Hot or Not? The ShopSmith Mark V
By Sean O'Hara
The ShopSmith Mark V 5-in-1 woodworking system has been around since the ’50s — and hasn’t changed much since then. Recently I had a chance to work with one, and the results were surprising. It’s obviously not built for pros, but it’s simple to use and can handle almost any basic function — like cutting, sanding, or turning — in a multitude of formats. I can’t fault it for being what it is: a good starting point for hobbyists who don’t have a great deal of space and want a shop.
They are a bit pricey, but this, too, is mitigated by their longevity. My dad, for example, has had his for almost 30 years, and it’s never broken once — even after helping us build countless projects with values far outweighing the $2,000 he shelled out for it back in the day.
So is the hardy shop-in-a-box method worth it for the home hobbyist, or is it just better to save up and buy what you need in pieces? Let us know what you think in comments.
Mark V [ShopSmith]
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]
November 5th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Not. For the same money you can buy good quality stand-alone versions of all the incorporated tools. They may save a little shop space, but I don’t have time to be constantly changing over from one tool to another.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I was talking about this just last week. I’m dying to hear what folks say. From what I’ve gathered, is that those that have seen it in action, think it’s a lot better than those that just read the price tag and features.
I know it’s priced out of my range, but I met a guy with one that makes musical instruments and he swears by it. And his stuff looks great and is tuned professionally. I know I wouldn’t turn one down.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Hot. Space saving, outlet saving, and for the guy with only a garage available part time for a shop, it is easy to get out, use, clean up, and put away. And I inherited mine from my dad.
With a little planning you don’t have to change and change the tools back and forth.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
HOT - Not only is this machine capable of doing everything I need it to…the company provides excellent customer service, plus it is made in the U.S.A. and is built like a train!
November 5th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
HOT - I’ve had mine since 83 and love it. It is built like a tank and Shopsmith has provided upgrades to the existing machine over all these years. The machine I have now is substantially different and better than it was in 83. I’m not a professional and don’t have a lot of space and I really appreciate the quality and continued support that I continue to get from the factory both in terms of parts, improvements and continued training.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
HOT - I got into the Shopsmith early this year. Quality is outstanding and the system’s versatility is limited only by the imagination. Once you are an owner and get on the company e-mail distributions, sale prices do come along on accessories.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Hot. How many of us have a huge shop? Rembret says it “may save a little shop space”. Folks, it saves one hell of a lot of shop space.
Plus is is made in America and the quality is oustanding. So is the after purchase support. Ever try to get support from the other brand names?
November 5th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
HOT- I got my first one in 1976 added a second used one a few years back. They are upgradeable to the current version (520) and just keep working.
I have had zero downtime but added a second machine as a back up thinking that on a 30 plus years old machine something might fail…. but even if something does fail I can still just order the parts and how many tools do you own that you can say that about??
Change overs for the most part can be done in a minute…. faster then you can drink a hot cup of coffee for sure.
Alignment once done stays that way, it has been almost 3 years since I did my last one and while I check it often it doesn’t require redoing very often (I only did that one because of the major upgrade I did.) I love my shopsmith!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Hot. Upgrades and conversions are easy to do. The MarkV does a lot in a little footprint in the shop. This tool gives professional looking results. For exaxample the time it takes to convert from tablesaw mode to drill press only takes a couple of minutes, tops. This is a great tool to learn and grow with. I purchased mine as a 50th Anniversary edition. It has the capability to grow with you as your woodworking skills improve. With retractable casters it is easy to move the Mark V within the shop to rip or crosscut larger stock. My grandfather had a Mark V he purchased in the 1950s and used it to build his home. it was given to my uncle and he used it to build his home. The turning capabilities are awesome. With a movable headstock you can turn anything from pens to bowls to baseball bats. I wouldn’t have any other tool. You can’t beat the quality.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
HOT- Great customer support and focus on training, plus access to loads of other Shopsmith users who are great about offering advice and support. The Mark 5 is solidly built and, on the few occasions when something breaks or wears out, replacement parts are easily available and will still be available 50 years from now! Sure, I’d like to have a 2000 sq. ft. shop filled with top-end standalone tools, but I don’t. As it is, with my Shopsmith I can do my woodworking, clean up, then roll the Shopsmith into the corner and put the car back in the garage.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Home Shop Machinist recently had a multi part series about modding the Shopsmith for metalwork and tool sharpening - well worth a gander.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Anybody got thoughts on the Smithy SuperShop? Same idea, different manufacturer.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
HOT - For all the reasons already stated: size, quality, reliability, versatility, expandability, customer service, etc. It is simply a quality, all-around tool suitable for woodworkers of almost any skill level.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
HOT I bought my shopsmith used model 500. I had some woodworking tools but needed more as I got better into woodworking. All of my SS accessories I bought for it are at least 20 yrs old and they all still work. I can get parts if I need them from right here in the US of A. By owning one I am preserving jobs in the good ole U S of A. I could have bought stand alone tools to do the same job as I can do with my shopsmith. I like the fact that I have only one headstock to keep clean instead of a bunch of stand alone equipment. So clean up is a breeze and alignment on one tool is a breeze. By having sharp chisels, drill bits, saw blades I can do anything with my shopsmith just as good as an expensive standalone unit. Go figure to each their own.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Just a quick aside,
Would it be possible to re-order the above posts?
I nearly (and quite often do) only just read the first comment.
That would have been a real shame.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
HOT, I purchased mine in 1978 new as a 500, today I have upgraded it to a 520 with rip scale (state of the art by any measure). I has never broken, I can operate the lathe continuously all day without overheating. I have just added a Kreg fence to the Band-saw and a Ring Master to the lathe (remember this could be a 50 year old machine). My whole shop is a corner of a 1 car garage, when I use the tool I roll it to the center. With the 520 I have a very large table top with auxiliary tables it extends up to 8 feet wide. I also have the mortising tool and biscuit jointer and both use the fence or mitre gauge from the table saw. The disk sander also can use the setup from the table saw. Most of the time the setting from one tool carry on the the next, changing between tools takes less time than getting a standalone tool down from the shelf or out of the box.
How many standalone tools can make the claim they have been available for 50+ years and still has parts available and can be upgraded to the latest features.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Definitely Hot! I am SS owner for over 30 years! Name one tool company that stands with you and by you each and every year, that offers excellent tech support, that employs people that are down to earth, and provides Traveling Academy classes to increase your skills. Yes, it is a big space saver! Anyone that says stand alone tools are better, or does not like having to switch over to change tools, has never really worked on a ShopSmith. Switching over takes only a couple of minutes in most cases. This is a precision tool that holds its alignment, and is not just for the hobby type woodworker. The ShopSmith Bandsaw, lathe, biscuit and router setups are top notch. A person interested in wood working can grow with the SS, as his abilities increase. Yes, the initial price may sound high, but the five tools (basic SS) come close to what five stand alone tools would cost you, and can do more, takes up very little space. Any SS owner, that knows how to work the unit, sings the praises of the machine.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
It’s hot, I have a small area for a shop and could not fit separate tools in it that would allow me to make what I can on the Shopsmith. My Shopsmith is upgraded to the 520 model and I have the Incra miter 5000 and TS III with attachments for a router table. I can make precision joints and build most anything I want with the Shopsmith. If I had the room and money a cabinet saw or euro-saw would be real nice as well as an 8″ long bed jointer and an 18″ planer. I have to be realistic and use the space and money I have, so the Shopsmith works out very well.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
No need to chime in about the Shopsmith’s capability. If the ump-teen posts above mine didn’t convince you it’s a verstaile tool capable of helping you build anything short of a nuclear aircrat carrier, my two cents won’t do any good.
But I did want to say something about Shopsmith’s educational value. I work with kids, teaching them shop skills and getting them interested in engineering as we build airplanes. We have two Shopsmith Mark Vs in our middle-school shop (both donated by Shopsmith) and in this environment, I’ve found that the Shopsmith’s multipurpose design is in itself an important teaching tool. Because the students must go from mode to mode (rather than walking from machine to machine) they glean a much deeper understanding of what each tool does and how to set it up safely. Just as important, they learn to think through a project before they start. About the third time that they have to go back to the drill mode becasue they forgot to drill a hole they should have foreseen, they suddenly start studying the plans with a new-found fervor.
Shopsmith has always pitched its tools at beginners and it’s a very good fit. It teaches tool savvy, good work habits, problem solving, and the type of creativity you can only excercise when your central tool is a giant jig that you can configure in a hundred different ways. Over the 60 years since it appeared in 1948, it’s estimated that the Shopsmith has introduced at least 300,000 men and women to the joys of craftsmanship.
Furthermore, it’s a tool you don’t easily outgrow. Of the five modes of the basic unit, it does four of them as well as or better than anything on the market — sanding, drilling/boring, and turning. Even though I have a better-than-average selection of stand-alone tools in my personal shop, I have kept my Shopsmith because there are things you can do on it that you just can’t do as well (or at all!) on conventional tools.
With all good wishes,
Nick Engler
Author of “Woodworking Wisdom” and the “Workshop Companion” series
Host of Hands Online “Sawdust Sessions”
November 5th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Hot. Got mine in ‘82 and I love it! I could never get all the stand alone tools to do what my Shopsmith can do in my 12 x 14 shop.
November 5th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
I wonder how many of these sit abandoned in basements? While they are very versatile i think i lot of people have bought these with the best of intentions but never got around to using them.
How difficult is the changeover from tool to tool?
November 5th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Hot.
I bought an ‘83 lightly used 500 about a year ago. I’ve primarily used it to learn woodturning, horizontal boring, sharpening lathe chisels, bandsaw work, and a bit on the jointer. I’v had a Ryobi BT 5000 table saw for 10-12 years and would hate to rely solely on the 500 for any but basic table work. Although I’ve only cut one piece of scrap on it as a test so far, I foresee using the 500 as a second saw at some point on some project where I don’t want to change the Ryobi’s setup. I also have a floor standing drill press so it is easier to use that than converting the 500, but I’ve had occasion where I’ve used both. I definitely could not get all this functionality via individual tools in my 11X17 shop.
What I think really makes the SS great is the user community and the company. There are a few great sites that have some good ideas about how to get more out of the SS, from aligning and maintaining for beginners to building new add-ons to general techniques.
Eric: changeover time depends on what you’re doing, but most are pretty quick. I’m no speed demon, but would be surprised if it took me more than 90 seconds to swap from the bandsaw to the jointer; a little longer to put the table on and adjust the height precisely.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Hot. My grandfather had a very old one… probably over 40 years old. It was still running when we finally sold it (no space at the time to keep it!) He made dozens of toys on it for us kids.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Not. For the money you pay for this machine, you can buy a lot of tools. Don’t worry, I would found a place for them like in the bedroom, spare room or the shed.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Hot! My Mark V was made in 1960 and is still making sawdust. Fantastic customer service from a company that is interested in EDUCATING and SATISFYING their customers, not just taking their hard earned money. A dependable, accurate, well made, heavy-duty, USA built, multi-function, super versatile power tool with a manufacturer that stands behind it 100 percent. Buy a Shopsmith and you become part of a family of satisfied owners and enthusiasts. Thank you Shopsmith!!
November 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Very Hot:
I purchased my Shopsmith 500 in ‘83, upgraded to 510 in ‘90 and again to the latest 520 version in ‘99. This says a lot for a company’s interest in it’s products and customers - to make a product that is upgradeable.
The advantage of stand alone tools is overstated. They require more space and electrical capacity than most people have. If you wish to place your shop in a garage or basement the Shopsmith is definitely superior It can be operated on a standard 15 amp circuit, and moved out of the way if a space must serve multiple purposes.
My Shopsmith has over 50 inches of ripping capacity. I can trim 1/16 inch of the 8′ edge of a sheet of plywood. A stand alone saw that can do the same will cost several thousand dollars and weigh over 900 lbs. Even at that, you would probably have to order an expensive aftermarket fence to equal the quality of the fence that is standard on the 520.
Yes. You can go the one of the big box retailers and find cheaper stand alone tools. However you will end up with a lot of machines powered with noisy short life universal type motors.
If you buy Shopsmith you will have a quality machine that is built to last through several generations.
November 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Hot.
I bought my 500 as a package along with the bandsaw and jointer in 1982. I was not a newcomer to woodworking but the jointer didn’t get used for nearly a year. I had heard so many horror stories about jointers that I was basically afraid of it. Until, that is, both my wife and I attended a 3 day class at Shopsmith. Since then, I only have respect for, rather than fear of, the jointer. Yes, there are a few suppliers that offer classes but how many manufacturers educate their owners?
I would not have the capability that I have today if I would have had to buy separate tools because of both space and cost. Sure, separate tools are possible for less money… and less quality. Shopsmith doesn’t make tools with the “throw it away in a year or two and get ‘em to buy a new one” attitude.
Oh, and most guys that complain about the change-over time have never even touched a Shopsmith.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I have to admit, I knew this was going to be a popular thread, but I really didn’t think it was going to be so lopsided in favor of ‘hot’. Did we get a rash of new users at toolmonger recently from another site? Or are these long time toolmongers that all happen to have a Shopsmith? What about accuracy in the shopsmith? I don’t see a lot of guages, what do you use to line up the fence to the right distance? A tape measure?
Like I said early on, this thread really interests me, I even just recently sent for and received the DVD from the shopsmith site. I won’t be getting a unit, but that’s mostly because of cost. I just can’t swing $3k right now. Heck, I’m still saving up for a $250 planer.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I wonder how many of these sit abandoned in basements? While they are very versatile i think i lot of people have bought these with the best of intentions but never got around to using them.
That’s kind of an unfair jab. The same could be said of $15,000 worth of stand-alone tools. That has nothing to do with the tool at all, just the owner. (Though this is often-used accusation that the Shopsmith is not worth owning?!)
November 6th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Kurt, the Shopsmith Model 520 has a built-in indeable magnetic rule that is accurate to 1/64″. I teach my students to use a dial indicator to set the fence when greater accuracy is required. An adjustable stop collar lets you adjust the table/blade height to the nearest 1/128″. The onboard radial measuring devices read to the nearest 1 degree and the degree markings are far enough apart to estimate to the nearest 1/4 degree with reasonable accuracy. With a good inclinometer (such as a Wixey), you can set the miter gauge and the table/blade angle to the nearest 1/100 of a degree. All together, the accuracy and repeatability of the Shopsmith is easy to hold to .005″ and .01 degree if you know what you’re doing. Good enough for government work, as the saying goes.
With all good wishes,
Nick
November 6th, 2007 at 1:32 am
This is HOT! I’ve used various woodworking tools for over 50 years. Sold a Radial arm saw about 10 years ago and bought a Shopsmith modle 510. Best thing I ever did! Not only is the Mark V stable and precision accurate - it is very versitile. Ever need a horizontal drill, because your drill press won’t extend far enough? The Mark V has it. In addition to the mark V itself - there are two additional features that are available, comming with the Shopsmith Mark V.
First there are the assessory tools that can be added. How about a bandsaw, a jointer, a belt sander, a thickness planer and one of the newest best tools to come across the market since they first sliced bread. This is the Overhead Pin Router attachment. With this attachment you can not only do pin routing (eg. making inlaid abolone inserts in a guitar fret board) but you can also make all types of joints, dados, rabets and edge routing.
Second you get the really outstanding service of the Shopsmith Company. Every phone answerer is trained and knowledgable about all parts of any machine they make. The service and support are unequaled by any other manufacturer I have ever contacted. What other company have you ever heared of that fully suports machines they made 30 to 40 years ago? What other company has the need to give this type of support? The answer is none, because if someone elses machines are still running - they have been repaired or modified by the ingeneuity of the user(s). There just is no company support unless you want to buy new!
Yes, this is a beginner’s machine. BUT, it is also a MASTER CRAFTSMAN’S machine. For a beginner, the Mark V comes with a complete manual and self taught woodworking course including sawing, turning, drilling, joint making and safety. If someone has one of these machines just sitting in a corner catching dust - it is truly the problem of the owner.
November 6th, 2007 at 4:06 am
HOT, HOT, HOT
I have had my Shopsmith for twenty five years. That’s a long time for a machine that is used as much as mine is. It is still in excellent condition. Oh, it’s a little scratched and dented from having been moved six times but it still gives me the accuracy that I demand. I can still change from one mode to another and still get 1/64″ accuracy, repeatably.
Yes, I take care of this baby. It gets lubricated, cleaned and waxed on schedule. But it has to be that way. I work it hard and I don’t want down time.
I have a table saw, a drill press, a horizontal boring machine, a disk sander, a belt sander, a lathe, a router, a shaper, a jointer, a band saw, a jigsaw. I have all of these tools in a garage. Thery are not stored there, they are used - almost daily.
This is what brought me to Shopsmith and this is what keeps me using my Shopsmith. I can have a full function woodshop in less space that many people use to park their two cars. I needed that because I did not have a large space in which to work but I would not give up woodworking just because I relocated frequently.
That is another point. This Shopsmith has been torn down, relocated and set back up six times. It is none the worse for wear. It is still accurate in all of its many functions. I do alignments with a good quality steel rule, engineer’s square and a good level. I couldn’t ask for more and this machine is twenty+ years old. I recheck occasionally with a dial gauge and a wixey but that is all I do, recheck.
Customer service plays a big part in this. Shopsmith still provides technical support and logistical support for nearly all of the machines that have been manufactured by them. You will never find a company that is more ready and able to support their product line than Shopsmith.
Yes, I would say it is HOT, HOT, HOT.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:10 am
Hot.
The only thing I can add is that my machine was made in 1954 and still gets used almost daily. Only thing I had to replace was the drill chuck which seems to have walked away one day. 53 years later I can still get parts.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I agree with Eric Dykstra. These seem to be very popular with those who are just getting into woodworking. Shopsmith does a great job selling them on the versatility of the tool at their shopping mall demos. They buy them - then get bored or disenchanted and the tools just collect dust. I personally know of two instances where this has happened.
Fine Woodworking did an article a couple of years ago about how novices could deliberately build a collection of tools (both power and hand) in steps as their skills grow. It’s worth reading if you are just getting into woodworking.
I am also surprised at the overwhelming number of positive posts showing up here. Did someone place a link at the Shopsmith User Group site? … to each his own.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I agree with Eric Dykstra. These seem to be very popular with those who are just getting into woodworking. Shopsmith does a great job selling them on the versatility of the tool at their shopping mall demos. They buy them - then get bored or disenchanted and the tools just collect dust. I personally know of two instances where this has happened.
Yet again… this has nothing to do with the tool. Example: I easily have about $1000 worth of very expensive fishing equipment - by the above comments and reasoning, then I guess it must have been no good to begin with since it is just sitting in the corner not being used. (Matter of fact, I simply lost interest in it, not because the gear/tackle isn’t any good.)
Please review the tool based on its merits or weaknesses and not the ineptitude of its owner/user.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:42 am
About 6 months ago I was foraging at one of my regular scrapyards when one came through the gates as salvage from a defunct boatmaker on the north shore. It had seen a lotta use, but was obviously well loved, and came with a big-ass custom built anvil style case for the attachements (of which there seemed to be every freakin’ one of ‘em). The assembled multitude of contractors, foragers and yard grunts did a collective jaw-drop, followed by a frenzy of wallet checking and cel phone fumbling that was over-the-top frantic. It sold less than 10 minutes after it came off the scale for $1500 Cdn. (No ‘by the pound commodity metal’ pricing on this one).
November 6th, 2007 at 9:49 am
HOT
As a long-time user (Dad brought one home in 1957 and there has been one in my life ever since) I can say the Shopsmith has made it possible for me to build furniture, canoes, sheds, toys and more in shops that have never been larger than a single car garage and most were much smaller. The machine is accurate and versatile, parts are easy to get, upgrades come along regularly and customer service is second to none. My current Shopsmith was built in 1954; I swapped out the headstock for a newer one, upgraded the saw fence and a few small items and its still going strong.
People who have heard of but never actually used the machine tend to believe that there are three problems with the Shopsmith, namely: the tilting saw table, the trouble of changing modes and the price. People who use the machine for even a short time realize that all these issues are really “non-issues.” I love the tilting table, especially when disk sanding and in drill press mode; change-overs are actually quite simple and the price is well in line with stand-alone tools of comparable quality.
Unless a user is setting up a production shop with dedicated machines, the Shopsmith definitely holds its own against the stand-alone machines.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:36 am
@confused: point taken. I’ll concede that that the Shopsmith is well made, cleverly designed and well supported by the factory. My issue should be directed at how they are marketed. Which in my experience is toward the novice woodworking crowd as the only tool they’ll ever need. I have never seen a Shopsmith in any professional woodworking shop and that’s the most telling indictment for me.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Rembret, you get what you pay for. Did I buy my machine as a novice woodworker? Yes. Have I seen it in professional woodworking shops being used? Yes and their work is outstanding.. Could I have purchased stand alone tools? Yes. Why didn’t I do this? Because of a lack of space. This system has grown over the years and has greatly exceeded my expectations. Shopsmith takes the time to answer woodworking questions and set up concerning their machine, something I have yet to experience form other manufacturers and retailers. You get fast, friendly customer service long after the sale. With the number of machines that Shopsmith has sold over the years, sure you’re going to find some gathering dust, but I’m sure you can make the same statement about any other tool that is sols today.
I made my purchase after having puchased other stand alone tools. If I had to do it over again, I would rather purchase the Shopsmith attachments in order to have more space in my workshop. My first tablesaw, made by Delta burned out after two years of work. I never have had any trouble using the Shopsmith. I also like the fact it is made here in the U.S. and that my dollar is helping a true domestic industry rather than a corporation who has decide to move their production overseas.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
HOT! I’m a big fan.
I bought mine several years ago for $500 used, it’s a 1983 model 500. I already had a Delta Contractor style table saw, and I’ve only ever tried once to use the Mark V as a table saw
As my tool arsenal has expanded, I’ve used it less and less. As of late, it gets used mostly as a variable speed lathe and disc sander . . . at both of those it is excellent!
It’s also nice having a second drill press when I need it . . . while working on a recent project, I had people over working with me, I set up the mark V to drill and used my Delta Drill press as a spindle sander to finish off the holes. Redundancy is not a bad thing.
All that said, yes, a lot of these comments are coming in via a link at another site . . . when I saw the comment above, I figured I knew where . . . and here it is . . .
http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=905
November 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I have never seen a Shopsmith in any professional woodworking shop and that’s the most telling indictment for me.
Not to beleaguer the issue, but the above is a bit of an odd statement. Example: I think most guys who have a Tormek sharpening system say it is a very good, very solid machine. I’ve seen quite a few professional cabinetry shops and other prof. woodworking shops all across the MidWest. …Never once have I seen a Tormek sharpening system, though. Now I guess I’ll have to question all of the reviews I’ve read that say it is a great sharpening system because a tool is only as good as the number of times it is seen in professional use.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Thanks Deathwish. I REALLY don’t have an ax to grind with Shopsmith, but for the sake of full disclosure, everyone should know that the Shopsmith webmaster has encouraged his ‘posters’ to link over here and ‘brag’ about SS. I would not consider this an objective discussion if I was considering a purchase. Do your own research before spending your hard earned money.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Hot! Hot! Hot! Not only do you get an excellent machine you get manufacture support. Name another machine sold that comes with a complete maintaince manual, self study wood working course, a book filled with techniques, shortcuts and hints written specifically for the Shopsmith. Add to that online video training, weekly emails of woodworking tips and time saving ideas. Finally add in a customer service group that knows woodworking and the tools they sale well enough to suggest ways to increase your woodworking skills.
The machine is made in America, accurate to 1/64 or better and has built in repeatability, has an excellent service history, saves space and resources and is versatile. What more could anyone want?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
“I have never seen a Shopsmith in any professional woodworking shop and that’s the most telling indictment for me.”
I’ve written 53 books on woodworking and more magazine articles than I can remember. I’ve taught wood technology at the University of Cincinnati and am presently a contributing editor to Popular Woodworking. I’ve had a Shopsmith in my shop since 1979. That count?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
“…for the sake of full disclosure, everyone should know that the Shopsmith webmaster has encouraged his ‘posters’ to link over here and ‘brag’ about SS. I would not consider this an objective discussion if I was considering a purchase.”
Owning a Shopsmith in a stand-alone tool world is a lot like owning an Apple in a PC world. Apple owners bond and react more passionately when you ask about their brand choice because they are in a minority. They oftentimes listen to people who have no experience with their chosen brand spout myths and misconceptions as if they were infallible truths. It’s no wonder people in this situation would seize upon an opportunity to tell their side of the story. But what you are suggesting — and rightly so — is that someone who considering a major purchase should seek evenhanded information from someone who understands and has experience with both multipurpose and stand-alone woodworking tools.
Several people who have written in here obviously fall into that category, and I am one of them. Over the thirty-some years that I have been writing and editing woodworking information, I have tested many, many tools. I have used both multipurpose tools and stand-alone tools on a continuing basis for all that time. Shopsmith, like every other tool in my shop, has it’s strengths and weaknesses. But I can say with confidence and years of experience to back it up, it will produce high-calibur craftsmanship in the hands of a good craftsman. I wouldn’t recommend it for production woodworking not because it couldn’t be adapted to the task but because it’s overqualified for the job.
I would also caution that it’s not a machine for dummies. It’s a thinking man’s tool, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. To those who say that it’s complexity discourages beginners, I would have to agree somewhat. Students with rigid minds and little creativity have trouble warming to the Shopsmith. But I’ve found that teaching good craftsmanship is all about problem solving. And for those folks with the mental accuity to grasp a woodworking problem and solve it, this machine gives them a lot to work with.
Finally, for those people who are considering a purchase, I would not necessarily dismiss what has been going on in this blog as “bragging.” This is nothing less than an expression of passion and community. The fact that so many people from the Shopsmith forum have wandered over here to express their opinions should be chalked up in the “Pro” column. It’s certainly not a “Con.” I, for one, like being part of a supportive community that’s passionate about their tools and their craftsmanship.
With all good wishes,
Nick
November 6th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I have 3. My fathers old 10ER. Still runs great. The one I purchased (500)in 1972, that I use every day and is still in great shape, my fathers new machine (also a 500) he got in 1995. ( In storage for my kids). Sure you can get good full size machines but they have served well and are perfect for the small shop. I would not be without one. No I did not come from the shopsmith site, but think I will visit it now.
Good Luck
November 6th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
So what if some of us came over from a Shopsmith oriented forum. The purpose of the Toolmonger reviews is to obtain opinions from experienced users of a particular tool. What good is a review of a tool by someone who has never used it?
Tons of experience is exactly what you find in these reviews of the Shopsmith. Several respondents have used this machine for 25 years, and in some cases, other family members used it even earlier. Obviously Shopsmith owners are very satisfied with the product. Name me just one other brand of woodworking tool that has created so many satisfied customers through this kind of time period.
A review should be judged on it’s merits - not from where the reviewer came from.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Guys, guys, if I owned 8 bazillion dollars worth of stand alone tools, would I be reading a thread on the pros and cons of owning a shopsmith? Don’t think so, so… if you need a shopsmith (space reasons…) but can’t afford one, then look on Ebay or check your local classifieds because you can get one for quite a discount (I did) and do the same for the accessories, because when you get down to it, even if it is 50 years old, it is just a click away to get a part or kit to repair it or upgrade it and it will be as they say above, good as new and last as long as you want to keep it.
The feeling I got when I finally purchased one used and went and logged onto the owners website was that I was being adopted into a family and if you don’t feel that way then let down your guard because that is exactly what happened.
Yeah, I’d love to have the shop Marc Spagnuolo (sp? The Wood Whisperer) has full of top of the line powermatic’s, but I’d also like to win the lottery and then marry Jennifer Aniston but unfortunately for Jen, I live in the real world (and actually am married to my best friend and the greatest woman in the world, sorry Jen) and have the space and fortunately the money for a shopsmith and could NEVER do in my “shop” space with stand alone tools, what I do with my shopsmith. Talk about change over time from tool to tool. I don’t even want to think about putting up my contractor saw somewhere and having to drag out my drill press… nah… getting nauseated just thinking about it… I’ll keep my SS!!! Thanks…
November 7th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I think it is great that this site is getting a lot of new visitors from the Shopsmith forum. This is an interesting site that I visit daily. I bet a lot of the new visitors become regulars.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Has anyone ever heard a negative review from an atual owner? The only people whom I’ve ever heard give Shopsmiths a negative review are people who actually never bought or used one. How strange is that?
November 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am
It’s Hot! And there’s a ton of the used machines to be had at very reasonable prices. As many above had said it is supported by the company very well. Customer service is excellent. And they are very well made. There are many 50 plus year machines still in service. Although i do belive the prices for new equipment is a bit on the expensive side, however they do last with some care and maintence. And of course they are made in The USA. Need parts or accessorys for these machines? Email me at Ruggy2@hotmail.com
November 7th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
HOT HOT… Had mine since 80 (or there ’bouts);
It is accurate, versitile, easy to use. There are trade-offs to stand alones, but for me, it works. Setup doesn’t take that much time, and it makes you think about your work more, IMHO.
Yeah… HOT!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Hot! One point to note, most complains you hear from none users is the small size of the table, generally these people are referring to the model 500, how many people have a table top the size of the one pictured above and that is on a 20+ year old model. The latest 520 has a much more substantial fence that locks front and rear and can support very large lumber (or sheet goods) by rearranging the table extensions and legs.
Of course it you purchase a 500 in 1950 you could easily upgrade it to a 520. Find another 60 year old tool (or anything else) that you can do that with.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Hot…
I am NOT an owner, but I have wanted one for a long time.
Multi-use machines do have their pros and cons, just bring up the topic of lathe/mill combos with machinists if you want hours of arguing. But for my wants and needs, I know that I’ll be a happy man when I finally get a Shopsmith.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Like several others, I’m delighted to see some more of folks on here. Welcome to toolmonger, Shopsmith folks.
I’m happy to hear from current, happy owners. I guess what I’d honestly like to hear from is from someone who had one and then for some reason, opted to sell it and go with stand-alone units. I’m sure someone out there has done that and I’d like to know why. Every tool has its advantages and disadvantages.
I certainly don’t think that I’d exclude the opinion of current enthusiastic owners in my decision, but I do like to hear some differing opinions.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Hot! -But not for the same reasons as most of the the other contributors. I’ve owned an old Shopsmith 10ER for about 12 years. The 10ER predates the Mark V and I think that mine was manufacured in the early ’50s. I paid $850 CDN for it, which was a rip-off for that model, but I didn’t know any better at the time. I’ve since bought a used Mark V for $250! -There are deals out there.
I’m not totally sold on the multi-tool idea and would prefer stationary tools, but in my small shop the Shopsmith makes a lot of sense. What I really like about the Shopsmith though is it’s incredible adaptability. Because it was built as a multi-tool, it also lends itself very well to adaptation. I’ve built a number of specialized attachments for mine for doing production work.
To see how adaptable this machine is to specialty applications, check out the great series of articles starting in the May/June addition of “The Home Shop Machinist” (published by Village Press) , describing how to convert a Mark V for doing precision metal work including lathing, horizontal and verticle milling and gear cutting. Maybe a little over the top, but it sure shows how versatile a machine this really is.
Even if I had a shop as big as Norm’s (or even Mark’s) with all the stationary tools I could wish for, I would never part with my Shopsmith.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
For a very long time, I was one of those Apple computer users. I loved it, and I was a PC holdout!! Until my Apple died .. .. .. then my son convinced me to convert to a PC. Am I glad I did!!
Likewise, with Shopsmith. I drooled for one for the first 30 years of my marriage and bought my machine in 1981. As Nick Engler has said, it is a great system to start on, and learn on, but after a while, changing modes becomes not just a drag, but as you get older, so do your bones, and some physical strength limitations, along with the opportunity to buy single purpose tools at a considerable savings were the turning point fpr me.
I will never be sorry that I owned a ShopSmith, but am now very happy with my complement of single-purpose tools which will occupy a new shop, hopefully, by next spring.
One of the earlier posters also made the point that for not much more than the price of a fully enhanced ShopSmith system you can purchase a complete shop, with individual tools. What nobody [unless i Imissed it] has said, is that if you lose a motor on a single purpose tool, only that tool is out of commission. If the motor goes or there is a drive problem with the ShopSmith, you are totally out of business.
Just my $0.02.
s/gordon
November 8th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Congratulations, Gordon, on your new shop space and your new equipment. I am sure that you will get a great deal of satisfaction from your new shop environment.
If I could have “my choice” of standalone equipment and I could house it in an appropriately sized shop, I would probably do just what you have done. However, I would still have my Shopsmith somewhere in that new scheme of things.
Yes, if the motor fails, your entire Shopsmith is down. But in any typical wood shop, if you lose a motor, the natural flow through that shop has been disrupted. Example, when the motor on your jointer goes down you can no longer prep materials for edge jointing thus glue up stops and the shop comes to a halt. To solve that problem (at least minimize it) all you need is a spare motor. Thirty minutes later (or less) your entire shop is back in service.
I do so hope that you have made good decisions on the standalone tools that you have purchased. I also hope that you don’t need customer support for a long time because customer support from many of the current manufacturers of shop equipment is hard to find (if it exists at all). In my opinion, “customer service after the sale” is a thing of the past.
Good luck in your new shop. Make your sawdust “safely”.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Smokin hot!
I have one as does my Dad. He is a master woodworker and has had one for 20 plus years. The one I have I inherited and upgraded to a model 520. It was manufactured in 91 and still going strong. Can you say that about other tools? A superb woodworking tool, I can do more in my garage then most can do in their workshop!
November 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
While I appreciate all the comments about the longevity of the Shopsmith, I will say that my table saw is a craftsman from 1960 and it works just great. Also, I plan on inheriting a drill press from my dad (he still uses it) that’s from the late 40s or early 50s.
I’d EXPECT a $3,000 tool to be built like a tank. Power handtools are entirely different, especially the cordless variety.
Some tools though, last a long time. Big jointers. Table Saws. Drill Presses.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Gordon:
I’m glad you brought up the subject of motors, and how it can be a nuisance when they fail.
Traditionally. stationary tools were powered with induction motors, and hand tools, routers, and shop vacs were powered by universal motors. However, because they are cheaper and smaller, universal motors are now being used in some stationary tools such as table saws and planers.
Without getting involved in electrical theory, universal motors have brushes, are noisy, less efficient and shorter life than induction motors, and operate at very high speeds, 10,000 rpm or higher. If your induction motor fails, you can take it to your local electric motor shop and they can repair it or replace it from stock, because induction motors are standardized. If your universal motor fails, you have to contact the manufacturer of the tool and hope that it can be replaced. You will likely have significant down time, maybe even have to purchase a new tool.
When considering the purchase of new tools a wise shopper will want to know what type of motor provides the power.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
HOT! I have owned my SS for a little over two-years. It has not needed any realignment since initially setup in 2005. I do check it periodically but everything is still in alignment. Expensive, yes BUT, you get what you pay for!
I had my eyes on a SS since the 70’s when my brother-in-law bought his. He used it to make models and wooden toys for his kids. He then expanded his usage by building three homes over the years. The SS was his primary tool used for construction. It even rolled off of his pickup truck. He did have to replace one of the way tubes and repaint a few dings but otherwise it survived and went on to be used bulding a barn and several other out buldings on his farm in North Carolina. He loves his SS and intends to keep using it as long as he can. I’m sure the SS will outlive him.
Shopsmith owners are really pationate about their investments…
November 9th, 2007 at 11:01 am
I could tell within the first few comments that many were written by people that hadn’t frequented Toolmonger in the past–because of their apparent age. In my experience, the Toolmonger audience tends to be in the 20 to 40 year old range, but given that so many of the posters here bought their Shopsmiths in the 70s, I’d say most are over 50 years old.
This isn’t a jab, at all (I’ll be in that age range before I know it), but it does make me curious–why does it seem that the Shopsmith was much more popular decades ago and not so much today?
Maybe I’ll ask on their forum.
C
November 9th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Ralph, thank you! That was good info, and it’s something I never considered. I consider myself a bit of an electronics geek, but I never got much into AC or motors, so your point completely took me by surprise. Induction motors are a good bit larger and heavier for the same horsepower, right?
November 10th, 2007 at 12:09 am
[…] Hot or Not? The ShopSmith Mark V Don’t miss out on the single most hotly-debated hot or not post on Toolmonger. Lots of ShopSmith fans check in to defend this all-in-one wonder, but a few dissenters aren’t buying it. Here’s our take: if you enjoy using it to successfully make cool things, it’s OK by us! […]
November 10th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Hot…. I am 45 years old and have drooled over SS for 20 years and finally ran across a 1984 Model 500 3 years ago. I have not been disappointed. It does everything I need to do (kitchen cabinets for the wife) and cabinets for my garage (1st). Last week I bought a model 510 upgrade kit, it was a cinch and alignment was a snap. I would recommend SS to anyone that does woodworking.
November 11th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
There is nothing like stand-alone cast iron, (Which I Love) but also there is nothing like Shopsmith. Hot or Not ? It depends on your needs, and space, and personality.
One interesting thing I note is that for someone who has very little space, stand-alones are not an option. Yet, If you have lots of space, a Shopsmith could be a nice additional tool to have. Turn it into that second drill press, with a setup or jig that you don’t want to disturb. Turn it into a table saw with a dado or moulder blade for the span of one project. I know of a farmer who has a small herd of Shopsmiths.
Some people cut down a set of way tubes and make a shorty version for smaller footprint. (and if you have and extra set of way tubes then even this is reversible) Others have made a dedicated upright versions taking up even less footprint.
700 to 5200 rpm variable speed available for every operation.
Consider it the transformable jig/machine, whereas the cast iron we don’t like to move it around too much. It is the transformer machine that is Made in USA ~ and there is still something good about that !
Something must be said for a company in this day and age that continues with customer care. Really. Truly Priceless. “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got till its gone ?”
Also I want to mention that the original maker of the Mark V, Magna Engineering, first started out with their cast iron model the Shopsmith 10 (10E and 10ER) which they sold over 125,000 of over six years. Almost every single part on that original model went through 2,3 or more design changes during that experimental period. My point is that there is more experience behind what has made the Shopsmith machine what it is today than some Shopsmith detractors realize.
I say Hot, because Shopsmith has an appropriate use in a small or large shop,
whereas stand-alones are not appropriate in a small shop.
~John
November 11th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Nate:
Induction motors are wound around an even number of poles and have no brushes. Most induction motors used in machinery have speeds of 3600, 1800, or 900 rpm. Their performance and frame sizes have been standardized since 1938.
Universal motors can be designed to operate on AC or DC power. Electrical current is directly applied to both rotor and field. Speeds are very high, thus they can develop a lot of HP in a relatively small and light package. This also relates to lower cost. They are not as electrically efficient as induction motors and can be very noisy as you may have already experienced with a router or shop vacuum. Universal motors are usually designed into an application and without standards, repair and replacement can be a problem.
The induction motor produces higher torque at a lower speed. The amount of copper and iron in a motor, and it’s cost, is basically dependent on the torque produced. The universal motor gets it’s HP rating from the high speed, thus it is smaller, and cheaper, than an induction motor.
I apologize for deviating from the subject of this posting. If you are interested, the Shopsmith is powered by a 1 1/8 HP, 3600 rpm induction motor. Output speed is varied with a variable pitch pulley mechanism, activated by a hand crank. The output speed can be varied from 700 to 5200 rpm.
November 20th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
HOT.
I’ve been doing woodworking for 35+ years, with many types of tools. The ONLY reason I would give up my Shopsmith would be if I were to have the space and money to buy ALL of the separate units. I bought my Mark V used for $1800 13 years ago and have saved several times that amount in furniture built for myself and others.
I’ve carried it through several house changes, with fewer adjustment issues than my former separate units had. Without the ultra-precision table upgrades, it is less precise than pro tools, but a little care and practice give great results !
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Though, obviously highly favored by the majority of posters on the subject, you will seldom, if ever, find one in a professional work shop. However, I would consider buying one, if it were cheap and I planed on leaving it dedicated to a specific task.
I opted for a component stereo, as opposed to a console, many years ago. I did so for all the obvious reasons: I can update a given component without having to replace the entire system and, if the power supply dies, the entire system is not down. It is for the same reason I have a Unisaw, a Powermatic band saw, a Delta planer and so forth.
All that said, if you are not a frequent worker of wood and can deal with table size limitations and conversion procedures that require careful planning or down time, this is a wonderful bet.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I saw a demonstration at the local home improvement store I can’t remember. But what I do remember is that the guy demonstrating the unit was very proficient at changing the setup of the machine. None of the setup changes took more than a few seconds. Most time will be spent actually making your measurements, as you would need to do with any machine. I really liked some of the features the shopsmith had. Since I only have a one car garage I feel that it is much better fit for my situation. That being said I was shocked when I saw the price of the unit. But it is made in the US. Not china. It is a heavy piece of machinery, that took a lot of engineering. I was impressed with the quality of the machine also. I am hoping to buy a used shopsmith sometime in the future, as I cannot afford a new one.
December 24th, 2007 at 8:39 am
“It’s obviously not built for pros” — I do love blanket statements like that since you of course have been in “every” pro’s shop. I build short run production furniture for a living, have for many years. I have two machines both multi-function combo machines. A Minimax and yes a SS-520. The 520 my friend is as “PRO” a wood working machine as one could ever own. The one consistent observation from non-owners of a SS seems to be I can’t be constantly changing modes to do one thing. My guess is if you are constantly having to go back and make changes to the project your working on ….. working with wood may not be your forte’. SteveG
December 26th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
My dad was given a Mark V in 1965 from his father in law. I think it was a wedding gift. He was never much of a woodworker, but he used it all the time to rough cut lumber and sheets for framing, roofing, remodeling, fencing, retaining walls and so on. He used the drill press some, but a handheld drill was enough for most his work. Over the years and after several moves it was stored outside a lot and never received any kind of maintenance. I believe every part on it is from 1965. It’s rusted now but it still works despite the abuse.
I just got married last year but I didn’t receive a Shopsmith for my wedding. I’m setting up a woodshop in my garage, and even if I didn’t plan on doing furniture and finer work, I have plenty of experience that a Shopsmith is a useful tool for a homeowner. My dad’s now abused saw is not going to work for my plans, but the 42 years of service it has done gives me some confidence Shopsmith is a good choice.
I am not trying to save space. I have a three car garage to expand into if I want. I am not trying to save money. I have it. I am choosing a Shopsmith because I know if one of my sons gets married thirty years from now, it will be a good gift to him. I’ll have taught him how to use it by then, and I can buy another new one for myself.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hot definitely.
I just bought a very used Shopsmith Mark V that was built in the 1960s for $175 on my local Craigslist. It has the 3/4 HP motor and ran fine when I got it. I took it completely apart to lube everything and check for wear and tear. The belts were still in decent condition, probably from being replaced at some point, but the replacement power cord had been attached incorrectly inside. When the previous owner replaced the power cord, they connected cord/hot to motor/neutral, cord/ground to motor/hot, and cord/neutral disconnected internally, which should not make much difference to the motor or the user as long as the chassis is not connected to motor/neutral. It is also a very bad idea to use the normally smaller ground wire for carrying normal power. This older Shopsmith also did not have an internal chassis connection for a ground safety wire, so I added a bolt location for that and properly rewired everything. I used a combination of 10W30 and white Lithium grease to lubricate everything and now everyting from the speed control to the drill press quill seems to be as smooth as new.
The used unit I bought came with the drill chuck, main table, saw blade, saw blade arbor, and shaper knives. I bought about $100 worth of accessories on EBay including router bit and shaper knife arbors, lathe tailstock and arbor, end table, and rip fence. I would still like to get the sanding disk and lathe tool holder, but I can probably stick a sanding disk on the side of an old dull saw blade for the time being and use some clamps and the main table as a lathe tool rest. Less than $300 invested so far and it works great.
My wife and I have a 2-car garage and we enjoy parking in it. We do not have the time, space, or money to build a separate workshop, so I would not trade the size or functionality of the Shopsmith for anything else. I agree that a stand-alone table saw with a tilting shaft/arbor/blade is better, but the tilting table on the Shopsmith works just fine for angled cuts with a little planning and rigging. The table saw works the same as every other one for flat cuts, except for some differences in fence systems. The drill press is great with no deficiencies that I am aware of. I have not used the sander or lathe yet.
I wish I would have bought one many years ago.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I sure would like to do an IP trace of all the posters in this thread. I have a feeling they will all point back to the ShopSmith site.
People in general do not talk or comment on-line in this manner. These posts are PR marketing.
I have no feelings about this product one way or another, just surveying it since one is for sale locally to me.
After all the misleading marketing and disingenuous postings like, “Not. For the money you pay for this machine, you can buy a lot of tools. Don’t worry, I would found a place for them like in the bedroom, spare room or the shed.”, I will avoid this product. A posting like the aforementioned is essentially reverse psychology. The poster is inarticulate compared to others championing the product and speaks to how buying all the other tools will displace him.
Well, I question whether this post will make it over the next 24 hours or somehow disappear into the void. Time will tell.
Think independently.
February 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Sisyphus — if you actually bothered to read the thread (or listen to the podcast from the week it was posted) you’d see that the majority of the posters did come from a ShopSmith forum (but not ShopSmith themselves), which linked to this “Hot or Not”.
As for “reverse psychology” — whatever; you’ve clearly made up your mind already if you’re going to suggest such things. I think the
And no, I don’t own one, nor did I come here from a Shop Smith forum. I’m vaguely interested in one, but I’m far more likely to just get a table saw since that’s really the only bit I’d really use.
And as for your allegations on the post — get a clue. Seriously.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
My 82 year old father had one and made beautiful furniture with it. When he moved to a retirement home I didn’t have anyplace to put it but I would have given an arm and a leg to have gotten it. I’m looking for a used one to get sometime in the near future when i begin to remodel my kitchen. So women woodworkers like them, too.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I have finally gotten a chance to re-align my Shopsmith 520 after moving to Gainesville. Using a dial indicator gauge and a Wixey digital angle gauge, I have been able to get the Miter slots, extension table, and fence, parallel to the blade within .002 inches. With the Wixey I have the blade “dead on” at 90 degrees to the table. Many have criticized the Shopsmith because the table tilts to cut bevels. However, according to the Wixey, the table returns to level within 1/10 of a degree, repeatedly, time after time.
Detractors of the Shopsmith certainly cannot criticize it from the standpoint of precision. While the Shopsmith is not a cabinet saw, it is clearly superior to a contractor’s saw, and will stack up very well against any of the new hybrid saws.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
This post is old, but I thought maybe if someone like me was interested enough to read all the way to this point I could leave my opinion as well.
The Shopsmith is awesome. Period, and for a multitude of reasons.
I bought my Shopsmith about 4 years ago used. It is a model from 1983, and it came with several attachments. I was new to woodworking and since have built several projects for around the house. The Shopsmith has enabled me to build several very large pieces of furniture, and also perform many home remodeling tasks.
The machine…let me say the company that would be more accurate, has never let me down. Let me explain further. I was in the middle of a big project about a year after I bought the machine and suddenly the headstock would not run. I was stunned and thought I had made a terrible mistake. I called Shopsmith, and they took my headstock in for repairs and then to my complete surprise gave me a rental headstock for use on my machine for free!! That way I could continue my project while my headstock was being repaired. They were extremely friendly and supportive and new that I had not purchased the machine new. they repaired my headstock, turned out it was a minor bearing issue in the quill(my machine was older and had a single bearing quill), upgraded me to the two bearing quill and gave me back my headstock. All for the price of $75. It has never had another problem. I was floored with this experience. Try calling Delta, Jet, or any of the other big name manufacturers if you have this kind of problem with a used purchased machine that is over 25 years old. This type of service and dedication to a product is only going to come from a company like Shopsmith. Their machine is well made, as good as any other and their customer service is the best I have ever seen period.
If you want to get into woodworking you cannot go wrong with the Shopsmith.
Sam
June 20th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
VERY HOT! It’s like a VW Bug…It simply works.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
As a serious woodworking hobbyist, I love my SS’s. Yup, that’s right, two of them. One is a 510 I bought new with all the bells & whistles that I use as my primary saw. I also have a 500 i bought used, shortened up on the tubes and use as a drill press. I have an old house
that I have nearly rebuilt from the inside out and have not yet come across a situation I could use my SS on.
I love the support, as many others have mentioned. I can still buy parts and accessories
for either of my SS’s. They are sturdy, reliable, and consistent machines. On the expensive side, yes, but you get what you pay for. My only problem with SS is that they designed the table to non-standard miter slot width. But one trip to a machine shop fixed that problem…
All in all, SS works for me, and that is all that counts.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Just noticed Sisyphus comments, what a maroon …
June 29th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Just spotted an shopsmith on craigslist while looking for a horizontal slot mortiser or some equivalent. Any word on how the boring works on this machine? Is their an attachment to make mortising easy??
From what i’ve read this seems like a great investment to make and in the end, for all the things it can do, would be cheaper then individual tools and less of a mess of chords and such.