Shopsmith Forums

Howdy folks.

I've recently been re-introduced to the Shop Smith tools. Some 30 years ago, My Lieutenant (I'm a retired LEO), had one and he made epoxy covered clocks out of wood rounds. They were pretty cool. He made me a wood shield with my shoulder patch of my Department, clock... Still have it.

He said that he really liked it then, but it appeared to be a hockey, did everything, kinda good, but not really comparable to stand alone tools. Standard misguided view from one with no first hand experience

Well, I've recently been re-introduced to the tool, & have to say, with the 2.0 Mark 7, I'm very impressed, but not seen one in person.

Now that I no longer have a shop to work in, Just a 2 car garage, I'm thinking this would be a fantastic addition to my crafting abilities. De Rigor selling point for decades

I have an ultra cheepo, plastic bodied table saw from Hobo Freight, with the included leg function... Which quite frankly, takes up a lot of room & I'm thinking If I get rid of that thing for a Shop Smith, I'd only be giving up about twice the space the table saw takes, & gain a whole lot of functionality. PLASTIC? That rules out using it for a boat anchor

Now, for the questions I have.

1. I can't really swing a new 2.0 right now, so I'm thinking looking into the used market, but that poses some possible compromises that are really the reason I'm impressed by the 2.0 Mark 7.Even a 70 year old greenie model is upgradable to the M7 and ALL models between.

I'm very impressed with the new style rip fence, the way it locks into the extruded aluminum channels & the way the table rails center on the machine.

If I find a older model, to start, is it possible to purchase just the extruded aluminum channels & rip fence, to modernize the functionality?See Q1 answer

2. I'm also interested in a band saw, but boy those things seem pricy, new. Are there 'tricks' to finding used accessories reliably? Facebook Marketplace doesn't seem to have much Shop smith things in my area available for sale?Craigs list/E-bay
I'd be interested in a jointer, but is a 4" really a worthwhile investment? Seems a tad smallish.You intend to edge joint boards wider than 4"?

I'd also be interested in a planer, but don't even see that offering on their website... To include a biscuit joiner, and lots of other attachments that seem really neat... I guess if you run across one of those on the used market, you have to consider it gold? That is my opinion!

Any thing I'm missing at this point? One thing overlooked is the increased complexity / reliability of the M7 which can lead to expensive repairs(not done in thy shop) whereas the earlier Mark models are more reliable and far easier to maintain/repair thyself

Or better yet, What questions should I be asking without overlooking some important features to pay attention too?

Thanks in advance.


BTW Whatsa LEO???

Thanks...
"LEO" = Law Enforcement Officer

OK, so not Military.

I thought of another question:

Has anyone tried to adapt a milling collet to the arbor, effectively making a poor mans milling machine? I think I saw somewhere that there is a 'upgrade' for the spindle, so that may be an option, if one gets a machining vice with hand cranks for X & Y axis.

I'm thinking light cuts on mild steel & aluminum should be doable since it has to be built with lateral forces in mind to be used as a router.

JPG wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 2:28 pm OK, so not Military.

Yeah, Local Municipal officer. Started when I was 19 & retired after 17 years, due to my plumbing business taking off.

Possible - Maybe Practical - Maybe Failure prone bearings - Likely

All that said I have done some very light metal(mostly aluminum) milling type operations using a refurbished X-Y vice and milling cutter.

"Milling" using router bits on wood seems more viable.

I think a reasonable endeavor as long as unattainable objectives are not expected.





FWIW have also done very very light milling of aluminum(think edge rabiting) using milling cutter and (gasp) hand feed with rip fence as a guide.


Your risk tolerance may vary.

theplummer,

I see there has already been some discussion with JPG while I was writing this.

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. I will answer your questions but do know this is my point of view. We all do different things with any tools we use. Others, I am sure will share their thoughts too.

1. I can't really swing a new 2.0 right now, so I'm thinking looking into the used market, but that poses some possible compromises that are really the reason I'm impressed by the 2.0 Mark 7.

You could look into the used market but do learn what makes up a Shopsmith and how to determine what the condition is and what will work for you. Mark 7's do not come up for sale used very often.

I'm very impressed with the new style rip fence, the way it locks into the extruded aluminum channels & the way the table rails center on the machine.

The Rip Fence used for the Mark 7 is the same Rip Fence and Table System as the Mark V 520S and 520. For clarification the 520S is the same as the 520 but with the Mark 7 double tilt feature.

If I find a older model, to start, is it possible to purchase just the extruded aluminum channels & rip fence, to modernize the functionality?

The simple answer is YES. All Shopsmith Mark 5/V models going back to the original Mark 5 introduced in 1954 can be upgraded to a Mark 7. Now the reality of that statement is what model Mark 5/V is being upgrading and everything that is needed to upgrade it. The earlier the model the more it needs changed to upgrade it. My Mark 7 is one I upgraded from a Mark V 520. To it I added the Double Tilt Bench Ends and the Power Pro 1.0 Headstock. This was before the 2.0.

2. I'm also interested in a band saw, but boy those things seem pricy, new. Are there 'tricks' to finding used accessories reliably? Facebook Marketplace doesn't seem to have much Shop smith things in my area available for sale?

You can find used Bandsaws for sale at half or less than the new price. Older ones will have the Cast Iron Table while newer ones will have the Aluminum Table. This is one of those choices that have pluses and minuses depending on which Table you have. Some prefer the earlier Cast Iron Table while other prefer the newer Aluminum Table. Either way, just like the Mark 5/V, the bandsaw is upgradeable to newer features. I check craigslist regularly.

I'd be interested in a jointer, but is a 4" really a worthwhile investment? Seems a tad smallish.

The Jointer size is one of those things that create a lot of debate. Here again it goes to how you will use it. Is a 4" Jointer large enough or do you need a larger stand-alone one?

I'd also be interested in a planer, but don't even see that offering on their website... To include a biscuit joiner, and lots of other attachments that seem really neat... I guess if you run across one of those on the used market, you have to consider it gold?

There were two versions of the Planer. The first is the Mark Mount Planer which sits on the Mark (which ever model you have) and is powered by the Headstock. The second is the Pro Planer which has its own stand and motor to power it. It is the one I have and I am happy not to have to lift it on and off my Mark's. They also came with a hand crank feed or a motor feed. The Hand Crank Feed is less often seen on the used market.

Any thing I'm missing at this point?

Or better yet, What questions should I be asking without overlooking some important features to pay attention too?

You have asked some good questions already. As for a Shopsmith being able to do many things but as you have noted does none as well as stand-alone tools. I find the Shopsmith is a great compact tool system. I believe you will find it better than the bench table saw you have. The Mark 7 having 7 functions as it comes can have even more functions added like the Bandsaw you are interested in. Saving space by not having another stand-alone tool. It is much more versatile than stand-alone tools being able to change from one function to another give it versatility you cannot find otherwise. For example, if you want to cut a bevel on a board than sand the edge you can on a Shopsmith while keeping the same angle. After the cut put the Sanding Disk on in place of the Saw Blade and sand at the same angle without changing the table tilt. Doing bevel cuts on a Shopsmith is considered one of its downsides. On a Shopsmith you tilt the table as opposed to the saw blade. Looking at a Mark 7 with its expanded Table System you can still safely do bevel cuts. The expanded Table System allows wider cuts between the Saw Blade to the Rip Fence than standard Table Saws. You would need a large cabinet saw to equal its blade to fence capicaty.

theplummer wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 2:28 pm I thought of another question:

Has anyone tried to adapt a milling collet to the arbor, effectively making a poor mans milling machine? I think I saw somewhere that there is a 'upgrade' for the spindle, so that may be an option, if one gets a machining vice with hand cranks for X & Y axis.

I'm thinking light cuts on mild steel & aluminum should be doable since it has to be built with lateral forces in mind to be used as a router.

There are 5/8" bore collet chucks available that can be used on a Shopsmith. Shopsmith also has a heavy duty 1/2" and 1/4" router/shaper chuck that can hold those sizes of milling tools. The 2 bearing quill is certainly strong enough to use to mill aluminum and light steel.

One problem can be the stiffness of the table, and the headstock too if you want to use it in drill press mode. But light material and light cuts should work. For simple straight through cuts you can use a Shopsmith bandsaw with the right blades or just the table saw. I use the disk and belt sander to grind metal, and there are also 1/2" and 5/8" universal arbors to mount grinding wheels, diamond wheels, etc. in table saw mode.

Check Craigslist in your area for both Shopsmith and Shop Smith. You can often get SPTs with the machine at no additional cost but you may have to drive to get it. Not sure where you are located but here is one listed in St Paul with both a band saw and a jointer. https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/ ... 80322.html

And a DC.