Shopsmith Forums

I've been waiting for years to get into this. Spent a while looking for a decent Shopsmith. I just purchased one but the son of the original owner had no idea how operate it. I want to begin with the lathe and bowl turning. I have watched several videos and I am pretty sure I am missing some key components. The videos are great but I haven't been able to determine exactly what I need. I'm not sure I'm I know what the parts are called.
Is there a place I can go to see a set up that gives me a list of the components with part numbers so I can get started.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Welcome!

Scott Markwood (who is a member here) has a great Youtube channel that would be a good starting point:
https://www.youtube.com/@MyGrowthRings

For instance, you mentioned turning so this might be a good video to watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_SS67qincs

Shopsmith has a youtube channel as well
https://www.youtube.com/@shopsmith/videos

I just discovered this on Shopsmith's web page
https://shopsmith.com/getting-started/

Also
https://shopsmith.com/power-tool-woodworking/

Hope this helps!

I highly recommend beginning your turning journey not with bowls, but with “spindles”. Meaning anything that’s fairly skinny, such as tool handles and the like. A Shopsmith is great for turning these, but bowls are a lot more challenging. Rockler, Woodcraft, and the like sell inexpensive “turning kits” that can make great handmade gifts.

Mike Young’s YouTube Chanel “Todays Shopsmith” has a great beginners tutorial on using the lathe.
Part 1 covers Spindle turning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jsEFfsuJo

Part 2 covers bowl turning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKKItTxiTQU