Went to look at a job on Saturday afternoon to a house that the son of a client of mine purchased from my clients uncle or the sons great uncles estate. Nice little house but the bachelor great uncle did not spend a nickel on the kitchen. Well my clients new daughter-in-law did not agree to the deal unless the kitchen and one bathroom was going to be redone. We'll probably just do the kitchen. They got such a great deal that the remodeling will be justified and affordable. When we finished my client asked if I wanted to look at a "saw thing" in the basement. I, of course, said yes. There sat a Shopsmith tool. A Mark V model. So, I asked if it worked and she said that I could plug it in and try it. Sure enough, it worked and even increased the speed as they do. So, I asked what she wanted for it? She said make me an offer. Now the bars that hold the power head are a little rusted and everything of course is dusty and in the basement. So, I asked if my price included her son helping me carry it out or did I need to go get help. They both said in unison that they would help take it out right now. So, I told her I would give her $150. She said back the truck up to the back door. So, I have been doing some research and apparently it is from 1981 according to the parts manual. It has been in this basement for 25 years. This good ole boy has got alot of neat attachments and cutters, all sharp but all a little rusty. So, here is what I am wondering. If you own a shopsmith, do you like it and did I get a good deal? I think I did I saw some on Craigslist for $450-$900. Then, what should I use to get the rust off those bars that hold the power head? I probably need to wax the tool after I clean it. I guess just help me understand the tool better. I plan to use it as a drill press, horizontal boring machine and a disc sander. I have pictures on my phone that I am going to try to get posted here in a little bit.
Awesome find for sure! I like to use power lube, made by CRC to remove rust. just spray it on & let it sit then take a rag & wipe it down. may take a few times & it will look like new.
good find at that price. I have 2 I have picked up over the years. I use them when I have several operations to do. I set one for each operation and do not have to change set ups. Most of the time one is set as a drill press and the other as a disc sander.
I wanted one of those when I was younger.....Now I prefer standalone machines. That seems like a great find and looks to be in real nice shape, aside from the rust. Crank 'er up and see what's what.
Very nice find. I had one if those for about 10 years before I sold it. It was great because the power head controlled all the tool functions and it as nice to use because of untypical tools most people don't have like a lathe and disc sander is also part of this thing. Enjoy
Thanks guys for the encouragement. This morning I am going to get it off the truck and won't get to playing with it until Saturday. Maybe Wednesday night a little. No firewood cutting after supper just gets too dark. So, we can play with this.
Very nice find you got there.. Looks like I wasn't the only one around here who scored some vintage machinery recently.
The extra attachments for those are not cheep, with the attachments and cutters you really sole it . Great score
Well guys just an update. I spent my lunch and a hour or so after work doing more research. I did put a post up on the official Shopsmith owners forum. There is a boat load of information there. Some bad, but most very good. Apparently, my machine was built in the fall of 1954. From my serial number they can tell me exactly what was shipped with the "mother tool". Apparently the term, "mother tool" is the base machine which everything mounts or is driven from. The other term that was used is that I have a "greenie". The base machines from 1952 to about 1967 were painted machine green. Before that battleship grey and after that many colors. greenies have variable speed drives with a 3/4 hp. Today, I can purchase an upgraded 2 hp computer controlled motor that takes the machine to the next level. I did learn this too. Everyone I talked says that I got a great deal. I really had no idea what it was worth. But, communicating with the guys on the company sponsored forum I only paid about $100 less than I should have for the machine in the condition that it is in and its age. $250 would have been a really fair price for both buyer and seller. $400 tops. But, still at $400 I think it is a worthwhile machine for what I need it for. I've got 3 table saws I don't another (2 portable, a ridgid and a dewalt and then the Grizzly 10" 22o volts) I need it for the drill press, horizontal boring and disc sanding. So, I guess what I am saying is keep your eyes open, if you want one and $400 seems to be the magic number unless it has alot of the accessories. HDRock, you are correct the accessories is where I need to do some hunting. I am going to be looking for a band saw accessory for the Shopsmith. I you know someone that has one let me know. We can ship it.
I watched demonstrations of the shop Smith's years ago, those demonstrators can really change things over quick, they don't have them at the woodworking shows anymore. You could put a wanted ad up on Lumberjocks site somebody might have something setting around that they no longer want. Not sure where I saw it I think it was in a magazine or something a guy had about 25 or 30 shop smith's he was collecting
