Just offered a Shop Smith!

[durango dude]

My next door neighbor is moving into an apartment - and offered me his ShopSmith Mark V ----- for $200!!!

I'm thinking I'll keep the bt3000 ---- and use the SS for other tasks.

What do you think?

[cork58]

It has been said before but worth being said again. Check Craigslist to see the real value. Most people who bought one end up selling them fairly cheap, the reason.

They are great if you can plan your project so you don't keep changing from drilling to cutting to sanding ect. The shopsmith is a great idea if you don't mind really slow progress. I'm sure you will be getting some feedback on this. You might want to do some searching on your own as you wait to make up your mind. Just use the search option here at BTCentral, should be a few links from the past.

$200.00 is a very good price, even if you resell it!

[wardprobst]

Check out this site

I used a BT and SS for years, they compliment each other. The SS has a nice variable speed drill press with table & fence, also horizontal boring, light lathe work, variable speed disc sander but the BT make a better table saw, at least for me. Drop a router in the BT and you're set for a lot of tasks. I know a lot of people look down at the SS but it functions well for quite a few tasks for me.
Congratulations on a good deal.
DP

[durango dude]

Update:

Am jumping at this deal.

I plan to use the SS primarily as a drill press - and lathe although it also comes with a jointer (making the deal all that much better)

I'll certainly use the SS --- but the BT will remain the tool of choice when it comes to sawing. The saw feature on the SS is among the lowest rarted features --- and the drill is among the highest rated features.

I figure I could easily drop $200 on a drill press - so it's worth it.

Plus - I get the capacity to lathe and join.

[dbhost]

The Shop Smith isn't that great of a table saw due to the fact that the arbor stays put, it's the table that raises / lowers and tilts, which seems incredibly dangerous to me.

Having said that, they make a great lathe / drill press / boring machine, and with the right attachments you can have a very well equipped shop in a tiny space.

I would snatch it up if you could...

[Shep]

Nice score.

[worknhard]

My next door neighbor is moving into an apartment - and offered me his ShopSmith Mark V ----- for $200!!!

I'm thinking I'll keep the bt3000 ---- and use the SS for other tasks.

What do you think?

You got a good deal... I've been using one for years along with my BT3000 table saw. I cut the SS down to about 20" and use it as a power station for the jointer, band saw, and belt sander. Occasionally I'll use the table saw feature for dado work. I think you'll be happy with it contrary to what other folks often say about ShopSmith.

Ron

[durango dude]

In the garage, next to the bt!

Just checked - and it's a 1956 model ---- but runs like it's right off the line.

[guycox]

I just had the headstock of my 1984 vintage shopsmith rebuilt by Jacob Anderson in Norfolk Virginia http://jacobs-repairshop.com/-- he let me watch while he went through it.. He did a really thorough job. I had worn mine out turn pieces that were a bit too large for that 5/8 spindle and the bearings-- You have the 2 bearing quill and I'm pretty sure that it can be upgraded to two bearing version.. The belts are going to need replace as well. -- give him a call.

[durango dude]

Will eventually get the headstock overhauled.

Will
- replace travel with a quarter turn wheel.
- update the drill press arm with a 3-lever wheel.

(upgrade cost about $50).

Suspect the head stock has been worked on, before --- the screws don't match.

The SS came with a full 10-piece set of Millers Falls turning knives.

Can anyone tell me about these?

[eezlock]

just offered a ShopSmith

That sounds like an incredible price on a well built piece of equipment!
When you take ownership of the machine,ask the seller if he still has the owner's original manual...it will be a big help with up coming questions you may have. Be sure and check out the ShopSmith website...pretty incredible from my point of view...a good site for owners of these machines. They have what they call "sawdust sessions" where all kinds of questions are asked/answered about these machines...conducted by Nick Engler, chief instructor at the ShopSmith academy all in all a pretty interesting site....hope this helps...
eezlock

[schloff]

Durango,
A tip, for what it's worth. Keep the BT, for sure. Folks who used one as their primary machine and gave it up (for whatever reason) can mostly all tell you that they miss their BT. I sure do miss mine (I "upgraded" to a PM contractor saw when motor blew smoke).

That saw is really a fine instrument, and will compliment any shop, assuming one has the room for it and their other tools as well.

I can only imagine how well the precision of the BT and the SS might work.