Shop Smith

[kingOFgEEEks]

I'm thinking about buying a used Shop Smith off of the local Craigslist, and wondered if anybody here had one, and what your experiences were.

This one has some extras, so in addition to the normal table saw / sander / lathe / drill press, it also has the bandsaw and 12" thickness planer attachments.

I've heard good, and I've heard bad. Just looking for some more insight.

 

[USMC615]

I'm thinking about buying a used Shop Smith off of the local Craigslist, and wondered if anybody here had one, and what your experiences were.

This one has some extras, so in addition to the normal table saw / sander / lathe / drill press, it also has the bandsaw and 12" thickness planer attachments.

I've heard good, and I've heard bad. Just looking for some more insight.

My dad had an old Shop Smith Mark V many yrs ago...he enjoyed it and used it pretty regular. It was several years ago, back during my globe-trotting, gallivanting Marine Corps days so I never was around to see it in action much...but he made some fine furniture and woodwork with it.

 

[RandyMac]

I have an old one, it did most things well enough, not as well as a the single purpose machines do.
I'm going to sell what is left of it, the two 'rails' came up missing, the rest is in my way.

 

[srb08]

I remember my grandfather having a MK5. He used it a lot but eventually bought individual shop tools to replace it. He left it set up as a lathe. I think he got tired of changing it back and forth.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

Hmm. So it's good, but not great. Time to change back and forth is the one thing I was concerned about, so that's something to consider. I'm still in the maybe column I guess.