Shopsmith Forums

The news is out.
Introducing the PowerPro
Ways to Upgrade
Whatcha gonna do?

I've just ordered the upgrade pkg's for myself, and my son and son-in-law. I went with the 2 HP 240V units. If you are "pondering" the purchase of this upgrade give serious consideration to also installing a 240V recepticle in your garage or shop.

The 2 HP DVR motor should be able to offer performance right up there with the cabinet saws, and yet have the additional advantage of lower speeds for burn sensitive woods like maple and cherry.

The low speed capability will make it possible for me to "retire" the speed reducer and I'm certain that I will be using the 10,000 rpm capability to do a lot more routing and shaping on my shopsmith. I've never enjoyed using hand held routers.

My son-in-law is a serious bowl turner. The DVR headstock will literally replace his intentions to purchase a Oneway lathe. The reversible feature will make it possible for him to greatly improve the dust collection capability while he sands.

This upgrade is a remarkable achievement for a small company like Shopsmith. I hope that the woodworking magazine editors give it some attention.

I would have added a couple options to your poll but I'll do it this way. Too bad we can't see who answered what!

I have to wait for others to test drive it. I don't like to be the first out of the gate in any race.

I want one very badly but this price is currently prohibitive for me on a fixed income. Maybe later - when my ship comes in.

Do I NEED one. Absolutely not. The old girl has served me well f or many, many years. I just went out and reassured her that she was not about to become a "trade-in". She has work to do right here for years to come.

'MAYBE LATER' Wishful thinking, but the price is too steep, and includes too many unnecessary items. I do not need spares for my 2 bearing quill, my new poly-v belt, my power switch.

I suppose I might be able to recoup some of the cost by selling old motor,quill, main shaft, idler shaft/eccentric, control sheave, speed control...


FWIW, Ralph has consumed 15% of the initial production run!

While I would love to have one; the cost is prohibitive for me. I'll just keep chugging along with my current machine for the forseeable future.

dusty wrote:I would have added a couple options to your poll but I'll do it this way. Too bad we can't see who answered what!

Since I've been finding that I really enjoy turning, I ordered one. This saves me the cost of a speed reducer. I also have a set of shaper bits (came with something else I bought used) that could really benefit from the higher speeds. Add the cost of a speed increaser. After my upgrade I'll have the parts to convert my dad's Shopsmith to a dual-bearing quill.

So:
$278 Speed Reducer
$280 Speed Increaser
$127 Two-bearing quill
----
$685

This brings the cost of the upgrade to roughly $750.

Of course this is a very individual situation. Lots of folks already have speed changers or have no need for them. Lots of folks have no need for a box of extra parts. And lots of folks just plain don't have the money. I know this is a HUGE stretch for me, and I'm cashing in Father's Day, Birthdays, and Christmas's thru at least 2020.

BTW: I am very happy to see Shopsmith moving forward. It would have been very easy for them to slide back into a support role, only providing supplies and repair parts. I'll take a wait-and-see attitude toward their future, all the while wishing them (and us) the very best of luck.

And to wrap it up.. I wonder how the headstock would look in a nice dark-blue and black theme...

8iowa wrote:I've just ordered the upgrade pkg's for myself, and my son and son-in-law. I went with the 2 HP 240V units. If you are "pondering" the purchase of this upgrade give serious consideration to also installing a 240V recepticle in your garage or shop.

I ordered online and didn't see an option for motor selection -- is the motor dual voltage or will I need to call Shopsmith to specify? (I ordered the DIY version)

paulrussell wrote:I ordered online and didn't see an option for motor selection -- is the motor dual voltage or will I need to call Shopsmith to specify? (I ordered the DIY version)

The motor is dual voltage.

admin wrote:The motor is dual voltage.

Now doing the "Snoopy Happy Dance" -- Thanks!

EDIT:....maybe that should be "Michigan J. Frog" Happy Dance.

paulrussell wrote:I ordered online and didn't see an option for motor selection -- is the motor dual voltage or will I need to call Shopsmith to specify? (I ordered the DIY version)

I be very interested in the answer. Hopefully it is merely a matter of what it is connected to! Many power supplies(switching type) today are capable of operation on a broad range of input voltages including 115 to 230. Obviously more input power(electrical) would allow more output power(mechanical).

Considering the great simplicity of this 'redesign'(read cost reduction/parts count) I would be surprised if the power supply were not similarly designed.


EDIT: When will I learn to 'wait' for additional info b4 responding. Sanity did indeed prevail!!!!!!!! see #8