Shopsmith Forums

Someone just listed a used Shopsmith locally on OfferUp and I'm curious to know if it would be a good pruchase for me. I would probably try to bring the price down significantly if possible. I don't know anything about Shopsmiths, so I don't know what model this is, what accessories are there, and what individual machines this would or could take the place of. Here's a link to the pictures of the machine.


https://imgur.com/gallery/g1980


I'm currently working to turn an out building at my parents house into a wood working and general use shop. They already own the following.

• Table Saw: Older corded Makita Job Site saw
• Compound Miter Saw: 12" Craftsman chop saw
• Two Radial Arm Saws: Both 10” Craftsman (my dad's and my grandpa's)
• 7ish inch Circular Saw
• Small circular trim saw
• Two old Jigsaws
• Reciprocating saw
• Random Orbital Sander
• Handheld electric planer
• A couple old hand planers
• Many different hand saws
• All the battery powered drills I need

It's pretty much all been used for building additions, a barn, remodels, decks, etc. But I recently got bit by a desire to do fine woodworking and realized with a few more purchases and a space to set everything up I could have a decent wood shop to start working in.


My thought is that if this could be brought into working condition it could turn several purchases into one and get me going a little faster than seeking out deals on individual machines. Also, I currently live in a studio apartment and am hoping to get a place with a garage and/or shed when my lease is up so I can have my own workspace rather than driving 40 minutes to work on projects (although it's a good excuse to see family.) So I'm wondering if this would take up less space than individual machines.


My worry is that if this machine needs a lot of repair time, parts, blades, etc. I could be sinking more into it than buying the individual machines.


Finally, I have a strong desire to get a jointer and planer soon so I can at least have good stock to start with. Would it be reasonable to add those to this or is it better to get the individual machines?

Welcome to the forum. You have asked a lot of questions, and I will try to answer a few.

Looks like a Mark V 500, about the same vintage as mine (1980), with a belt sander and a jig saw. All should clean up nicely, but it will take some work. On the plus side, having to clean them up will give you all the more the reason to learn how they work and what it takes to maintain them.

If you are not familiar with Shopsmith, I suggest you start with the "sticky" threads at the top of the Maintenance & Repair Section. You can learn a lot about the different models, the history and evolution, things to look for when buying used, etc. The marketing brochures and info from Shopsmith is also a good way to learn more about their machines. Explore, read, and read some more.

Depending on where you live, used Shopsmiths may come up regularly on other buying/selling sites like Craigslist and eBay. Watch those for a while to get a feel for the value of different models.

I don't have a jointer, so can't comment on how a Shopsmith powered jointer would compare to a stand alone model. The Shopsmith planer (again, different models and versions available) is generally considered pretty desirable. I purchased one used for a fraction of MSRP and have been very pleased with my purchase.

The table saw function is probably the one function that draws the most criticism from some woodworkers (Shopsmith and non-Shopsmith owners), but the versatility the Shopsmith offers makes the table saw function a compromise. The relatively small table saw works for some and not for others. For me, it is fine. For larger wood pieces, I use portable hand saws.

Shopsmith offers many accessories for many different functions, such as routing, molding, drilling, and then there is the whole world of wood turning with its lathe function. Only you can decide how many of these different functions would be of use to you.

Good luck in your future endeavors.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm thinking the belt sander would be the biggest immediate upgrade for my use. I'm not sure how much this jigsaw would help me.

Would this machine in its current setup have any drilling or lathe capabilities?

pdxdiscgolf wrote:Would this machine in its current setup have any drilling or lathe capabilities?

A qualified "yes". Can only see that it has a tailstock and a dead center for lathe work. There is probably a box of smaller accessories that you should ask Seller about ... you'll need to ask about things like a drill chuck, faceplates, brad point bits, lathe chisels. Again, look at what comes with a new Shopsmith, or is available in accessory packages, to get an idea of what you would need for drilling or lathe work. A lot of parts that are usually "standard" and included are not visible in the pictures, so be aware of what is or is not included. I won't try to name them all, as it would be a long list, but just to name a few: the rest of the saw guard, miter gauge, fence, blade(s) with arbor(s), 12" sanding disc, auxillary table, etc.