I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

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CreekWood
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Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 pm

I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by CreekWood »

I remember as a teenager seeing a Shopsmith at a fair and thinking it would be really cool if I had a place to put one. Many years have gone by, and I now have a 16'x16' woodworking shop crammed full of boat anchors. I'm really more interested in developing skills reproduction furniture maker using traditional tools--but I'll never be an antique-tool purist.
A friend offered to sell me his father's Mark V, but neither of us have any idea how to price the collection...and I'm not yet sure how many of my boat-anchors it would replace. The smaller foot-print is attractive.
The Mark V's serial number is from 1982, and there's a SS bandsaw with the cross-slot iron table sitting on a powerstation, a jig saw and a planer. I saw what looks like a router fence, a Maxi-Clamp in its box, lathe tools, and an assortment of I-don't-know-whats spread around the basement shop.

What's the fair market value on this collection...and will it do what I need?

The aluminum table on my Craftsman bandsaw is warped and I've never made quality deep cuts with it--but I see forum members resawing 5 1/2" stock.
After building 6 or more fiberglass bows, my oscillating Rigid belt sander wobbles. I suspect the fiberglass was brutal on everything it encountered.
The Powermatic thickness sander is a beast to store or move around, and the sand-paper drive belt won't stay in alignment. I've seen forum members who built a DIY thickness sander...I'd want really precise control if I were to go that route.
And speaking of routers...I do want to occassionally raise some panels, and to do so safely, I really need a bigger support surface.

How soon will I need to upgrade to the 520 table system? PowerPro head?
I'd appreciate advice.
Mark V 500 upgraded to 520
Delta 36-725 TS
Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw
Bosch 1617EVS & Router Table
Craftsman 351.23371 Planer
Performax 16-32 Thickness Sander (finally tracking right!)
...and a growing collection of traditional hand tools.
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chapmanruss
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Location: near Portland, Oregon

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by chapmanruss »

CreekWood,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. You sound a bit like me when you said.
I remember as a teenager seeing a Shopsmith at a fair and thinking it would be really cool
As for a fair price that is always difficult to say. Prices vary for a number of reasons. Your case is you are looking to buy from a friend. You don't want to cheat him but you don't want to overpay either. A difficult position. Trying to get a feel for prices in your area can be difficult too. The price you see in ads are the asking price and not the actual sale price, so comparisons are difficult to make. What kind of condition the Mark V is in is a big thing when deciding what to pay. How much will have to be done to it to get in into good running condition is a factor. The same is true for the Bandsaw and other accessories. Are there any missing parts that need to be replaced to be able to use its functions are an additional consideration. Sorry I am not much help on the price. Not being able to see it in person I cannot say what I would be willing to pay if I wanted it.

The Shopsmith Mark V is a very versatile tool and along with the add on extras (SPT's) it can do even more. It can do more things than the equivalent stand-alone tools can do and is only limited by our imaginations. I had a Craftsman Benchtop Bandsaw and hated using it. I was always having to adjust it while using it. The Shopsmith Bandsaw has a much better tracking system.

You mentioned there is a planer and I wanted to clarify because the name Jointer and Planer are often misused. The Shopsmith Planer, like other Planers, is made to surface boards up to 12" wide to thickness. The Shopsmith Jointer is made to finish the edge of stock up to 4" wide. The same is common between the names Jig Saw and Scroll Saw. Although more closely related there is a difference in how they function.

As for upgrades there is no need to rush into them as long as the Mark V is working fine. The 520 Table System will add more table space and possible table configurations but there is a lot you can do with the original aka 500 Table System. Do know that the 500 Table System has been discontinued and replacement parts are no longer made but some may still be available from Shopsmith until they run out. The Power Pro is a nice upgrade, although an expensive one, for the Mark V. I did mine as the Do-It-Yourself upgrade and that along with other upgrades made mine a Mark 7 which is my primary Shopsmith I use.
Last edited by chapmanruss on Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Russ

Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
roy_okc
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Location: Moore, OK

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by roy_okc »

CreekWood,

Welcome to the forum.

While I don't need another, I do often look at local postings to see if they appear to be good deals. My general estimates are $200-400 for a 500, $400-600 for a 510, $500-800 for a 520, (I don't think I've seen a PowerPro for sale around the OKC area) depending on age, condition, completeness of standard accessories, etc. $100-150 for most attachments (band saw, sander, strip sander, jig saw, etc.), $150-200 for the jointer, and $300-500 for the planer. There may be other smalls that can quickly increase the value IF they are of value to the buyer, such as extra good saw blades, lathe chisels in addition to the Shopsmith standards, lathe chuck, etc.
Roy

Mark V/510, Mark V/500 with parts for 510 upgrade, bandsaw, jointer, belt sander, DC3300 w/1 micron bag
Sawstop 3HP 36" PCS w/router table insert
Home designed and built CNC router, another CNC router :D desktop size
CNCed G0704 milling machine
Laser engraver
Way too much other stuff and not enough space :rolleyes:
Hobbyman2
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Location: Ohio

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by Hobbyman2 »

Just my .02 , even if you do upgrade to the 510 table ,,{ I did and now use it as a primary table },, do not by any means discard the old MKV table , the word versatile was mentioned above, this is so true and the extra table and carriage can be mounted opposite the head stock and you can use both tables at the same time for space and support if needed , by using the MKV table and fence on one side you can also use it as a depth stop , . also the MKV table can be used when you use the mortising rig and you wont need to buy a new attachment for the new table and fence . good luck the fun has just begun .
Hobbyman2 Favorite Quote: "If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
CreekWood
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Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 pm

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by CreekWood »

Guys, Thanks for the feedback. I think this 500 is in reasonable condition; my friend remembers his dad waxing it, and he thinks it was maintained. It's dusty, but no terrible rust. When we ran it up to top speed, I thought it sounded like a small plane ready to take off, but now I've heard that same sound in YouTube videos of Shopsmiths.
Chapmanruss, I totally mispoke by calling the jointer a planer, and I should know better. I got rid of an old 6" Atlas jointer because it was a behemoth that ate shop space, 2) its infeed and out feed tables weren't parallel, and I wasn't sure how to fix it.
I'm trying to picture the setup that Hobbyman2 describes, but that will probably make sense later.
If I can figure out how to post pictures, I'll probably have some questions.
Mark V 500 upgraded to 520
Delta 36-725 TS
Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw
Bosch 1617EVS & Router Table
Craftsman 351.23371 Planer
Performax 16-32 Thickness Sander (finally tracking right!)
...and a growing collection of traditional hand tools.
CreekWood
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Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 pm

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by CreekWood »

Image
Attachments
This was in with Shopsmith accessories, but does it have anything to do with the Mark V?
This was in with Shopsmith accessories, but does it have anything to do with the Mark V?
PXL_20220905_174508188.jpg (187.87 KiB) Viewed 2651 times
Mark V 500 upgraded to 520
Delta 36-725 TS
Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw
Bosch 1617EVS & Router Table
Craftsman 351.23371 Planer
Performax 16-32 Thickness Sander (finally tracking right!)
...and a growing collection of traditional hand tools.
CreekWood
Gold Member
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 pm

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by CreekWood »

There is a saw guard--we just took it off as we were poking around. Eventually we got the saw arbor off and located a drill chuck.
Attachments
PXL_20220905_174840029~2.jpg
PXL_20220905_174840029~2.jpg (133.37 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
Mark V 500 upgraded to 520
Delta 36-725 TS
Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw
Bosch 1617EVS & Router Table
Craftsman 351.23371 Planer
Performax 16-32 Thickness Sander (finally tracking right!)
...and a growing collection of traditional hand tools.
CreekWood
Gold Member
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 pm

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by CreekWood »

And the other items...that we know of. The good part about buying from a friend is that if I were to find something missing, I know I can go back and search for it.
Attachments
PXL_20220905_174109583.jpg
PXL_20220905_174109583.jpg (224.24 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
PXL_20220905_173926591.jpg
PXL_20220905_173926591.jpg (217.47 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
PXL_20220905_174432238.jpg
PXL_20220905_174432238.jpg (359.45 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
PXL_20220905_174246325.jpg
PXL_20220905_174246325.jpg (373.51 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
PXL_20220905_180612386.jpg
PXL_20220905_180612386.jpg (427.23 KiB) Viewed 2650 times
Mark V 500 upgraded to 520
Delta 36-725 TS
Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw
Bosch 1617EVS & Router Table
Craftsman 351.23371 Planer
Performax 16-32 Thickness Sander (finally tracking right!)
...and a growing collection of traditional hand tools.
benmcn
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Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:54 pm

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by benmcn »

First photo is the worktable for the belt sander.
Attachments
98EE0D50-92DD-44A6-8C19-DDA6D407160B.jpeg
98EE0D50-92DD-44A6-8C19-DDA6D407160B.jpeg (82.14 KiB) Viewed 2641 times
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JPG
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Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)

Re: I have a friend (with a SS Mark V)

Post by JPG »

The first pix goes with the belt sander. Check previous post.
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╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10
E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
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