Shopsmith Forums

Has closed the doors.

http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/

Definitely not good news!! One of my favorite companies and loved their Hawks!



FlashbacPT
John

You know I gotta wonder if their prices didn't kill them. When the economy is fantastic as it basically has been for years people have, as my father use to put it, more money than brains. However in times like this people are starting to think before they spend and it gets harder and harder to sell something out of the necessity realm.

I still believe there is a market for scroll saws, however the price must be at a point the buying public (a number of people that can sustain manufacture and profit) can justify spending that much for it.

This is my fear for Shopsmith, there is always the guy that will spend SS price to buy their machine but the number of these guys are now getting fewer and further between. What Shopsmith needs is it something to sustain itself through this time. It might be their accessories and parts work that will do it. Let us hope and let us see.

My Hawk was my first major tool purchase when I semi-retired and started woodworking. I still find it my primary tool. It has a firm, steady, reliable movement on a rock steady platform. So much for a eulogy.
I currently know of many small to medium businesses, working on a tried and true business model, that are on the brink due to an inability to maintain credit and cash flow in this economy. That is to say income is received sporadically, but reliably, yet bills must be paid at much closer intervals. I fear there will be many more closures before this economy has settled.
Hopefully, the skill and technology to build fine tools, and establish other businesses, will not be lost, and the industries will re-establish.
My best to all those who worked for or relied on Hawk Ind.

I bought my 20" RBI Hawk over 20 years ago and have never had to purchase any kind of replacement parts. These thing were built like a tank. I have purchased many hundreds of blades and upgraded the blade holders but I have not even worn the the original belt. When I bought the RBI; I was debating between a Hegner and the RBI. The RBI won out on capacity and price. This was in the days before there were the cheap scroll saws as there are today.

Right now I do believe Shopsmith is working more on getting through the tough times by focusing on the accessories and parts they offer and selling them to established Shopsmith owners, than by selling new Shopsmith Mark V's, though I'm sure they are still selling one here and there.

Let's just hope that whatever plan they have put in place works and gets them through. I'd hate to see them go under the axe like so many others have already done.

One good thing though is Shopsmith Mark V's are so well built and last so long, that if they do have to close, they will last until times turnaround and someone like John Folkerth comes along looking for a part, purchases the tooling and starts the company again. It happened before, it can happen again.

Just think about all those Shopsmith's that kept running all those years after Magna closed the company until J. Folkerth recreated it with his own brand of business. I'm sure our Shopsmith's will do the same, as long as we take care of them.

Keep the sheaves lubricated!