Shopsmith Forums

With the usual response from naysayers...

http://toolmonger.com/2010/11/02/shopsm ... more-43278

easterngray wrote:With the usual response from naysayers...

http://toolmonger.com/2010/11/02/shopsmith-goes-digital/#more-43278

I wonder what Dreamcatcher would think of Mark's shop containing multiple SS and clone.

Also wonder what Dreamcatcher's produce looks like compared to Marks.

And then there is Paul who appreciates a 60 yr old 10ER for what it can do!


None so Blind as those who WILL not look!:rolleyes:

"Naysaying" seems to be an art in itself. I remember a short time ago all the negative comments about Amazon's Kindle when it first came out. Later it was determined that 95% of the complaints were from those who had never purchased or used one.

I respect the fact that not all woodworkers think favorably of the Shopsmith. In fact, not all users are without complaint. I even agree with some of their criticism but it angers me when anyone puts down the Shopsmith based on their casual experience with (and limited knowledge of) the Shopsmith.

Criticizing the Shopsmith because it has a small table and a 3/4 hp motor tells me that they have not looked at what is available today. Faulting the Mark V because it does not perform favorably when compared to a Unisaw in a professional cabinet shop is a raw display of total ignorance.

That having been said, I should just forget that this guy even exists but I cannot. Who is the ToolMonger and what background does he have that makes him such an outspoken critic? I guess what I am really asking is - "Who does he get money from"?

When I first got my SS, someone thought he would criticize my choice by pointing out the difficulty of changing over to new operations. In fact his words were "You gotta be a *%&&$$*(_ engineer to work the changeovers". Thanks I'm not an engineer in fact.
Out of curiosity I googled the Craftsman 10" table saw. First I'll say that when I see a new Craftsman power tool, I usually just keep walking. I did find http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=craftsman+3+hp+tablesaw&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=2810344536720761219&ei=89jWTJjlD8Gclge88oT9CA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCcQ8wIwAg# which is a contractor's saw. Small table and a miter gauge that I suspect is made from paper (not really, but it is Craftsman). I wouldn't be happy with that unless I was on a job site and I had small pieces to cut. Crosscutting? Not 2x4s, not me.
Then Dreamcatcher listed the 6" disksander and belt sander. You can't, fairly, compare a 6" disk sander with the 12" SS. Here is a 12" I found for 199.00 http://www.amazon.com/RIKON-51-200-12-Inch-Disc-Sander/dp/B002FB74Y2 . No thank you. I never heard of Rikon before.
I didn't jump on that discussion because there were enough defenders that voiced the strengths of the SS very well. The simple fact is that not everyone will be happy. Yet if I had a dream shop, the SS would be a valuable part of it.

dusty wrote:That having been said, I should just forget that this guy even exists but I cannot. Who is the ToolMonger and what background does he have that makes him such an outspoken critic? I guess what I am really asking is - "Who does he get money from"?

Hi Dusty. The way I read the article, the only complaint toolmonger had was the cost. He did give me an idea. I still have 2 good kidneys, but no power pro yet .
I'll keep y'all posted on my recovery

Thanks for the tip. I've added my comments.

So at least three of us opinionated old codgers replied and without resorting to being [totally]insulting(oohhh that was a trial!;)).

[quote="JPG40504"]So at least three of us opinionated old codgers replied and without resorting to being [totally]insulting(oohhh that was a trial!]We might be opinionated old codgers but we do have years of experience using a Shopsmith upon which to base our opinions. Furthermore, I frequently acknowledge that the table saw in my dreams is a Unisaw just like the one Norm uses but that does not speak negatively of the Shopsmith. I am a realist; the Mark V is not all things to all woodworkers but neither is the Unisaw (or any other piece of equipment one might prefer).

[quote="dusty"]We might be opinionated old codgers but we do have years of experience using a Shopsmith upon which to base our opinions. Furthermore, I frequently acknowledge that the table saw in my dreams is a Unisaw just like the one Norm uses but that does not speak negatively of the Shopsmith. I am a realist]
You got the correct interpretation of what I meant re OOC's! (I left off Ornery)

Hey I would like to be riding in a stretch limo(with a chauffeur), but that doesn't cause me to disparage a 'normal' vehicle. Maybe it is because I ain't gots one!:D