ShopSmith woodworking machine

[wh500special 2,338]

I'm a scratch woodworker and already have quite a few pieces of equipment in my shop. But I have really been wanting to add a lathe to my array of tools since it is getting expensive to buy turned stock.

A coworker has a very nice Shopsmith woodworking tool he's decided to get rid of. It's mint really. It has all the standard capabilities plus he's added the 11" bandsaw and the adapter for using standard tablesaw blades. And the price seems right since it is spotless and I know the guy is exceptionally anal with everything he owns. In general, he's cheaper than eBay and CL.

His reason for selling is that he just upgraded to a big Powermatic cabinet saw and needs to regain some room and money. He has a freestanding lathe he bought years ago before buying the SSmith.

Anyway...

My primary interests in the machine are twofold:

1. It is a pretty impressive lathe. And I want a lathe that can do table legs, spindles, etc. The Shopsmith capacity is something like a 15" swing and a 34" length. Variable speed, 2hp, etc. Seems like a NICE lathe unit.

2. The unit is one helluva drill press AND is also a horizontal boring machine. My current drill press is an underpowered piece of junk. And the horizontal capabilities mean it can edge/end drill panels and posts which I do quite regularly with a hand drill with mixed results.

I am not the type who cares much for multipurpose, combination tools. But for the operations I have outlined above I'm not sure much else would be as good as the Shopsmith. I'd probably put the disk sander to work a fair bit and might even use the tablesaw once in a while, but the tilting table seems a bit funky to me. I already have a nice tablesaw and bandsaw. Really, it would be a nice lathe and would allow me to put my drill press out by the curb...

Anybody have any appreciable experience with one of these suckers? For what he is asking, I couldn't buy a lathe and drill press that would meet my expectations, so you can choose to ignore the other functions if you like since these are the most important to me.

Any reviews would be welcome.

Steve

[tarcoleo 119]

Personally, unless space is a problem, I think an all-in-one tool like Shopsmith is

very limiting because its a deal to have to change set-ups from operation to

operation. Separate tools are very convenient. Like a bee, you can go "from

flower to flower". Just my opinion.

Tom in RI

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

Steve,

I have owned and used a Mark 5 Unit since they were first introduced in the mid 1980's.

Your own review of the product is spot on with my own opinions.

You cannot get a better machine for lathe and drill press / horizontal boring procedures. The Hp of the power head, double bearing support of the quill and total "adjust-ability " of the table makes it a winner.

Yes, I did go out and buy a stand alone table saw, a Jet cabinet saw as soon as funds permitted. I was building my own kitchen cabinets and slinging around 4x8 sheets of material on the Shopsmith was not fun. These days, big box stores will pre cut any 4x8 sheets for you and makes life a whole lot easier for those with small shop restrictions.

I have the jointer, bandsaw (the best home unit on the market in my opinion - again because of the HP rating of the power head) - lathe duplicator, and scroll saw.

One of the largest, unadvertised benefits with multifunction machines is actually related to the "switchover time" issue. To avoid switching back and forth between functions, you are forced to become a better workflow planner. Plan what cuts need to be made in what order, measure twice cut once, and mentally become more aware of overall process of your build.

I still own and use the product today. The only failures I have had in 25+ years have been the power switch and ball bearing supports in the bandsaw head. Both fixes less than $25 and and hour or two worth of work.

[wh500special 2,338]

Thanks guys.

I'm thinking it will be coming home with me. The primary uses will be as a drilling machine and a lathe. The other features are just icing on the cake.

If the tool was my primary machine I think I might also be concerned about having to switch from operation to operation. But like Chuck said, it probably forces a guy to plan ahead a bit more and think things thru. I'm already accustomed to making fairly long setups on machines anyway for tenons, dovetails, etc, so the "plan ahead" mode is something with which I am familiar.

Thanks again,

Steve

[stevasaurus 23,453]

Steve...SOI is right on the money. My dad bought a Shop Smith back in the 50"s. It had the lathe and tools, drill press, table saw, disk sander, band saw, jig saw. Space was an issue, but I remember him cutting 4X8 sheets of plywood, 1/4" Plexiglas etc

When he passed, my brother did not waste any time latching onto that equipment. It is an excellent piece of equipment. It is an all in one, and it is not hard to change functions. Like was said...if space is a premium (and even if it is not) you will never be sorry owning a Shop Smith.

Just in case you are wondering...my brother chose the Shop Smith...I was given the horses. Can you say...Win/Win? :thumbs: