Shopsmith Forums

I bought a 1982 Mk V a few weeks ago and I keep finding missing and broken stuff. I have more money spent on parts than I spent on the machine. It’s getting frustrating. Thankfully, the parts are still available and I can turn a wrench. Hopefully I’ll run out of stuff to fix and start making sawdust.

Any words of experience out there?

Caveat Emptor

jsburger wrote: Mon May 02, 2022 10:33 pm Caveat Emptor

Yep.

I got lucky when I bought my first Shopsmith. It was a 1954 Greenie that had been well cared for most of its life. The owner before me had it about 2 years and let it get piled up with sawdust but after a good cleaning and replacing the V belts I was off and running. By the time I bought a 510 a few years later I knew what to look for and luck wasn't necessary.

What you learn refurbing that machine is invaluable for maintaining a Shopsmith into the future. Gotta be really frustrating anyway.

What are you going to make first? Get your mind off the repairs and start focusing on using it.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I’m getting a thorough education on repair and maintenance. I even learned how to disassemble and reassemble a Jacobs drill chuck.

I used to build a bit of furniture a couple of decades back but got away from it. Now that I’m retired, I’m putting together another (more compact) shop.

My young grandkids will be here for an extended visit in a couple of weeks. I need to make a step stool so they can reach the sink to brush their teeth. I have some nice cherry set aside for that.

If the weather ever warms up in my un-heated garage I plan to get started on a shaker style end table. I have some maple boards left over from many years ago for that one.

sounds like a couple fun projects . we like pictures !!

Big Al,

I don't know how much you bought your 1982 Mark V for or how much you have already spent on parts, but I can relate. Almost 6 years ago I bought a 1982 Mark V with a Bandsaw, Strip Sander and Belt Sander for $250 to restore (I know it was an extremely good deal) but by the time they were back to like new condition I had paid around $450 for the parts, paint, etc. and most of that was for the Mark V. 5 years ago I got a Mark 5 Greenie for free. By the time I finished replacing all the damaged and missing parts to restore it back to how it came from the factory I had $500 into it. It is easy to put a bit of money into one of these tools to get it back to a good running tool but once done, with proper care and use it will last a long time.

_ .
The picture above does not include all the accessories.

I paid $650 for the 1982 Mk V that had been upgraded to a 510. It included a jointer, a bandsaw, a gray scroll saw, blades, arbors, sanding disc, tailstock, lathe parts, push blocks, etc. It was being sold by a guy for an elderly friend who had moved into assisted living. It wasn’t the greatest bargain but I thought it was fair and I didn’t want to shortchange an old guy who was undoubtedly short on money.

What I didn’t know was that some 510 parts had inadvertently gone into the dumpster and some 500 parts substituted. I had to buy this and that on eBay to get a complete 510. The bandsaw and scroll saw needed a few small repairs. The headstock squealed at high speed. It needed belts and bearings so I bought a kit and rebuilt it. Yesterday I discovered that the drill chuck was broken and ordered another one.

So, not counting the extra floating tables I bought, I sunk another $500 in it. At least now everything should be mechanically sound for a long time. I’m in my mid 60s and I expect the machines will last longer than I will.

I was kind of bummed yesterday after discovering that the drill chuck was broken up inside (maybe from it falling off my workbench onto concrete . . . twice) but after making some sawdust with it today, I’m feeling better.

Jacobs makes a repair kit for their original chucks. Replaces the innards.

JPG wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 8:51 pm Jacobs makes a repair kit for their original chucks. Replaces the innards.

Thanks for the good information. I’ll keep that stored away for next time. A guy on eBay had an OEM chuck he claimed was “new open box” at a much lower cost than a new one from SS. I don’t have access to a press so out of frustration pressed apart the old one with a socket and my bench vise. With the luck I’m having, I’d probably break the vise pressing it back together with new parts. :-)