Shopsmith Forums

Hi all. Newbie here.
I just picked up a Mark VII yesterday from a garage sale for $150. I have never owned or used a shopsmith before, but have heard how many different things you can do with them.
After some investigation here on the Shopsmith site, I've determined that it is a pre-64 model and probably not the best purchase I have made. But my intention is to use this mostly as a lathe and to purchase accessories needed for this purpose.

The serial number is 408000 and I'm not having much luck finding this series of serial numbers. see attached picture.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

One suggestion first, lubricate, then operate. Find out how to in the manual.

There is a Mark VII manual I restored on My Google Drive that you may find helpful. There's actually two....

https://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/view ... 90#p185690

Follow the above link, then go to My Google Drive. You will find two versions of the manual in a Mark VII folder. V1.03 is the latest. It's all free.

Welcome to the Shopsmith Family!

BTW, JPG is the resident Guru on all things Mark VII, so you can trust his knowledge and experience when you find his postings.

Everett

I am not aware of any reference to serial numbers for a Mark VII.

There were some minor changes as time wore on. There were not many made that have survived so we can get a decent samples of changes.

Only recently have they been appearing more than rarely here etc..

Your main concern at this point needs to be the plastic(nylon) speed control cam and the headstock rack gear on the way tubes.

Like the older Mark 5, insufficient lubrication is your worst enemy, only worse.

Welcome!!!!!


Another weak link is the power switch, but that is replaceable with standard switches.

Thanks for the feedback Everette & JPG.
I'm still surfing around on these forums for information so excuse if I ask a question that is posted else where.
It looks like you two are the foremost experts on these forums for anything Shopsmith. Would you direct me to where I can buy parts as in tail stock center and head stock center for using this Mark VII as a lathe?

The current Mark V and Mark 7 centers also fit the Mark VII as do most other 'stuff'.

RHoward3962 wrote:Thanks for the feedback Everette & JPG.
I'm still surfing around on these forums for information so excuse if I ask a question that is posted else where.
It looks like you two are the foremost experts on these forums for anything Shopsmith. Would you direct me to where I can buy parts as in tail stock center and head stock center for using this Mark VII as a lathe?

The MK VII like all SS machines have a #2 Morse taper in the tail stock and has a 5/8" spindle on the head stock. So any SS head stock spur drive will work. Any item with a #2 Morse taper will fit the tail stock regardless of the manufacturer.

everettdavis wrote:One suggestion first, lubricate, then operate. Find out how to in the manual.
There is a Mark VII manual I restored on My Google Drive that you may find helpful. There's actually two....
https://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/view ... 90#p185690
Follow the above link, then go to My Google Drive. You will find two versions of the manual in a Mark VII folder. V1.03 is the latest. It's all free.

Everette
I have downloaded and printed the manual. Thanks so much for posting this. It will be very handy indeed.