Shopsmith Forums

New guy here.
Short story, I was given a vintage 10e a couple of years ago. Box of parts/accessories, I honestly don't even know what all I have. It runs well, seems to be in serviceable condition. Needs a fresh belt.
I had it set up as a table saw briefly, but have mostly used it as a second (larger) drill press, as I have another table saw and only needed a basic second operation at the time.
My shop use varies widely, from basic woodworking, lutherie and ventures well into metal work and fabrication.

First question- is the way tube spacing standard the same across modern versions.
How many accessories are useful/adaptable?

I am curious about a bandsaw kit. Is it any good?
Or should I just buy a standalone bandsaw? (I have a small bench top model, looking to add a medium duty tool.)

The power head is built to be multi purpose. Can I use it to create a light duty Mill for soft materials? (Brass/aluminum/plastic?)

If I can find a deal on a modern power head, is the way tube sizing/spacing the same?

Mbliss01,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

A little background on the Model 10E. It was the first Shopsmith made beginning in 1947. As changes were made it became the Model 10ER. It was the first 5 in 1 Shopsmith tool. In 1954 it was replaced by the Mark 5. Both the Model 10's and the Mark 5/V are a Table Saw, Disk Sander, Lathe, Horizontal Boring Machine (drill press laying down) and a Drill Press. With additional accessories they can do a lot more.

Answer for your first question is no. The Way Tube spacing is different for the Model 10's than then it is for all the Mark series tools. The Diameter of the Quill and Spindle is the same as the Mark Series tools. That means you can use some current accessories that attach to the Quill and the 5/8" Diameter Spindle.

As for the Bandsaw I believe it is better than many you will find. I had a bench top Craftsman Bandsaw which I constantly fought with to keep the tracking correct. I quickly got rid of it once I bought my first Shopsmith Bandsaw. Once set up and aligned the Shopsmith Bandsaw is ready to go. It only needs the Guide Blocks adjusted for different size blades. Because the Magna (original name) - Shopsmith Bandsaw didn't come out until after the Model 10ER was replaced by the Mark 5 it was not made to go directly on it. There was an adapter kit made in the 1950's for the Model 10E and 10ER to use the SPT's (Special Purpose Tools) like the Bandsaw, Jig Saw, Belt Sander etc. That included special mounting brackets and a special Drive Sleeve Pulley with the Hub for powering the SPT's. A PDF Manual for the Power Mount Adapter Kit is below for reference.

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I have seen pictures of Model 10's being used as a milling machine so it can be done.

As I already said the spacing on the Way Tubes is different for the Model 10E and 10ER than the spacing for the Mark Series Tools. The Model 10E and 10ER commonly came with a 1/2 HP Motor and there was an optional 3/4 HP Motor available. One Model 10ER I restored had a 1 HP Motor that replaced the original. It was a powerhouse compared to the 1/2 HP Motor. One thing to check is the condition of the bearings in the Drive Sleeve Assembly and the Quill Assembly. Old worn-out bearings will affect the tools performance. Since the Model 10E and 10ER use pulleys and a belt the speeds are limited to 7 fixed speeds even though the Owner's Guide listed only three speeds. There was an optional accessory called a Speed Changer which is a variable speed accessory. It has a wider speed range than the Mark 5/V conventional Headstock. This is a very popular accessory even today. Buying a Speed Changer at online auctions can range from $200 or higher. Sometimes it is cheaper to find one with a Model 10 for sale than it is to buy it individually. That being said you may also get accessories you don't already have but would find useful. Learning about the Model 10's will help you determine what may be of value to you and help in knowing how to check its condition.

As you continue to learn more about the Shopsmith tools feel free to ask questions on anything you are not sure about. If you need help identifying parts you can post pictures here.

Hopefully you have an Owner's Guide for your Model 10E. If not, we can guide you to a PDF copy you can download for free. Don't waste your money buying a PDF copy on ebay. The Model 10E Owner's Guide is too large of a file to directly link here.