Replies

1. 
   Kell | Mar 04, 2003 06:27pm | #1

   Walt,

   I've been the owner of a Shopsmith MarkV Model 510 for about 16 years.  I also worked for the company during the mid 90s as national sales and service manager.  It is a good tool with a number of advantages and disadvantages to the system.  Advantages include adaptability and ease in moving from one function to another and sharing of angles.  The drill press feature is top notch although a little too fast for large forstner bits and the band saw is excellent for what it is; a small band saw.  Disadvantages include difficulty in adjusting to really fine tolerances because the bed of the table saw just isn't all that sturdy.  (You learn to adjust to it in your technique.)  The lathe, while useful, is a little lightweight and tends to vibrate with larger turnings unless you add the speed reducer (about a $300 option) and the new lathe tool rest ($75?).  The table saw with its tilting table can be difficult to cut angles on with larger items, sheet goods in particular.

   All that said, the unit has more than served my needs all these years and I've only had one major repair, a motor replacement about 3 years ago, a fairly simple DIY project.

   Would I buy another one?  I would if I was at the same developmental level as then (5 years into the hobby) and had limited space.  The size makes it unique for all the features you get.  It's great for a small hobbiest workshop.

   I have finally managed to secure a free standing shop of 20 x 30 and, if money were no object, I'd be upgrading to individual tools.  That's not in the budget until after I retire so I'll be using this for another 15 years or so.

   I have not used the Total Shop but had a friend who worked for them.  He said that it was more robust that the Mark V, weighs almost twice as much, but is fraught with the same issues as the Mark V when working in metal, less so in wood. 

   If you're already fairly accomplished at this, you'll be disappointed in either unless you have space limitations which require a trade off anyway.

   Good luck,

   Kell

2. 
   rslatm | Mar 05, 2003 11:07pm | #2

   It's like those fax, copy, printers they sell. It does a lot but none of it very well. For the money you could do better with used seperates and have soemthing that will do it's job very well. I suspect like shopsmith, only amateurs with glazed over eyes and drooling mouths with over stuffed wallets fall for this stuff. I still recall those hour long infomercials of the shopsmith late at night. To me that is a sure sign a product is no good.  I've been a woodworker and metal worker for thirty something years and think this is one of the worst things you can spend your money with the least return.

   On the other hand if you have limited space and want to do small stuff and very light metal work it might be ok.
3. 
   Andrew | Mar 06, 2003 12:51am | #3

   If you plan on taking this hobby seriously I think you'll be disappointed in these tools. like others have said, they all make sacrifices to be versatile. The more experience you get the more dissapointed you will be with the machines limitations. If you have the space, single function machines are a much better investment.

1. 
   Curtis | Mar 06, 2003 04:45am | #4

   Sir

   we are going to have to agree to disagree. Shopsmith has a very good tool line. Granted they are not the very best, in all of their tools but, they are far better than a lot of other, tool manufacturers.The precision and accuracy, not to mention accessibility, of a wide range of tools to perform specific jobs, Has kept this product line in business for almost 50 years.

   I would expect any company who can compete for this length of time, against the industrial giants such as Rockwell & General...must be doing something right.

   All skilled tradesmen have their own personal preference in what tools they choose to use, depending on the job that needs to be done.

   I would suggest it's not the tool that makes the art, it's the man who uses the tool.

   (To forestgirl, SORRY. Person that make the art.) :)

   Sincerely yours  C.A.G.

   Edited 3/5/2003 8:48:38 PM ET by curtis

1. 
   walts | Mar 06, 2003 08:09pm | #5

   Thanks everyone for your responses. Space is my limiting factor, but, after your suggestions, I think I would be better off to use separate machines or maybe get a used shopsmith to supplement my contractors saw.  Again thanks for your feedback. Walt

1. 
   rslatm | Mar 06, 2003 09:12pm | #6

   If you go combination seriously look at Felder, Rojek, Hammer, Knapp etc. Plus they hold their investment better. Used is the only way to buy a shopsmith if you really must but if you have used other brands you will probably terribly disappointed overall.

4. 
   vacabby | Mar 07, 2003 03:55am | #7

   Walt,

   I looked at the Shopsmith and traveled to see a demo at Lowes.   I was impressed with what they could do in a small space.   But, I thought there may be some problems working on larger projects and sheet goods.   I was afraid that I would quickly outgrow the shopsmith and then would have a major investment in a tool that I wasn't using much.   I really didn't and haven't had a great demand for that horizontal boring aspect of the machine.

   I took my time.  Went to estate auctions.   Shopped for new equipment and educated myself on what would work for me in the long term.    I found a good cabinet saw, a drill press, a dust collector and a 6" jointer for under 2K.   If you want to add the bandsaw to the shopsmith the cost for their small unit is close to what I found a 14" saw that I use daily in my shop.   My problem was I wanted everything NOW.   Over 25 years after beginning woodworking I am still buying toys and adding to the collection.   If you don't have to have everything right now and you have the room to do so I think you will be happier in the long run to put together a shop of individual pieces of equipment.   If you really take the time to shop and search you can put a great shop together.

   By the way.   I do have a Shopsmith now.   It was given to me after a neighbors husband passed away.   I used it as a horizontal boring machine twice since I got it.

   Good luck to you.