Shop smith Mark 5 woodworking tool questions

JOCCO · Nov 25, 2017

Any of you use one and have any input? What is there to look out for are they of any value or to small to be of much use? They seem to have like 5 basic wood working tools.

kcm.MN · Nov 25, 2017

The only thing I know about the Shopsmith brand is, it's good quality. I have no idea about parts availability if ever needed.

If you have very limited space to work in, this might be a tool for you. If you 'do' have space, then I'd recommend going a different route. One thing many other folks do is to buy or build mobile stands for their shops. A web search for "[i:5653e47d72]compact woodshop ideas[/i:5653e47d72]" will bring back LOTS of examples to look at.

Moonlite37 · Nov 25, 2017

My stepfather had one I used some. It does a fair job of many things but no job well. It takes too much time to set up. The radial arm saw was another multi-use tool that likewise did many jobs, but I had rather have a good compound mitersaw. I never bothered to move my 12 inch Craftsman radial arm saw to my new shop. Just not worth the space it takes up.

Crazy Horse · Nov 25, 2017

Someone below mentioned radial arm, pretty much obsolete these days and they did have safety issues (well, I guess all power tools do). Really though, a few separate tools are much easier and certainly quicker to deal with. Shop Smith are like those huge jack knives with 35 uses that were on the back cover of comic books that my dad would never buy for me.

Stephen Newell · Nov 25, 2017

Shopsmith kind of has a collector value and runs high. I have a shopsmith bandsaw I bought new in the 1980's and have never had any trouble with it. Personally I don't like the shopsmith machine itself. I would rather have individual machines rather than have one machine to power everything. It's too much trouble to switch back and forth from one machine to the other every time you want to do something different.

VADAVE · Nov 25, 2017

I'll second Steven's dislike plus I think they're not to precise in their settings. Right now I'm building a mantle from a pecan branch--12 feet, by 8 inches, by 4 inches. I can't pick it up, can only roll it over, therefore must use power hand tools. It's working but it is tough to get precise enough. Wife wants a outlet in the middle just to make it interesting. When I get it finished I'll try to get a picture.
Right now I'm at the install part--that's going to take two or three of us. Fun!

Ivan in Mich · Nov 25, 2017

I have one that I bought at a sale for 40.00. It came with the bandsaw ansd scroll saw. I used the scroll saw a coouple of times but I use the bandsaw all the time. I have all stand alone tools which I use the most. I use the Shosmith for ripping but use my radial arm saw for everything else. I would never pay the price they want for a new one. The can be ral accurate if set up right but are fussy to get there. Mine was made in 1960 and I can still get most parts for it from shopsmith. The lath works good but is not for heavy work. You can buy one off craigs list for 100 to 300 range with all the tools

Fawteen · Nov 25, 2017

All the comments about "jack of all trades, master of none" are right on the money.

I bought one new in the early 80's. At the time, I was on active duty in the Navy and living in government quarters and my "shop" was an 8x10 shed that had to accommodate EVERYTHING that didn't go in the house.

Under those circumstances, the space saving aspect of the machine was ideal.

Once I retired and had an actual shop, I bought a stand alone table saw, compound miter saw, jointer and planer. I kept the Shopsmith for the band saw, lathe and disc sander functions and still have it to this day.

I see them with multiple accessories in the local penny trader for $200-$300 all the time.

RusselAZ · Nov 25, 2017

When I was young and didn't have much I wanted a shopsmith but not enough money. Now that I don't want one anymore they come up on craigslist for 2-400 dollars. The last time I was at the wrecking yard there was one that was sold for scrap and it was a pretty good looking one. Saws, sewing machines, pianos and organs mostly no one wants cause we don't have to make anything anymore.

Bob Harvey · Nov 25, 2017

I have one. It is '56 model. It is a great tool(s). I have stand alone equipment in my shop and probably use the drill press feature more than any other. Had it for 40 years and would not like to be without it. Easy to swap uses, sets up easily and is very accurate. More of a machine tool for wood than a woodworking tool. IMHO

Stephen Newell · Nov 25, 2017

A radial arm saw can be pretty handy in a shop. I have two of them. One is a craftsman 10" and the other is a dewalt 16". I don't like the concept of using the saw to rip or miter I just keep mine at 90 degrees. You can set up a fence with a tape measure on it and just set the stop where you need to cut and don't have to measure anything. Then if you do a mortise and tenon joint you can use the radial arm saw to cut the tenons.

The only dangerous arm saw I've ever used was a Rockwell Delta 12" saw. From time to time the carriage bearings would break dropping the saw off the arm while it's running.

Bret4207 · Nov 26, 2017

My radial arm saw isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Been in constant use since 1965 or so and still going strong. And yes, both myself and my father have/had (he's dead) all our fingers.

Crazy Horse · Nov 26, 2017

A google search on their safety shows a lot of interesting results. It appears that in the hands of experienced woodworkers, they are probably no more dangerous than any other kind of saw. But a lot of people don't fit into that category. It's pretty obvious that for whatever reason, they definitely fallen out of favor. I suspect any that are on the market these days for purchase are the higher end saws that professionals might purchase. Weekend woodworking warriors would probably not opt to buy one. No question though, they were handy for certain kinds of cutting.

bruster · Nov 26, 2017

35 years ago, I thought hard of getting a ShopSmith. Th e best advise came from my dad, who said "If you are thinking of making anything with percise joints, or don't want to take the time reconfiguring to each use, buy your tools seperatly, and get the most for your money!"
Going to auctions, making slight repairs and buying what I only need garnered everything I needed for a 18 x 20 ft cellar shop.
My machines are all pre 1960, but have solid castings, bearings and were prime tools in their day
Lathe, tablesaw, band saw, surface planer, jigsaw, drillpress, all bought for less than $500

omahagreg · Nov 26, 2017

My BIL had one for short time, and I used it just enough to know to NEVER buy one! Table saw was WAY to high, set up for each operation was a waste of time, forgot to slow the motor down before setting up the lathe! You are not supposed to change the motor speed without it running-so that is a big deal! I had a 3 foot chunk of cedar 4x4 chasing my head for a minute. I would run fast and hard in the opposite direction!

Elmo · Nov 26, 2017

I have the basic shopsmith that I bought new in the seventies. I really like it especially the horizontal boring feature, the drill press for wood and the 12 inch sanding disc. The table saw is not used now since I have two real table saws. The lathe feature is very usable also. I will keep it as long as I can use it. Parts are available from Shopsmith.
Elmo

Shop smith Mark 5 woodworking tool questions

JOCCO

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kcm.MN

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Moonlite37

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Crazy Horse

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Stephen Newell

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VADAVE

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Ivan in Mich

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Fawteen

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RusselAZ

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Bob Harvey

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Stephen Newell

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Bret4207

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Crazy Horse

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bruster

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omahagreg

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Elmo

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