Shopsmith Forums

I’m considering purchase of a new Mark 7. For those of you who own one, would you please share your thoughts about ‘em... Any problems with the machine? Any problems with Customer Service or Support? Please PM me if you prefer to have your feedback remain between the two of us.
Thanks so much.

I really like mine. Had it three or four years now. Only issue has been that I had to realign the pulley on the drive belt as my eccentric bushing was not tight. Easy peasy fix! I tun mine on 110 volts and it has plenty of power. Really quiet and smooth.

I love mine. My MK V started out new in June of 1994 as a 510 bought from Woodcraft. It was upgraded to a 520 when the upgrade first came out. I upgraded to the Power Pro head stock and double tilt in Jan 2013. Absolutely no problems. There is an amazing difference between the old Reeves drive head stock and the new Power Pro head stock.

I have always said the 520 was the best upgrade SS has ever done. It is now eclipsed by the Power Pro by a huge margin.

jsburger wrote:I love mine. My MK V started out new in June of 1994 as a 510 bought from Woodcraft. It was upgraded to a 520 when the upgrade first came out. I upgraded to the Power Pro head stock and double tilt in Jan 2013. Absolutely no problems. There is an amazing difference between the old Reeves drive head stock and the new Power Pro head stock.

I have always said the 520 was the best upgrade SS has ever done. It is now eclipsed by the Power Pro by a huge margin.

Plus 1, 2 and 3

Absolutely love mine. I did have a power supply go bad, but it was replaced at no charge and they even let me do it myself. Power is outstanding (I run mine on 110), quiet, and the speed range is very handy. The double tilt makes a whole new approach to the Mark 5. I own, and use, both.

I wouldn't hessitate to get a new Mark 7.

John is right, The PowerPro is a MAJOR upgrade.

JMHO

Bought mine in 1984 as a Mark V. Upgraded to 510 then 520 and the PowerPro DIY about 4 or 5 years ago. Never any issues. I used it on 110 until 3 or 4 months ago and I added a 220 circuit where my SS is used. Changed out the plug and it now runs on 220. Plenty of power!

Jack

Upgraded from 510 about 1 year ago and love it. I run it on 220 and use it primarily as a lathe. With the expanded rpm range it is a great tool.
Paul

I've had mine for about a year. Huge upgrade from my old mark 500, which I had for over 30 years. Only problem I've had is where the computer doesn't turn on (no display) on VERY rare occasions. One of these days I'll get to the bottom of that problem. I love the flexibility of the table & fence system. I have found having the (optional) 5 ft tubes for the table system are very handy for taking full advantage of the table system. I run mine on 110V, but the improvement in speed control and power is exceptional. Buy the MinWax paste finishing wax to keep rust off and for everything to slide smoothly. Recommend an abrasive cleaning stick to freshen up the sanding discs, and a package of extra discs of various grit size. A couple of extra saw blades of various types & arbors. Also the optional larger casters are very worthwhile for the SS to roll around easily. Take care with the fence and table rails since they are fairly soft aluminum, so treat them accordingly. Other accessories & attachments depend on what you use the SS for. Also there is a lot of information on how to make your own jigs and fixtures to make things easier.

I bought mine at a demonstration put on by a SS representative & got a good discount. Look at the SS website to find the schedule. My old 500 was an actual demo machine that was used in shows around the country, so got a very good buy on that one.

Paste floor wax(original 'slippery'), not 'finishing' wax.

JPG wrote:Paste floor wax(original 'slippery'), not 'finishing' wax.

Are you thinking of another wax? The SS website and my can of wax (I went and looked at it) says "MinWax Paste Finishing Wax".... Part No. 522454