So, a bit of an odd question...
I don't own a ShopSmith, but my grandfather did... and I've recently begun my own foray into woodworking.
I ran across a copy of 'Woodworking Projects' that are collections of patterns from Hands On Magazine, and looking through it, it became *very* clear to me that *this* is where my grandfather was getting his patterns from... I still have *dozens* of toys/kitchen gadgets he made.
So, here's the ask... I'd like to sort of 'connect' with my grandfather, and remake these things for my own kids (and soon-to-have grandkids) and would love to track down copies of Hands On magazine for them.
Is there *anywhere* that digital copies exist that I can get/purchase/whatever?
I *know* there's a Facebook Group, but I keep getting declined for membership because I don't own a ShopSmith.
At the very least, is there a master list of issues, so that if I end up buying them off eBay, I can be somewhat assured I have the complete set?
Thanks,
Hands On Magazine question
Moderator: admin
- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4190
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: Hands On Magazine question
treknoid,
Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. Owning a Shopsmith is not a requirement here so again welcome.
I don't know of a location to find digital copies of the old, printed Hands On magazine. The ones I have collected mostly came with Shopsmith tools I have purchased to restore. You can find them for sale at online auctions. Since you have some of the items your grandfather made, they could be used as patterns to "re-create" them.
Hands On! began with the Sept/Oct 79 issue and replaced the Shavings from Shopsmith newsletter. I don't recall when it ended but did continue at least through 1989.
Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. Owning a Shopsmith is not a requirement here so again welcome.
I don't know of a location to find digital copies of the old, printed Hands On magazine. The ones I have collected mostly came with Shopsmith tools I have purchased to restore. You can find them for sale at online auctions. Since you have some of the items your grandfather made, they could be used as patterns to "re-create" them.
Hands On! began with the Sept/Oct 79 issue and replaced the Shavings from Shopsmith newsletter. I don't recall when it ended but did continue at least through 1989.
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.
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.
- stephen_a._draper
- Gold Member
- Posts: 256
- Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:08 pm
- Location: Bellevue, Nebraska
- Contact:
Re: Hands On Magazine question
This excel spreadsheet shows you information on all 54 issues of Hands On that were published.
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 269
- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:47 pm
Re: Hands On Magazine question
https://web.archive.org/web/20070804005 ... /index.htm
Found this page using the Wayback Machine, might help with some plans.
Found this page using the Wayback Machine, might help with some plans.
Larry Hargrove
Rock Island, Ok
1981 Mark V 500>510>520(98922)
19?? Mark V 500>Power Pro headstock 556176 06-17-11 factory exchange program original serial unknown
1957 Mark V 500 (350389)
1953 10ER
Another 10ER
Bandsaw 2012 Jointer 2012
Bandsaw, Jointer, other goodies
Craftsman table saw, Delta 46-460 Midi lathe
SS 6” Belt Sander w/power stand 1970’s?
Rock Island, Ok
1981 Mark V 500>510>520(98922)
19?? Mark V 500>Power Pro headstock 556176 06-17-11 factory exchange program original serial unknown
1957 Mark V 500 (350389)
1953 10ER
Another 10ER
Bandsaw 2012 Jointer 2012
Bandsaw, Jointer, other goodies
Craftsman table saw, Delta 46-460 Midi lathe
SS 6” Belt Sander w/power stand 1970’s?
- edflorence
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 674
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:14 pm
- Location: Idaho Panhandle
Re: Hands On Magazine question
Hi Treknoid;
Not sure if this will be helpful or not, if you are interested in collecting the Hands On magazine itself, but if you are primarily interested in projects that appeared there, you might want to look into finding books in the Woodworking Projects Yearbooks series published by Popular Science once a year from 1985 to 1991.
The series contains a wealth of projects geared toward the Shopsmith. I believe that many, maybe all??, of these projects first appeared in Hands On.
Best of Luck,
Ed
Not sure if this will be helpful or not, if you are interested in collecting the Hands On magazine itself, but if you are primarily interested in projects that appeared there, you might want to look into finding books in the Woodworking Projects Yearbooks series published by Popular Science once a year from 1985 to 1991.
The series contains a wealth of projects geared toward the Shopsmith. I believe that many, maybe all??, of these projects first appeared in Hands On.
Best of Luck,
Ed
Re: Hands On Magazine question
Thanks! That was hugely helpful!stephen_a._draper wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2024 12:42 am This excel spreadsheet shows you information on all 54 issues of Hands On that were published.
Hands On.xlsx
As a thank you, I've updated your DM Column with the DM numbers from the ones I've managed to collect so far

- Attachments
-
Hands On_Updated.xlsx
- (12.16 KiB) Downloaded 394 times
- rlkeeney
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 747
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:53 am
- Location: Tallahassee FL
- Contact:
Re: Hands On Magazine question
What are Columns D & E in the spreadsheet?
--
Robert Keeney
Tallahassee Florida
#odinstoyfactory
Robert Keeney
Tallahassee Florida
#odinstoyfactory
- stephen_a._draper
- Gold Member
- Posts: 256
- Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:08 pm
- Location: Bellevue, Nebraska
- Contact:
Re: Hands On Magazine question
On the back page at the bottom were numbers. That is what columns D and E are.
Shopsmith Mark 4, Mark 7, Mark 5 shorty, planer, bandsaw, jointer, belt sander. Grizzly central dust collection 4" PVC trunk. Shopsmith Routing System stand-alone overhead pin router.
Stephen A. Draper
Author of Mark 4/7/520™ Self-Study Course ©2025
Stephen A. Draper
Author of Mark 4/7/520™ Self-Study Course ©2025