Comments on: The New Mark VII from Shopsmith

By: jackstrat

jackstrat — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:19:24 +0000

I have owned and used a Shopsmith since the mid 1980s, and posted a detailed review at http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com. Since I own two cabinet-style table saws, I primarily use the Shopsmith for disk/belt sanding, lathe work, and joinery. It works pretty well for those tasks. I always say, if you’re tight on space the Shopsmith is a good investment, otherwise you’re generally better off purchasing the standalone tools.

I did run across a neighbor building the most beautiful pair of queen anne high boy chests with the arched moldings (bonnet top), all done using a Shopsmith and no other major power tools. I was amazed. Gave me a new appreciation for the Shopsmith.

Wish I could afford the new power pro head, but at $2000, well, it’s just way too expensive. A great offering for the new Shopsmith buyer though!

Jack L
http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com

By: Shopsmithtom

Shopsmithtom — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:23:32 +0000

I learned woodworking on my dad’s 1951 Shopsmith (purchased new), which I still have & use. I drifted into separate tools for a while & went back to the Shopsmith. I now have 4 in my shop. Each is dedicated or converted to, more or less, a couple of different uses, giving me over a dozen different setups in a somewhat limited area.
While some might consider the table saw a weak point with it’s tilt table instead of arbor, I learned on it & have never seen a problem. Also really, what percentage of our cuts are not 90deg?
I don’t consider myself either a beginner of even an amateur in woodworking, and I don’t feel limited in any way be the Shopsmith. It’s accurate and has enough power (I’ve ripped 1 1/2″ oak without issues. I think most people who think it’s underpowered need to tune it up. It’s amazing how well a saw cuts when it’s set up right.
Tool to tool conversions take between 1/2 and one minute to do, hardly a deal breaker, and even separate tools need some set up when you go from one to another.
Admittedly, I’m a SS nut, but I’ll stack them up against anyone else…just my opinion.

By: BFFulgham

BFFulgham — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:56:12 +0000

I’ve used Shopsmith equipment of one form or another since I was a kid. Dad bought a ShopSmith radial arm saw about 1960 that I still use today. I bought their bandsaw with power stand in the early 1980s. I bought a used Mark V 510 setup about 5 years ago that included the 4” jointer, another bandsaw, and miscellaneous other attachments. If I had my druthers, I would have dedicated tools for the different functions that the Mark V does, but my shop consists of ½ of a 2-car garage and there is not room for all the equipment I would like to have. On the flip side, I don’t ever see me getting rid of the Shopsmith equipment. Even with a fully stocked shop, it definitely has its place. It is just able to do some things that are unique.

My ‘normal’ set up is in table saw mode with the jointer attached, so that I can joint a board, rip, joint, and rip.
A couple of projects that I’ve done:
A TV cabinet (soft maple) based loosely on the American Cabinet by Troy Sexton in the April 2008 Popular Woodworking issue.
A rather large white ash frame and panel pantry

Pros
Made in USA
Excellent quality
A lot of tools in a very small space.
Very precise with proper alignment.
Unsurpassed as a drill press or horizontal boring machine.
Variable speed.
Repair parts availability.
Excellent customer support.

Cons
Under powered (The Mark VII should be much better).
Small table size (front to back) makes it difficult to handle sheet stock.
Table tilt .vs. blade tilt for bevel cuts.
Not enough speed for router/shaper functions (The Mark VII should be much better).
Attachments are pricey (But, you get what you pay for!).

There is a very active group of forums for Shopsmith owners:
http://www.shopsmith.net/forums

BTW, Norm used a Shopsmith as a table saw, drill press, and lathe frequently in the early years on The New Yankee Workshop. He had the bandsaw as well.

By: jeff

jeff — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:13:34 +0000

I purchased my Shopsmith, Model 510, in the late 80′s. It’s a great tool. The best thing about it for me was the space savings. I didn’t have a lot of room to work with back then. I now have more space, but I still use it. The lathe is outstanding. The only thing I’ve stopped using is the table saw. My Unisaw is much better and easier to set-up for each cut. My dad still uses his, that he purchased back in the 50′s. American made tools are great!

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:46:21 +0000

I’ve had my Mark V ShopSmith for several years and use it for a variety of tasks. I love the disc sander and the slower speeds so burning isn’t much of a problem. It’s so easy to change discs I have two discs with different grits. I’ve used the horizontal drilling mode to cut mortises on the ends of rails for an 8ft gate; and made a replacement knob for a handplane( made 2 while I was at it)in the lathe configuration. Do a lot of wire brushing and buffing too (love that variable speed). A great tool to have in my shop.

By: Cincinnati

Cincinnati — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:28:25 +0000

I think when one finds out the Shopsmith is more than the basic 5 tools you will see the value. For example, You can buy or make a very good slow speed grinder for the shop smith.

By: wbltools

wbltools — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:36:10 +0000

My mid-1980′s Shopsmith Mark V was the first stationary power tool that I bought. Over the years, I’ve found reasons to add dedicated tools with larger capacity (table saw, band saw, jointer, planer, shaper), but I’ve always kept the Shopsmith for it’s flexibility. I currently use it for horizontal boring, slot mortising, and hollow chisel mortising. I own the belt sander accessory, and combined with a sanding disc or drunm, it makes a good sanding center. I also find it quicker to set-up a stack dado cutter on the Shopsmith, rather than change out the blade on the table saw. I don’t do much turning, but the lathe function on the Shopsmith serves the purpose just fine.

By: air55plane

air55plane — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:50:39 +0000

I am still using the same MK V that my father and I unpacked brand new in 1954(I was 9 years old). It has been a terrific tool. It has had a lot of use over the years and has the capacity to run hard; at one point, I built 150 clothes racks for a thrift store. It will do what one needs to do plus many other special operations; ever try to drill the end of a table leg for a caster? Drill the stem for a table lamp? The Shopsmith makes it easy. No balancing act to use a regular drill press.
My machine has been most dependable over the years. It was still running fine when I finally decided to upgrade the headstock with the more powerful motor, 2 bearing quill and most bearings. There are more upgrades available if one wants to modernize even more. Other repairs over the years were limited to a few belts and switches.
Folks say many negative things about these tools but it is my opinion that a person gets from any tool what he/she is willing to put into it in the form of becoming familiar with the tool’s capabilities, time spent on routine maintenance and being sure it is properly adjusted. The attachments (bandsaw etc.) are all of the highest quality and easy to use and maintain.
Some complain about the change over of tools: this need not be a problem as long as one is organized and plans ahead to combine operations that will minimize change overs. With practice, most change overs take no longer than a minute. Furthermore, I’m 6 ft. tall and think the saw table is just the right height; most regular table saws are too low for me. After 57 years of use, this machine still looks and works great (despite moving it back and forth across the USA while in the Navy).
Finally, a comment about Shopsmith Inc: that company has probably the best, most cooperative and efficient Customer Service Dept I’ve ever worked with. When you call, you get a human being in the USA, not a phone menu. Most of us work on our machines and the Customer Service personnel know that and are always ready to help with suggestions and how-to info.
It is very nice to have a 57 year old machine and know that I can still get BRAND NEW PARTS from the manufacturer! Try that with almost any other machine. There’s a great web site and on line video how-to also. Cannot say enough good/this has been a great experience!

By: lynnsgarage

lynnsgarage — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:10:34 +0000

My SS is great for boring blanks for pen turning, my Powermatic PM2000 is best for ripping a sheet of plywood. Both are high quality machines. Powermatic is rugged, SS is versatile. It’s like my wife and my kids, I love both for different reasons.

By: mhanes4901

mhanes4901 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:12:38 +0000

I’ve had my SS Mark V for about 20 years, it has a prototype 2 bearing spindle, according to the friend I got it from (who used to work for ShopSmith), he got rid of it after his garage burned down and the insurance company told him to throw it in the dumpster and buy a new one. I pulled my car up with a sign on the back that said “dumpster” and placed all the parts into it, including a jointer and bandsaw. I spent about a month cleaning, getting the rust off, and replacing the belts, tires, and power cords. Since then I used it to build several book cases and a swivel mirror (which my daughter still uses daily 15 years later). I have since acquired a cabinet saw and a Jointech Sawtrain/Router Table that mounts on the SS. I still use the SS as a jointer, disc sander, lathe, horiz. boring mach. and anything I need to mount on a horizontal spindle. I found that it worked very well as starting machine and is always useful for a number things.