Shopsmith Forums

Hi everyone, I joined a little bit ago and wanted to introduce my project to the forum. Its a 1955 Greenie, my grandpa bought new at Mongomery Wards in Crestline Ohio. Whenever we visited, he would make me and my brothers something - one year he made us a wooden boat navy which we took to the local lake for a battle! He worked in the Pennsy brake shop for 50 years and when he retired he gave the shopsmith to my dad and came and built a shop in our basement with it, with cabinets, pegboard, special jigs for things and taught me and dad how to use it.

Grandpa painted it at least a couple times while he owned it, once in a very light green metalic and once in a pennsy green and at least once with a brush. I've had it disassembled in moving cartons for about 10 years, I think its complete, and in pretty good shape. I just don't really want to do anything dumb as I put it back together. All of your wisdom, help and advise would be greatly appreciated.

Over the Memorial Day weekend I cleaned, painted and lubed the Headstock. Sorry to the purist for the unconventional paint scheme, but I wanted to do something more personal (theres a Goldie rusting away down the street though I may take on next! That would be painted original colors). I was pretty excited so I assembled it. I used Ford axle grease on the Quill shaft and gears; the main drive (with the Gilmer belt?) seemed to have sealed bearings that turned smootly, so I didn't lubricate that. I used 3 in 1 oil on the worm for the speed controler, but didn't put any oil or greas on the place where the sheave shaft connected to the pork chop (?) sorry if I'm butchering the part names. The motor runs fine and doesn't squeal, but I didn't open it or check the brushes. Its always been stored indoors and has probably seen less than 20 hours since 1980. Are there any other lubrication points I should hit. It actually comes apart pretty easily.

WOW!

Very nice job!

Paint looks great. Mine is a '55 also

Here is a link to newcomer information that covers way more than I could ever state.

Newcomer Information

Welcome to the forum.

Nice job! I don't think custom paint schemes are going to scare anybody here. Personally I love the custom paint schemes and collect pictures of them. When I restored my 80's model bland gray Mark V, I went with a "New Orleans Saints" black and gold paint scheme.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the color support. Like the black and gold scheme, thats good looking. Thanks too for the newcomer post reference, I appreciate all the information.

This weekend I stripped the chassis parts (with Jesco - its what I had lying around the shed:o ) and here is a pic of the tubes before the drill/expansion plug latheing. Worked pretty slick but I still have some pitting etc. probably just turn them down 180 degrees.

One of the tube support castings has a crack from many years ago, its just cosmetic so I might leave it - don't want to erase all the memories. The table carriage has the typical crack too, probably use the MickyD JB weld repair.

Thanks again for the welcome and the information guys, I appreciate it!

I think Grandpa would be proud of what you have done regardless of what color you painted it! Obviously he was not stuck on OEM colors.

Looks like Jesco worked very well.

Glad you are familiar with MickyD's Greenie. Much very good information in that thread.

Hi everyone, sorry I've been AWOL on posting progress. Following Mickyd's threads, here is the base of Grandpa's Greenie

Great paint-job! I love the browns/coppers working with the red knobs.

Grampa is looking down with a BIG smile!!!!!
Nice job
Bill V

Excellent job on the paint. I love the combination. I think my favorite SS paint scheme is on the Goldies. It's almost a shame they stayed with gray after that. I've been guilty myself in redoing machines back to their original gray when there are so many possibilities. Yours is a good example of what's possible. I think I'll get more creative on my next one. Thanks for the idea.