I’m a novice woodworker who will soon own a 200 plus year old farmhouse in Chester County, Pa. and I’m interested in getting a Shopsmith.
I have a chance to pick up a lightly used recent model for a good price.
The house does not need to be restored but will need maintainence, and I think this would be a good tool to own for such projects.
I am far from a dummy, am very mechanically skilled, but have minimal experience with a tool such as the Shopsmith.
Any info or comments would be helpful.
Thanks,Greg in Oakland Ca.
Replies
You will find as you use the machine, that the most important tool you need is the table saw. The shopsmith is not a good table saw (mediocre at best) and is somewhat cumbersome to set up. It makes a great drill press and an acceptable lathe. A reasonable sander (disc) without dust collection. The accessories that you may want to purchase, i.e., Jointer, Planer, Bandsaw and/or scroll saw, are very expensive for what they do and do not have their own power supply that a freestanding machine would have. read this: underpowered/overpriced. Constantly changing the machine configuration for the next step of a project gets very tiresome very quickly. Think this through carefully.
Since you will have an enviable amount of space for a shop, you may want to purchase good quality used equipment as individual machines as the budget allows and have a better shop as you build your tool categories.
Shopsmith, from firsthand encounters with two owners, is a very versatile machine IF you have the patience to organize the sequence of the projects well and not try to do too much with it all at once and don't mind taking the time.
It involves switching configurations for different tasks, but you are already aware of that.
If it comes with all the accessories that will handle your projects without having to buy more, then it's probably not such a bad thing if the price is right.
One of the owners, kindof geeky type, videotaped his progress with a built-in wood medicine cabinet with a mirrored door.
Much of the video shows him switching accessories for doing different tasks, which gave me the impression that he was more entertained by swapping accessories then the project itself, sortof the way the infomercials lure the buyers.
The type of mitre connections and other details escapes me, but the final product turned out well, with him videotaping himself shown on the mirrored door and showing off the cabinet.
The other guy built an entire wall of built-in entertainment center cabinets and shelving (paint grade) with all the components shaped on a Shopsmith.
I think it's best suited for the very occasional user with limited shop space, but only if it is bought used at a good price.
New ones are kinda pricy for the occasional user.
If you can get it at a price that will allow you to use it and resell it with no loss, give it a try.
Personally, I wouldn't have one. I hate even having to change a tablesaw blade to a dado blade. Once a machine is set up and dialed in, I don't want to mess with it at all.
Keep you eye on the local throw away papers, the Nifty Nickle or Recycler or whatever is local. You can buy a shop eventually if you're patient and stick with it.
Oh yeah, you can't get up at noon and expect to find the dealzzzzzzz.
Joe H
Okay, buckle up and settle in.
Over 20 years ago I got out of the navy and rekindled my interest in woodworking and home improvement. Because I was newly married with a new house, with only a garage to fit the proposed shop and two cars, we had to consider space carefully. So my wife, God bless her, went out and bought the Shopsmith during a local demonstration. Included was the jointer and bandsaw. She eventually bought me the belt sander, jig saw, and planer.
The shopsmith worked well in the garage. I didn't mind the swapping to achive the different functions. What I did mind, was the tilting table for the table saw and the lack of table space. After 3 years, we moved to our present house with a full basement. Soon afterwards my wife bought me a Delta contractors tablesaw, and my once-often use of the shopsmith began its grand decline. I now have separate tools whose functions were once performed on the shopsmith, including band saw, jointer, planer, mortiser, and shaper. I still use the shopsmith as a drill press, disc sander, and lathe.
I guess the moral of the story is, if you are determined to do woodworking (of any sort) and desire quality production, and you have space and budget available, buy the separate components. You will not regret it. The shopsmith is a multitasking piece of equipment that can do a lot of things, but sooner or later, if you persist in woodworking and demand a certain amount of quality, you'll be looking to replace the components with stand-alone units.
If you are determined to buy the shopsmith, DO NOT buy the jointer. It is a 4" machine with an infeed-outfeed table length of 28", which is way too short for quality jointing of longer boards. Get a 6" jointer, minimum.
If I had to do it all over again, even with the space considerations, I would buy separate components, place them on movable bases, and leave one car parked outside.
Have fun.
Inquiring minds want to know,
Where'd you find your wife? She sounds like a step up from standard Navy issue. Be sure to treat her right!.
Excellence is its own reward!
Found her in Hawaii, when I was stationed at the Sub base. She left, then came back. We got married, then moved to Conn. She hasn't stopped buying me tools since. God, I love that woman. Every Christmas, birthday, or anniversary, she either surprises me with something, or picks from a (large) list I keep updated. Thing is, I usually have no clue what she's gonna drop in the shop next (I was stunned in Jan. with a shaper.) All my major tools, and a more than a few portable ones, are gifts from her.
In return, I make her a piece of furniture a year. Last year was a pair of cherry corner cupboards. I've made armoirs, cherry pencil post beds, any number of tables, clocks, and cabinets. It's gotton so I have a hard time coming up with what to make next, because the house is full already.
You're right, though, she is special. Thanks.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Piff
Just as I was going to write Nick......"YOUR WIFE BUYS YOU TOOLS????", I saw your post....lol...I feel grateful that my wife doesnt blink an eye with every tool I buy and when I say I wish I had........she says so then you should have it
Be well bro
Namaste
andy
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Greg
I always see some one trying to sell ####shopsmith in the papers here.
Usually the price is between $1500 and $2500.
I also always see seperate tools for sale, just have to know what
the item is and the price.
In the past year, I've seen table saws from $100 to $1000. Picked up
a mint, still under warrantee 5 hp Grizzly Cabinet saw for $600.
Basically, you can buy a hell of a good set of tools used for the
same money.
Jeff