Shopsmith Forums

algale wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:03 pm My Dad worked for Gillette for almost 50 years, including several years as its chief engineer. During his career he was responsible for developing Gillette's Techmatic Razor and Trac II Razor. He wouldn't have been caught dead using anything other than a Gillette razor and if any of his bosses had ever caught him using a Bic or a Schick or any other brand razor other than a Gillette razor in his home, I'm sure he would have been fired on the spot.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating for Shopsmith to fire Jim McCann. But it's a huge disappointment to me that he doesn't seem to have any of the flagship tools he is most responsible for developing -- the Mark V 510, 520 or Mark 7 PowerPro headstock -- in his own small shop despite the fact that the small shop woodworker is the target market for the Mark V/7 machines.

It's terrible, terrible optics for Shopsmith.

Alan,

Yeah, I certainly see your point. Like I said on my earlier post, I don't know what I was expecting, but I was kind of surprised that he didn't have at least one Mark V/7. In fairness to Jim though, he isn't really a brand ambassador or anything for Shopsmith. I mean, if he was a Shopsmith demonstrator, etc. or broadcast his shop on social media that would be different. However, based on the comments on the video, etc., I believe Jim is a private person and was reluctant to go on camera to begin with for this. Even though it wasn't what I was expecting, I still applaud him for going on camera and sharing with us. Perhaps the Shopsmith employee discount isn't very good which is why his shop tools are more diverse choices?

P.S. I had similar thoughts when I first saw Nick's shop on YouTube...after seeing him on so many Sawdust Sessions I was kind of aghast at first to see his personal shop had only a few Shopsmith tools in it. Guess I was expecting to see the candyland of Shopsmith shops...

algale wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:03 pm It's terrible, terrible optics for Shopsmith.

That is unfortunate. He has Shopsmith work lights on his drill press and disk sander, and he has a Shopsmith belt sander on a Powerstation. That's not watcha call a ringing endorsement.

I can understand that he might have started down this path a long time ago. He has a large conventional table saw that takes a lot of space and that's not surprising. He could have used a Shopsmith as a lathe and combined that with the belt sander and disk sander but I'm not going to argue with one of the most talented and prolific woodworkers that Nick has ever known on how to set up a small shop. We each can do it our own way.

edma194 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:04 pm That is unfortunate. He has Shopsmith work lights on his drill press and disk sander, and he has a Shopsmith belt sander on a Powerstation. That's not watcha call a ringing endorsement.

I can understand that he might have started down this path a long time ago. He has a large conventional table saw that takes a lot of space and that's not surprising. He could have used a Shopsmith as a lathe and combined that with the belt sander and disk sander but I'm not going to argue with one of the most talented and prolific woodworkers that Nick has ever known on how to set up a small shop. We each can do it our own way.

Don't forget he also has the Shopsmith Pro Planer and talked about using it quite a bit. I think another thing we need to keep in mind is that some of his tools could be hand me downs from family so there could be a sentimental reason that he has them. Particularly could be true for the Delta bandsaw and that old drill press he has. This is part of the reason why I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

P.S. Forgot to mention earlier that I think that vintage Emmert vise was the highlight of Jim's shop (IHMO)...

Alot of guessing reasons why here.

Why not ask him?

b

bainin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:22 pm Alot of guessing reasons why here.

Why not ask him?

b

LOL. Because it would cost $19.99/15min to ask him on Engineering Support @ Shopsmith!!!

RFGuy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:18 pm I think another thing we need to keep in mind is that some of his tools could be hand me downs from family so there could be a sentimental reason that he has them. Particularly could be true for the Delta bandsaw and that old drill press he has.

He mentioned that the drill press was his father's.

And I don't think there's anything wrong with his choices, it is simply unfortunate for Shopsmith marketing that one of their signature machines was not in the shop.

[/quote]
LOL. Because it would cost $19.99/15min to ask him on Engineering Support @ Shopsmith!!!

[/quote]

"LOL. Because it would cost $19.99/15min to ask him on Engineering Support @ Shopsmith!!!"

Very funny and very sad all at once..

b

And fodder fer the naysayers.

I thought I heard that Jim retired. Is that not the case?