can see is they are bought cheap. But if you look around most standalone machines can also be bought cheap too.
And yes Dusty I fully understand that a used 5 hp unisaw with Beismeyer 60 inch fence is usually more than a used SS. But does anyone really think that is a fair comparison?

[JPG]

For over 40 years I made do with the Goldie that I purchased new(with jointer used as a sales incentive['free'] and a few 'extras' purchased over the years as needed.

For a while there was a SS store in the Florence(KY) mall that I visited occasionally, but purchased nothing(I did get some SS shop towels from a friend for Christmas one year).

Along came the internet and I rediscovered SS.

From there came the announcement of the impending dispersal sale.

At that time I began watching E-Bay for 'spare' parts in case SS went completely away.

Bought a 510 as a result of being on E-Bay (still not completely refurbished). My intention then was to merely get is functioning correctly for use.

Then along came MickeyD and his greenie!

Than along came a Model 10(with nice extra goodies)(about ready for reassembly ).

And then the Mark VII that is nearing final assembly(shiney painted stuff has sat around so long that I am torn between touching them up or just going ahead and use it).

Another E-Bay thing and I have parts to a Mark 2 that has a E-Bay procured greenie headstock that I use as a 'portable' that mounts on saw horses(no base).

And a shorty in process(initially intended as storage for SPTs) that is now slated to become a rout/shaping station with under table Greenie(now gold and reversible) headstock.

In between a couple of jig saws, scroll saw, SS mounted planer, DC3300 and a box full of other attachments have found their way to my shop.

After 'doing my thing{Damn you MickyD} I have never been reluctant to use them(get em dirty/scarred) for their creators intend purpose(and a few not originally intended nor envisioned by the creator).

Only regrets is that I have greatly exceeded the available square footage in my shop(sorta like Ed's, but vastly more cluttered(not organized in my case).

Addiction? Perhaps, but with a purpose of utilizing them intended.

This forum - addiction- maybe, but the source of much newly gained knowledge and pleasure that I would not have otherwise.

Yes it is an attitude. It is a perceived purpose for the few remaining years I reside on this planet as a sentient being.

So call it as you perceive it!

[JPG]

Addiction to anything is simply a state of mind. If you choose to go that route, then it is real. If you choose to use a Shopsmith as the work tool it was built to be and not something to collect and polish, then addiction doesn't exist.
I have ONE Shopsmith that my Dad gave me in 1988. It has lots of miles of boards through it. I have added accessories as needed, but I don't need another Shopsmith until I fully wear this one out. So, for me, addiction isn't real.

As Farmer so eloquently put it - I do not have stand alone tools, I have multiple saws, multiple drill presses(one a 'dualy') multiple ... Or something very similar .

You are addicted with only having just one.(to each their own burden ).

Some of us seek changes of direction and go so willingly.