I have owned my Shopsmith since 1985. I usually tell people that if they have the space and budget
for individual tools, buy them. The Shopsmith is a multitool that does a lot of things and does them
very well. The pictures below will show some of its functions. Its advantages: 1, It replaces many
expensive and space consuming tools. 2,It can be easily moved from one place to another. (I usually
use it outside the garage to keep the dust out). 3,It can be stored almost anywhere. (When I first got
it I didn't have a garage, I stored it in a 8'X10' storage building and rolled it outside to use). 4,Its
110 Volt motor allows it to be powered up anywhere. This is also a disadvantage when sawing thick
lumber (slow feed rate).5, The end tables are great when sawing plywood. Disadvantage: 1,The small
table can at times be anoying. (Shopsmith makes a larger table that can be fitted to it but I must
say that the minor anoyance doesn't equal the cost of the larger table). 2, The rip fence must always
be squared. 3. I already mentioned the 110 volt motor. 4.Setup form one tool to the other is quick
and easy but at times it is anoying to saw, sand, then saw again.
All things considered it is a great tool, one that I have used extensively, and will continue to use for
many years to come. As I said, if you have the space and budget, go for the seperate tools. If not
http://www.shopsmithmarkv.com/
Click on pictures to enlarge them. Use your brouzer back key to
return to thumbnails.
Ready to saw. Not shown
is my other end table. All
table height are easily
adjustable.
|
Shopsmith set up in drill press mode. The motor/arbor
and table can be adjusted to any height. It can do
anything a normal drill press can do.
|
Set up for horizontal boring. Sometimes things
are easier to clamp and drill horizintally. Lets
see your drill press do that.
|
As a lathe it can handle
some big projects
|
Shopsmith logo on the arbor
speed control
|
Shopsmith sells a simular accessory
bench, but I built this one
|
Scarfing made easy. Set the table to 3 degrees, clamp a
piece of scrap wood to the table for a guide and run the
plywood through. I also use this technique with the table
set at 0 degrees to size lumber.
Do I like Shopsmith products? In 2003 I decided it was time to upgrade my band saw and belt sander. At the time I had a
Sears 3 wheel bandsaw and a homemade beltsander (see the sander below). I started watching ebay for Shopsmith
accessories and found a Shopsmith MarkV, with a Band saw, Belt Sander Jig saw and all the standard Shopsmith accessories.
My first thought was to buy it then resell the shopsmith mark V and keep the accessories. Once I received it I decided to keep
it all and use one shopsmith to power the band saw and belt sander and the other for sawing and drill press and all other
functions. To save space on the second unit I cut the horizontal bars down about 18 inches.
My two Shopsmiths. The one on the right is shortened about 18 inches and the
band saw and belt sander stay mounted most of the time. It can still do everything
a Shopsmith is supposed to do but with some deminished capicitu.
Tool trays I made for my Shopsmiths. They are great
dust catchers but my air compressor nozzle is always
close by to remove the dust. Sawdust is good for the
grass.
Below are pictures of my home made belt sander. It uses 6X48 belts which I ordered
from Shopsmith. Hardware and belts cost abour $60. All the wood is from my scrap bin.
It worked but not real good. I had problems keeping the belt aligned. The problem was
that the bottom support board was too weak and when I would adjust the pillow blocks
the board would flex and let the belt drift.
I made cord wraps for
both saws and added a 15
foot heavy duty cord to
each saw.
