Advice on Shopsmith Maintenance and Upgrades?

[chapmanruss]

plusiablush,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

I'll try to answer your questions, but this is my opinions. Others may have somewhat different views. The following is information for the Mark V so if you have a different Shopsmith like the 1947 through 1953 Model 10E or 10ER much of the following will not apply.

First maintenance.

Lubricating the moving parts in the Headstock is a good place to start. I am referring to the Mark 5/V Conventional Headstock here. There is less needed maintenance for the Power Pro Headstock. Follow the guidelines in the Owner's manual. If you don't have an Owner's Manual, I recommend getting one. Depending on which model you have some parts will vary. The difference in the Mark V models is the Table/Fence system they have. The Headstock is essentially the same for all Mark V models made beginning in the 1960's but changes have occurred over the years. Lubricating the movable Sheaves on the Motor Shaft and the Idler Shaft Assembly is needed to keep the parts moving to be able to adjust the speed. Also lubricating the parts of the Speed Control Assembly will help keep it working smoothly. Waxing metal parts like the Way Tubes to protect them from rust and it will provide some lubrication to make the Headstock and Carriage slide on them easier. Use paste furniture wax like Minwax. This information and more is contained in the Owner's manual.

As for worthwhile upgrades that is a matter of what will make your Shopsmith work better for you. I could suggest all kinds of upgrades depending on which model of Shopsmith you have but I would need to know what actual Shopsmith you do have. If you are unsure post pictures and we can identify it. The list is a bit long of Shopsmith tools. It begins with the Model 10E, the original Shopsmith tool which came out in 1947. The Model 10ER followed it. There are the Mark series tools which began in 1954 with the Mark 5. The rest of the list is the Mark 2, Mark VII (different from the current Mark 7), Mark V (a change to the Roman Numeral only), Mark V 500 (the original Mark V), Mark V 510, Mark V 505, Mark 1 (not common), Mark V 520, Mark 7, Mark 4 and Mark V 520S.

Many of the Mark V parts are still available from Shopsmith and can be found here on the website. Parts not available here can be found used at online sites.

[JPG]

JPW was FLOOR wax. No longer available, but Minwax finishing wax or Trewax are a good substitute currently available. The distinguishing attribute of Johnson's original paste wax(JPW) was the absence of anti-slip ingredients added to most other paste floor waxes.