Shopsmith users chime in!

[76winger]

Originally Posted by chrishicks82

Bought mine in 2007 or 2008 it has been used to remodel my house and now it is used to make my pens I will never get rid of it but I am going to buy some other single use tools so I can be a little more productive. I found mine on craigslist for $300 had to have it.

You got a heck of a deal! By the time I got done rebuilding my $50 purchase I had about $800 in it. But half the parts in the head stock were new at that point, including upgrading to the newer belt style and the dual bearing quil. Those alone were about half of the price of the project. The rest was new way tubes and lots of used stuff off of eBay for all the missing pieces.

[rej19]

Here's a pic of mine. I have most of the attachments including the dust collection system. I use it for my horizontal boring and sanding.

[76winger]

Originally Posted by rej19

Here's a pic of mine. I have most of the attachments including the dust collection system. I use it for my horizontal boring and sanding.

Nice setup Ron, looks like your set up to slide the headstock back and forth between sanding and horizontal drilling!

[76winger]

Originally Posted by RichB

I have the SSMarkV, which I bought new about 35 yrs ago, I think. I have a bandsaw, and strip sander attachment for it. It used to be my main machine but now I use it for horz. drilling and buffing out my pens. It is very useful for different machining. I have thought of selling it but about the time I think about it, it turns out to be the only machine I can use for a different project. I have a nice equipped wood shop, but it still has a place.

I'm with you because I think there will always be a use for it due to the versatility of the machine. Unless your just filthy rich and can purchase every individual toll the Shopsmith can mimic. But even then, it's a good spare machine if you already got it, just in case some breaks when you need to get a job done.

[navycop]

I like that setup Ron. I was trying to use mine for the drillpress, but had no room to add the table and raise the tubes. I never thought to mount the vise as if I was going to drill from the top-but instead use the horizontal boring feature.

[rej19]

Thanks Mike. This is the way I have it set up most of the time. I can easily swap the band saw with the sander if I need it. I am very limited for space so it works out good for me. At some time I will post my "mini shop" photos!

[JamesB]

As a prospective Shopsmith owner I hope to learn how to maximize the potential of it from all the great owner here if I get this one off craigslist : "Circa 1950's Shop Smith many spare blades, dados, drums, discs etc. All original with manuals, etc."
The guy is supposed to be sending pics soon. I'll post them here when I get them.

[navycop]

I lost my chart that had the Shopsmith speeds (k, L, M, etc) matching up with some of the speeds that others used for sanding and general turning. Can anyone help me out with what speeds to turn, micromesh and apply finish using the shopsmith?

[76winger]

I usually leave mine on the slowest setting for sanding and finishing, which is 700 rpm. I know some use a faster speed, but I like to believe I sling a lot finish around the shop by keeping the speed down, and don't build up as much heat during sanding either.

[Jackson]

My dad got one about 10 years ago from a garage sale when I was 8 or 9 and never used it much. Now I use it for everything pen related, as it is our only power tool. We use everything, the table saw, band saw, disk sander, belt sander, drill press, and lathe.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5181549/100_1164.JPG