new soon to be owner

retired00 · Post by **retired00** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:10 pm

Hello,

In the late '70's I bought a new Mark V. The kids came and so the toys went.

The kids are GONE, I'm retired, and have limited space for a shop. I need some info as it's been awhile. The "in progress" shop has a low ceiling. When the Mark V is in drill press position, what is the total height from tip to floor?

There are a few on CL that I want to look at in close proximity to me, there are more within 2 hrs. drive time that seem like REALLY good deals (Mark V complete w/jointer, band saw and belt sander) $500!!!

How difficult is a power unit rebuild? eBay has a guy that will do it for a fee (reasonable). I'm jumping the gun as I don't have a unit YET, but I will.

Any info appreciated

Tony

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:51 pm

retired00 wrote:Hello,

In the late '70's I bought a new Mark V. The kids came and so the toys went.

The kids are GONE, I'm retired, and have limited space for a shop. I need some info as it's been awhile. The "in progress" shop has a low ceiling. When the Mark V is in drill press position, what is the total height from tip to floor?

There are a few on CL that I want to look at in close proximity to me, there are more within 2 hrs. drive time that seem like REALLY good deals (Mark V complete w/jointer, band saw and belt sander) $500!!!

How difficult is a power unit rebuild? eBay has a guy that will do it for a fee (reasonable). I'm jumping the gun as I don't have a unit YET, but I will.

Any info appreciated

Tony

77" should clear!:rolleyes:

An interesting place to 'start' - http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Archives/SS121/SS121_Shopsmith_Reborn_Pt1.htm Part 1 of 3 and much much more!:)

retired00 · Post by **retired00** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:03 pm

GREAT, I have plenty of room.

Thanks for the link. I'm sure I will have more questions.

I remember one thing that irritated me was I could not square up the table to the blade and have it stay. Any suggestions? Is the Incra fence worth the $$$$?

Tony

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:28 pm

retired00 wrote:GREAT, I have plenty of room.

Thanks for the link. I'm sure I will have more questions.

I remember one thing that irritated me was I could not square up the table to the blade and have it stay. Any suggestions? Is the Incra fence worth the $$$$?

Tony

If the table is 'wandering', no fence will correct that.

Well maybe if the Incra is attached to the 'rock solid' extension table! That may be self-contradictory!:D

I have not experienced that, but I believe the larger tables(505 - 20) would be more stable(wider stance(trunion and table mount)).

You will find table alignment in one of those saw dust sessions.

Do go 'exploring'!

retired00 · Post by **retired00** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:31 pm

I will, Thanks.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:02 pm

retired00 wrote:GREAT, I have plenty of room.

Thanks for the link. I'm sure I will have more questions.

I remember one thing that irritated me was I could not square up the table to the blade and have it stay. Any suggestions? Is the Incra fence worth the $$$$?

Tony

I do not believe you will ever get a Mark V or a Mark 7 to setup "rock solid". The way this animal is built, rock solid does not happen. However, that being said, I believe that you can get 1/32" and better accuracy from the Mark V.

I contend that the table alignments can be done easily using a .005" tolerance standard.

I hardly ever move my Mark V so that does make it a bit more stable than if I was dropping it down on wheels and rolling it around all the time. But I love my Shopsmith and I believe it will perform as a hobby machine as well as any made.

It is NOT a professional heavy duty production machine. I do not mill heavy materials (3"-4") with expectations of highly accurate results.

retired00 · Post by **retired00** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:32 pm

Dusty,

I found a MV that the owner said he bought in '80. What does that mean vs 500, 510,520? I think I read where the quil only has 1 bearing on some models. eBay has upgrades. Send a link if possible to the info I need. There are many for sale near me and I want to know the differences.

I will use this MAINLY for knife making and some minor jigs etc. I will buy a bandsaw, and will use the disk sander, drill press and maybe horiz. boring and the lathe if I can figure out how. So for now, the table saw won't be used much.

Tony

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:51 pm

A '500' is the same as the older Mark 5 made by predecessor manufacturers.

A 505 has a larger worktable and a larger extension table and a different rip fence.

A 510 has additional 'floating tables and connecting tubes etc. The table rails are round tubes. There are two different versions with relatively minor differences (unless you mix parts beteeen them).

A 520 has box shaped rails and a more robust rip fence.

Other than the differences(tables, rail, fences) they are identical. They can still be UPgraded today, albiet expensively.

The 2 bearing quill was introduced after the 510 was created, so a 510 might be either. UPgrade still available!

All thing equal,(physical condition etc.) a 520 - 510 - 500 would be preferable in that order.

A little history might help:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/toolhistory.htm

P.S. A 1980 would have started life as a '500', but could have been upgraded.

retired00 · Post by **retired00** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:00 pm

Thanks for the info and the history link, very helpful. I need to get some of the CL owners to send the serial # so I can date them.

Thanks

Tony

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:08 pm

Welcome to the forum. I am attaching a link that will compare the 520 with the power pro and 510 models of Mark V. http://www.shopsmith.com/markvsite/specifications_3.htm

I have owned both 510 and 520 Mark V and now have a Power Pro Mark 7. I loved my Mark V 520 and am thrilled to have updated it to the Mark 7 Power Pro. I personally found the 510 guides lacking and upgraded the 510 to a 520. Jim