Koy E
Well-known member
Looks pretty wicked.never seen this machine before. Anyone have input??
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/3869677844.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/3869677844.html
I so wish I had the money of this..
- Thread starter Koy E
- Start date
4xdog
Well-known member
The subject of thousands of hours of 80s infomercial TV... the ShopSmith.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Visited their showroom in Dayton while on a business trip to the area. Bought one used when I got back home but sold it a few months later. Major PITA to switch between the different functions while doing a project.... Also, goofy proprietary bore on the spindle- had to buy saw blades from SS, at the time they were pretty spendy. . It's the one tool I don't regret selling- especially since I made a couple of hundred bucks on the deal. YMMV- might be OK if you were really cramped on space and didn't need to get anything done quickly- it does a pretty good job on whatever you ask it to do if it's set up properly.
I still have the set of HSS brad point wood bits that came with mine, in the red vinyl SS pouch- 1/4 to 1" , probbalyfrom the late 1970's- Very good quality.
I still have the set of HSS brad point wood bits that came with mine, in the red vinyl SS pouch- 1/4 to 1" , probbalyfrom the late 1970's- Very good quality.
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my coworker has the biggest one built. The one you pictured there is a smaller version. The problem with these units are, anytime you want to use a different part of it, you have to take it apart and set it up for the other tool. It becomes a back and forth pain in the *** deal.
My coworker's SM now sits outside.
My coworker's SM now sits outside.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
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Givl Reggin
Banned
Almost bought one of those when I was a teenager... I may have made a bunch of stupid mistakes back then, but that wasn't one of them! So glad I didn't end up buying one of those, although I have to admit the TV commercials they ran in the mid-70s make it look great.
stratman977
Well-known member
For a home hobby wood shop it's a decent machine. They have no place in a cabinet makers shop but if you want to go out and make a bird house with your kid its more than adequate. The shop smith mark v has not changed much from the 50s and there's a ton of attachments available for it. It takes up less space than individual machines. It's on par if not better than the table top saws and sanders you get at sears. The are a well built machine but the design has some quirks.
Some people complain about having to switch the attachments but I really don't mind all that much. It takes a few minutes extra but if you're not in a hurry its really not that big of a deal.
The table saw on them isn't the greatest but it gets the job done. The standard blade arbor does only take a shopsmith blade but I got an arbor from somewhere that takes a regular 10" blade. You need to make sure it had the dust collector shields for the table saw. You can use it without them but it throws dust everywhere without it. You adjust the tilt and the height of the table instead of the motor so it can be a pain and in some cases dangerous to cut angles.
The drill press doesn't spin slow enough to drill steel. You can buy a speed reducer gear box to slow it down but its a pretty klunky setup.
That one is worth $400 if it has some attachments. They aren't giving you much with that one so I personally would pass. If it had a bandsaw or something else I would pay $400. The real early ones have a 3/4 hp motor and the later ones have a 1-1/8hp motor. That one is a 1-1/8hp.
Some people complain about having to switch the attachments but I really don't mind all that much. It takes a few minutes extra but if you're not in a hurry its really not that big of a deal.
The table saw on them isn't the greatest but it gets the job done. The standard blade arbor does only take a shopsmith blade but I got an arbor from somewhere that takes a regular 10" blade. You need to make sure it had the dust collector shields for the table saw. You can use it without them but it throws dust everywhere without it. You adjust the tilt and the height of the table instead of the motor so it can be a pain and in some cases dangerous to cut angles.
The drill press doesn't spin slow enough to drill steel. You can buy a speed reducer gear box to slow it down but its a pretty klunky setup.
That one is worth $400 if it has some attachments. They aren't giving you much with that one so I personally would pass. If it had a bandsaw or something else I would pay $400. The real early ones have a 3/4 hp motor and the later ones have a 1-1/8hp motor. That one is a 1-1/8hp.
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ChevyEFI
Well-known member
You're nearly recommending it to some of us.
lwlobo
Well-known member
Shopsmiths have been a staple of the tools section of craigslist ever since craig started listing stuff.
So have radial arm saws.
I've always heard about shopsmiths from people who either always wanted one (and still does) or used to have one and found it frustrating to switch it around and sold it. I've never heard from someone who actually has one and uses it. Take that for what it's worth.
So have radial arm saws.
I've always heard about shopsmiths from people who either always wanted one (and still does) or used to have one and found it frustrating to switch it around and sold it. I've never heard from someone who actually has one and uses it. Take that for what it's worth.
jakemac
Well-known member
It's the DIY workshop version of a swiss army knife. It will do all sorts of things, but not well, and with more work.
Mohawk Dave
Well-known member
I've learned that we had a Shopsmith store local to us back when, so every Tom, ****, and Harry have one around here. Every yard sale and every other CL ad....tired of seeing those damn things! lol
Curmudgeon
Well-known member
Great tool if you have a lot of patience, a lot of time, and not much space. About 1975 I decided I just HAD to have one. The honeymoon didn't last too long. The table saw *****, way too much money for a disc sander, and I don't need a horizontal boring machine.
But the drill press function is good and the lathe function is excellent, since it is infinitely variable speed. It's been pushed against the back wall of the garage with a wire wheel on an arbor for about 35 years now. Works great for cleaning crud off of things, and that's just about the only use it's had in it's lifetime.
The only reason I don't sell it is because it's a great lathe. I considered selling it and buying a real lathe, but why sell it for a loss then spend more money for a lathe?
Knowing what I know now I would never have bought it.
JP
But the drill press function is good and the lathe function is excellent, since it is infinitely variable speed. It's been pushed against the back wall of the garage with a wire wheel on an arbor for about 35 years now. Works great for cleaning crud off of things, and that's just about the only use it's had in it's lifetime.
The only reason I don't sell it is because it's a great lathe. I considered selling it and buying a real lathe, but why sell it for a loss then spend more money for a lathe?
Knowing what I know now I would never have bought it.
JP
t4runner
Well-known member
I have owned one for over 30 years as stated its a jack of all trades and a master of none. Its a well built machine. The only way to go if you want one is to buy it used. IMHO they are way over priced new. Contrary to popular belief they dont hold their value and I have seen them go for 5-7 hundred dollars with a jointer, band saw and belt sander attachment along with a ton of accessories. If you have the space save your money and get stand alone machines in the end you will be happier. I still have my Shopsmith but I also have a table saw, RAS and scroll saw. The Shopsmith is hardly used any more and I just cant part with it for some reason
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softailgarage
Well-known member
My dad, who was a cabinet maker & a machinist was looking at these back in the early 70's. Then they were running about $600-$700. He never did get one and I always wondered why. Recently I've thought about getting one, however, I've noticed they're always on Craigslist, which I took as a warning. Now I know why, thanks.
woody 73
Well-known member
Wow do I remember those infomercials on the shopsmith funny I was never sold on the machine but it seems that every garage I walk into someone has one so they must have sold a lot of them.
As others have pointed out RAS and Shopsmiths in my area go for dirt cheap prices; now if the op had deep pockets they do make industrial machines that can do several different jobs but those machines have large 5 hp motors or larger hp and the change over takes only a few seconds, they start around $10,000 dollars and go up in price.
As others have pointed out RAS and Shopsmiths in my area go for dirt cheap prices; now if the op had deep pockets they do make industrial machines that can do several different jobs but those machines have large 5 hp motors or larger hp and the change over takes only a few seconds, they start around $10,000 dollars and go up in price.
cgv69
Well-known member
In this case you should be thankful that you don't. Those things are POS's IMO. Some say they are OK for home use but I wouldn't even agree with that. Sure, if you had to build something and this was the only option you could probably get it done but you will be fighting with and cursing at this thing the whole time.
Individual tools may cost a little more and take up more space but they are so worth it. That's just my opinion.
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kc-steve
Well-known member
As I recall many years ago it was something for hobby guys, nothing more. I saw one come into the Pawn Stars shop and the "old man" wanted it while Rick wouldn't have it. If nostalgia is your reason for buying it then I'd say go for it. 
Steve
Steve
Is this a "Time Warp" going back decades??
Neighbor has had a Shop Smith for 25+ years and manages to get some use out of table saw and drill press functions. However, always has to re-configure, and tear-down when done in his 2 car garage. Would be better to have a workshed out back with individual machines.
OP I'd recommend save your money and instead buy quality older individual machines in a detached shop.
Neighbor has had a Shop Smith for 25+ years and manages to get some use out of table saw and drill press functions. However, always has to re-configure, and tear-down when done in his 2 car garage. Would be better to have a workshed out back with individual machines.
OP I'd recommend save your money and instead buy quality older individual machines in a detached shop.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Yep
I used to work in Dayton long ago and made a couple stops at that showroom to get a feel for the set-up.
I came from having access from a full shop using Delta unisaw's , drill presses, joiners, planers, band saws, disc and spindle sanders, etc., and I always found the Shop Smith a compromise on each tool.
Used and cheap they may prove thier worth, but any more it won;t break the bank to find descent quality shop individual tools that are way more hassle free than what the SS offers in my opinion.
G_P
Well-known member
To me that's the equivalent of doing a rear drum job with a Leatherman multitool. Sure it would work but it would forever!
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Steevo
Well-known member
I have had several, which were acquired through lot purchases or inherited.
I have sold them all.
The best use of a Shopsmith I ever saw was a guy why took the variable speed motor head from one, and used it to power a real bandsaw, giving him basically an infinite speed bandsaw.
I have sold them all.
The best use of a Shopsmith I ever saw was a guy why took the variable speed motor head from one, and used it to power a real bandsaw, giving him basically an infinite speed bandsaw.