Shopsmith Forums

Hello everyone!

I just bought a used Mark V, model 500. The serial number seems to point to a 1985ish date of manufacture. The machine is in pretty good shape and came with a jointer, some molding/shaper type accesories, a chisel sharpening kit and a large chest full of other accesories (some of which I have yet to identify). I bought the whole lot and a non-shopsmith dust collection system for $400 on craigslist last week. I bought it from the grandson of he original owner and everything seems pretty well cared for and maintained.

I feel like I got a heck of a deal

I'm not new to woodworking, but I've never used one of these machines before. So far, I'm pretty impressed. The table saw seems a little dicey, but I have another saw so it shouldn't be a problem. I've never had a lathe before, so that was my main attraction, but the drill press/borer seems pretty sharp, too!

I build custom furniture and banjos out of my basement shop (small space, hence the Shopsmith idea) in Portland, OR. Many of my banjo making buddies seem to think this machine was designed for us and I am inclined to agree!

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and let you all know that I've been looking this forum over and it seems like a cool resource. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I'll make sure to bring this forum any questions (I'm sure there will be plenty!) I have about my new rig.

I'll start by asking if there are any must-have upgrades you all think I might want to look at?

Thanks in advance!

Matthew Poindexter
Portland, OR

Happy Thanksgiving. Let me be the first to welcome you. I have had my shopsmith since 1994. I too have a small shop (in my garage). I just started using the lathe for pen turning.

That was one heck of a buy. Around here (the midwest) only rarely does one get in that price range. Currently the ones being offered that are comparable are asking $1300 and up!

I'd suggest going to the Maintenance Forum and finding the links to the Sawdust sessions on maintenance/rebuilding and giving your unit a thorough tune-up before doing much else.

BTW, post pics of the parts you can't identify in the boxes here and someone is bound to know what it is and what to do to get the most out of it. These guys are great, very knowledgeable, and eager to help.

Welcome to the forum!!

Hello Matthew and congratulations! There is a fellow Shopsmith fan and banjo maker with a web site that sings the praises of the mark 5 for his work. I believe the site is called "song of the great lakes". I'll try and get a link up... As for indespensible accessories, I highly recommend the adjustable stop collar and the conical sanding disc(s). No shopsmith should be without them! Happy thanksgiving to all - Alec

UPDATE: Here's the link: http://www.songofthegreatlakes.com/

Welcome to the forum Matthew...Heck of a deal on that Shopsmith. You can't get more accurate woodworking per square foot anywhere. The info you can get from the experts on this sight is invaluable.
I bought my MarkV new in 1981. I have had large shops with separate tools but hung on to the shopsmith. Downsized about 10 years ago and now Shopsmith again is a key component in my shop.

Welcome! The answer to your question depends upon what you already have!
Alec's response is excellent since it is doubtful you have either one of those accessories since they were fairly recently introduced.

Welcome to the forum Matthew, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Welcome Matt. Hope you enjoy your SS as much as we do ours.

Thanks for the "hellos" and well-wishes all!

I'm posting some photos of things I have not yet identified. Any help would be appreciated.

In other news, my second child and first son was born on Monday, so my time with the machine has been limited by more important work! Can't wait to show him and my daughter how to use it... I should have it figured out by then

These are the accessories I have not figured out yet... Shoot, never mind. It is saying my files are too big to attach. I'll upload photos when I get the edited.

I'll try to describe. One thing looks like a jig of some sort with an adjustable angle that fits into the miter gauge slot on the table. Its about 6" wide by 6" tall or so and attached to an L-bracket made of aluminum with clamps.

Another is labeled "Incra" and is gray plastic attached to a piece of plywood.. some sort of jig.

I also have several wooden clamps of some sort, labeled "shopsmith. They are long and have small radius half circles cut into the edges.

Sound familiar to anyone?"