Shopsmith Forums

Jumped into the sawsmith world yesterday buying($100) a old mark VII. The motor seems fine, running in both foward and reverse. Missing the vacuum motor(any one have an extra?), chuck, arbour, sanding wheel, and couplings. The guy told me it had the bandsaw but it was actually the jigsaw. A bit of rust, but I think it will clean up. Really just wanted it for a drill press and sanding station. I see a lot of mark V's with attachments for under $500.00, so I'm thinking of getting a second unit if I can find one with a beltsander. Hopefully she works out.

My first SS purchase was a Mark VII and it looked similar to yours and now looks like new. It will clean up real nice with a little sweat and elbow grease. I used mine after I got my second SS a 500 that was a real mess to spin the way tubes and polish/clean and shine them back up to new. The first thing i did with my Mark VII was completely disassemble and clean rebuild the whole thing. The vacuum unit was discarded as it was never a very efficient part of this machine and just took power away from the motor. All I did was remove the connection to the main motor to the output shaft of the vacuum impeller. Then i just buttoned it all back up with the vacuum housing reattached to the machine housing. Enjoy it they are somewhat rare but i think they are one of the better machines that were made back in the day. There is one except and that is the nylon speed control cam and quadrant arrangement. If you sheave btton bearing is no good you need to replace it before you run this machine or you will melt that cam and there are no replacements at this time. DHoilcan a member here is working on having some of them made but we have not received any of them as of yet as the machinist is still working on them. Enjoy it and put it to work.