Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back. Since I'm always in the driveway
working on wood (at least until SWMBO gives the green light for a backyard
garage) she asked me about it and how to sell it. Recommended the local
Trading Post Mag but have no idea what to tell her to ask for it.

Looked at the machine and it appears to have all the standard accessories
plus the bandsaw and jointer attachment. Her husband was the type that took
good care of things so I'm sure it is in excellent condition.

Any body have an idea what she should ask/can get for it? Looked at a couple
of Shopsmith auctions on Ebay but they weren't much help. Thanks.

Oswin

I do not know where you are from but the ability to sell one probably
depends on the size of your classifieds marketplace. I know Shopsmith has a
following of avid enthusiasts and if you find the right person she might
sell it.

You might take a look at EBAY and note machines that have bids. I just took
a quick look and found machines with bids run from $250 to around $650.
There are also some in the $1,200 range without bids. There are also SS
users groups including a Yahoo users group -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SSusers/. Try googling some of these groups
and see if there are users in your area.

RonB

Click on the following link. This is an E-bay search of COMPLETED
Shopsmith listings.This will give you a pretty good idea of current
market value.


http://search-completed.ebay.com/sho...4100QQsbrsrtZl

Good luck,
Chuck

All over the map around here. A friend just went through weeks of trying to
sell one that was part of a bigger deal. I think a couple of months and
$450. I don't like them at all, because of the inconvenience, but I know
people do do small stuff successfully.
Wilson
"oswin2461" wrote in message
news:JEMJe.85491$%Z2.38122@lakeread08...
Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back. Since I'm always in the driveway
working on wood (at least until SWMBO gives the green light for a backyard
garage) she asked me about it and how to sell it. Recommended the local
Trading Post Mag but have no idea what to tell her to ask for it.

Looked at the machine and it appears to have all the standard accessories
plus the bandsaw and jointer attachment. Her husband was the type that
took
good care of things so I'm sure it is in excellent condition.

Any body have an idea what she should ask/can get for it? Looked at a
couple
of Shopsmith auctions on Ebay but they weren't much help. Thanks.

Oswin

In article JEMJe.85491$%Z2.38122@lakeread08, says...
Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back.

Any body have an idea what she should ask/can get for it? Looked at a couple
of Shopsmith auctions on Ebay but they weren't much help. Thanks.


If it's a fairly recent model (last 10-15 years?), I've seen similar go
for $800-$900 at estate sales. I've seen newspaper ads in the $1000-
$1500 range, but don't know if they sold for that.

If it's an older model (Shopsmith's been around a long time) it could go
as low as $200-$300 even in great condition.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

On Mon, 8 Aug 2005 13:29:40 -0400, "oswin2461"
wrote:

Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back. Since I'm always in the driveway
working on wood (at least until SWMBO gives the green light for a backyard
garage) she asked me about it and how to sell it. Recommended the local
Trading Post Mag but have no idea what to tell her to ask for it.


Depending where you are I might be interested.

On Mon, 8 Aug 2005 13:29:40 -0400, "oswin2461"
wrote:

Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back. Since I'm always in the driveway
working on wood (at least until SWMBO gives the green light for a backyard
garage) she asked me about it and how to sell it. Recommended the local
Trading Post Mag but have no idea what to tell her to ask for it.

Looked at the machine and it appears to have all the standard accessories
plus the bandsaw and jointer attachment. Her husband was the type that took
good care of things so I'm sure it is in excellent condition.

Any body have an idea what she should ask/can get for it? Looked at a couple
of Shopsmith auctions on Ebay but they weren't much help. Thanks.

Oswin

The following are the two Shopsmiths that I have purchased. Note that
I had previously inheireted a Shopsmith from my Dad:

1. A 1997 Shopsmith model 510 in good to excellent condition. It
included a bandsaw, a jointer, a strip sander, a DC3300 Shopsmith dust
collector, and all of the appropriate bits, blades, lathe tools,
fences, arbors, 2 - 12" sanding disks and a Forrest WWII blade, etc.
It also included a number of non-Shopsmith stuff such as a DeWalt ROS,
a downdraft sanding table insert, a bunch of wooden wheels, plugs,
dowels, etc. Total proce $1,250. I then sold my 1982 Model 500 in
excellent condition with a bandsaw and jointer along with appropriate
bits, blades, arbors, fences and 1 - 12" sanding disk along with a
spare saw table and fence for the same $1,250.

2. A 1988 Shopsmith Model 500 that clearly had not been used more than
once or twice, probably only to play with it when it was initially
set up. It came with a bandsaw that was still in the box, a belt
sander that was still in the box, a jointer that was still in the box
and a lathe duplicator that was still in the box. Unfortunately, this
had been inheireted by a woman when her dad died and she had just kept
it stored in her basement. She had apparently somehow lost some bits
and pieces including the fence, the drill chuck and some others and it
had some rust on the way tubes. Cleanable, but not excellent condition
due to the rust, but otherwise very good shape and basically unused.
All totaled $650. I spent about $150 getting all the needed bits and
pieces that were missing. This was purchased for my brother so he
ended up with a very nice and essentially new Shopsmith setup fopr
$800. (I got to keep the Lathe Duplicator for my efforts).


Obviously, I was in no hurry to buy so I found a couple of good deals
locally,(no shipping). I sold my 1982 model 500 to the first guy that
answered the ad in the local PennySaver for the asking price with no
haggling so I might have under-priced it.

Dave Hall

oswin2461 wrote:
Have a neighbor that is trying to sell a Shopsmith that belonged to her
husband who died a couple years back. Since I'm always in the driveway
working on wood (at least until SWMBO gives the green light for a backyard
garage) she asked me about it and how to sell it.

Maybe it's worth more as a tax write-off? See if the local high school
or some nonprofit could use it. Need to ask an accountant how big the
receipt for "market value" should be.

She might want to save that one till year's end, and try to sell the
thing in the meantime. But if she just wants it gone in a hurry,
donating it might be fastest.

replying to Dhakala, Phyllis Stadley wrote:
What a GREAT idea! I have one that I have no idea how to use or what it is
worth. My father was a carpenter by trade for a living so only bought the best
of the best. He has passed on now 12 yrs ago. It has been sitting in my
garage taking up space. I need help getting rid of it. It is older, but in
perfect shape.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

replying to Phyllis Stadley, Johnny McCulley wrote:
Shopsmith been sold? Model # and asking price, if not sold?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

On Thu, 04 Apr 2019 12:14:02 GMT, Johnny McCulley
m wrote:

replying to Phyllis Stadley, Johnny McCulley wrote:
Shopsmith been sold? Model # and asking price, if not sold?

After 14 years what do you think Johnny?

On Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 9:00:45 AM UTC-5, Markem wrote:
On Thu, 04 Apr 2019 12:14:02 GMT, Johnny McCulley
m wrote:

replying to Phyllis Stadley, Johnny McCulley wrote:
Shopsmith been sold? Model # and asking price, if not sold?

After 14 years what do you think Johnny?

Well...€¦.. Looking around at some of the stuff I own, and probably better at what my Dad has, having something sit around for 14 years or longer is really not that strange. And given the original post said it was a neighbor woman trying to sell her deceased husband's Shopsmith, after he had already been dead for several years!!!, it would not surprise me at all if it is still sitting in the exact same spot it was when he kicked the bucket.

On Thu, 04 Apr 2019 12:14:02 GMT, Johnny McCulley
m wrote:

replying to Phyllis Stadley, Johnny McCulley wrote:
Shopsmith been sold? Model # and asking price, if not sold?

John your best bet if you want one keep an eye on tools on Craiglist.

https://carbondale.craigslist.org/tl...850681278.html

This one has been on my local Craiglist tool section for a few weeks.

replying to oswin2461, Harv.sr wrote:
I can offer $300.00 for it plus I will pay shipping.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

replying to Harv.sr, Time Warp wrote:
Do you think he still has it after 12 years? Probably best that you don't
expose yourself to power tools if you're not bright enough to see that this
dates back to August 2005!

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

On 12/24/2017 4:44 PM, Time Warp wrote:
replying to Harv.sr, Time WarpÂ* wrote:
Do you think he still has it after 12 years?Â* Probably best that you don't
expose yourself to power tools if you're not bright enough to see that this
dates back to August 2005!


If he still has it by now he'd be happy to get 50 bucks for it.

replying to Harv.sr, RedAce wrote:
I have a Shopsmith I am looking to sell if you are still looking for one. I
would have to get my husband to get some of the details about it.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

RedAce wrote:
replying to Harv.sr, RedAce wrote:
I have a Shopsmith I am looking to sell if you are still looking for one. I
would have to get my husband to get some of the details about it.


If they were such a "wonderful idea", someone would probably still me
making them. When I saw them demo'ed at the woodworking shows when I was
still too young to have a drivers license, I immediately thought "I've
got to get one of those someday!". Turned out, I found alternate ways to
to incur higher cost. ; ) Maybe it make more sense if someone is
working out of a one car garage, and he or she doesn't have to worry
about the value/cost of his or her time.

If there's a Shopsmith "cult" online, I would share the details of what
you have to sell there.

On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:47:18 -0400, Bill wrote:

RedAce wrote:
replying to Harv.sr, RedAce wrote:
I have a Shopsmith I am looking to sell if you are still looking for one. I
would have to get my husband to get some of the details about it.


If they were such a "wonderful idea", someone would probably still me
making them.

Somebody is.

http://www.shopsmith.com/

When I saw them demo'ed at the woodworking shows when I was
still too young to have a drivers license, I immediately thought "I've
got to get one of those someday!". Turned out, I found alternate ways to
to incur higher cost. ; ) Maybe it make more sense if someone is
working out of a one car garage, and he or she doesn't have to worry
about the value/cost of his or her time.

If there's a Shopsmith "cult" online, I would share the details of what
you have to sell there.

On Monday, March 26, 2018 at 11:05:58 PM UTC-4, J. Clarke wrote:
On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:47:18 -0400, Bill wrote:

RedAce wrote:
replying to Harv.sr, RedAce wrote:
I have a Shopsmith I am looking to sell if you are still looking for one. I
would have to get my husband to get some of the details about it.


If they were such a "wonderful idea", someone would probably still me
making them.

Somebody is.

http://www.shopsmith.com/


My favorite featu

"A new removable safety switch"

....because who needs a new safety switch when a old regular switch will work just fine. ;-)

J. Clarke wrote:
On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:47:18 -0400, Bill wrote:

RedAce wrote:
replying to Harv.sr, RedAce wrote:
I have a Shopsmith I am looking to sell if you are still looking for one. I
would have to get my husband to get some of the details about it.


If they were such a "wonderful idea", someone would probably still me
making them.

Somebody is.

http://www.shopsmith.com/


Actually, its seems like a pretty good product for Festool to get
involved with.



When I saw them demo'ed at the woodworking shows when I was
still too young to have a drivers license, I immediately thought "I've
got to get one of those someday!". Turned out, I found alternate ways to
to incur higher cost. ; ) Maybe it make more sense if someone is
working out of a one car garage, and he or she doesn't have to worry
about the value/cost of his or her time.

If there's a Shopsmith "cult" online, I would share the details of what
you have to sell there.

On Monday, March 26, 2018 at 10:05:58 PM UTC-5, J. Clarke wrote:
On Mon, 26 Mar 2018 20:47:18 -0400, Bill wrote:

If they were such a "wonderful idea", someone would probably still me
making them.

Somebody is.

http://www.shopsmith.com/


I'm guessing he means competition from other non Shopsmith manufacturers. Similar to the way Festool's tracksaw now has competition from Mafell, DeWalt, Makita, and soon Bosch. Apparently ever company thinks track saws are wonderful. For the do everything Shopsmith market, you do have multi function machines sold by MiniMax and Felder/Hammer. And maybe another European company too. But comparing a MiniMax or Felder/Hammer to a Shopsmith might get you clubbed in the head until dead by anyone who owns a MiniMax or Felder/Hammer. They aren't really comparable. There is some saying that goes something like imitation is the best form of flattery. The fact that NO ONE copied Shopsmith kind of implies its not a good idea.

replying to Harv.sr, Paula L ODELL wrote:
I am In Kcmo and have a wood lathe for sale if intersted.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press.....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never regretted the purchase.

BillinGA on Wed, 28 Mar 2018 03:55:05 -0700 (PDT)
typed in rec.woodworking the following:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.

Exactly. It beats not having whatever it is you need.

I just don't have the space right now for a shop smith. Or
anything else, for that matter.
--
pyotr filipivich
Next month's Panel: Graft - Boon or blessing?

On 3/28/2018 6:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:

I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never regretted the purchase.


I bought mine lightly used in '83, around $800 for the Mark V and the 4"
jointer. The "shop" was an 8' x 9' corner of the basement - there was
just no room for individual machines. It was my main shop tool for 18
years, and I turned out a lot of projects with it, mostly furniture.

Current shop is 24'x 28' - cabinet saw w/50" fence, 2 RAS, CMS, 8"
jointer, 12" planer, 10" band saw, floor model VS drill press,
oscillating drum sander, router table, dust collector, two benches and
the Shopsmith.

As a saw this SS sucks.

The table is tiny (14"x18"), requiring supports for work longer than
about 24". Adjusting table height instead of blade height is cumbersome,
as the supports must be adjusted to match. Bevel cuts mean tilting the
table rather than the blade, which means long boards have no support and
want to slide toward the blade. Rip cuts on force the fence is on the
end support, while the motor and main table have to be adjusted
separately to the desired width. (This is better on new models with
guide rails for the fence - but some function changeovers are now more
involved.)

But the same table that I cussed at for sawing shines for drilling,
horizontal boring, and drum or disc sanding due to the tilt table, fence
and easily adjusted height. Having the tool on the quill means I have a
stop when I apply the sanding disc to a large workpiece rather than
moving the work. Or I can extend the drum over the table. The only
reason I have the Delta drill press is that I needed slower speeds than
the minimum 700 rpm on my older belt drive SS, plus I found a bargain.
(Newer models run 250-10,000 rpm.) Some days I find I'm using both the
Delta and the SS drill function with different setups. I don't think of
myself as a woodturner, but the lathe function has worked well for
several spindle projects. The small jointer is OK for edging pieces up
to about 36" long, inadequate for most face jointing. (I learned how to
use my Stanleys - #8,#6,#4 & #3.)

SS prices are ridiculous, they always have been. But I don't think I'll
ever get rid of mine, as it still solves many problems for me.

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:

I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never regretted the purchase.




IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

Clare Snyder writes:
On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

In 1978, the U.S. minimum wage was $2.65/hr. That's 300 hours (or almost
five weeks) to pay for the shopsmith (assuming no other expenses for
that month). So, in reality, $800 probably used at least six
months of discretionary income for the average laborer, if not more.
(taxes, fica reduce the top end, then there are day-to-day living
expenses, so it probably would take over a year for someone to save
$800 for a shopsmith).

$10.00/hr in 1978 was rare, particularly for an average laborer (I was
getting $7/hr with shift differential in a starch factory about then
which was generous).

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:47:40 GMT, (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:

Clare Snyder writes:
On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

In 1978, the U.S. minimum wage was $2.65/hr. That's 300 hours (or almost
five weeks) to pay for the shopsmith (assuming no other expenses for
that month). So, in reality, $800 probably used at least six
months of discretionary income for the average laborer, if not more.
(taxes, fica reduce the top end, then there are day-to-day living
expenses, so it probably would take over a year for someone to save
$800 for a shopsmith).

$10.00/hr in 1978 was rare, particularly for an average laborer (I was
getting $7/hr with shift differential in a starch factory about then
which was generous).


Point made then. Minimum wage today here in Ontario is $14. 2 weeks
is 80 hours. Thats $1120.

The "average laborer" does not work for minimum wage.

Average wage around here is about $21 an hour. or $1680 for 2 weeks
work.

At your $7 per hour in '78 it took almost 3 weeks of before tax
earning - so equivalent to about $2580 today

You were "above average" - as you said your $7 was "generouss" - so
equivalent pricing today is LIKELY closer to 6 weeks earnings (@$5 per
hour then) - so about $5160 today.

Mark 7 lists for $4279 US today - or about $5550 Canadian - - - - -
-

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:52:37 -0400, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

Gasoline is cheaper now than it was then. Beer? Dunno haven't bought
any in over a decade.


In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

I think your wage estimate is high.

On 3/28/2018 8:40 PM, wrote:

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:52:37 -0400, Clare Snyder
wrote:


On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:


On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.

But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.


Gasoline is cheaper now than it was then. Beer? Dunno haven't bought
any in over a decade.



In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.


I think your wage estimate is high.


1979, I was making about $1125 every two weeks, double that 5 years later.

On Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:52:39 PM UTC-5, Clare Snyder wrote:
On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

The cheaper ShopSmith Mark V is $3559 today on their website. If $800 was two weeks pay back then, the average laborer made $20,800 in 1978. Seems high. Maybe it was three weeks pay for $800. That would be average pay of $13,600 in 1978. Based on a Google search I did, I found annual income in 1978 of $17,700. So two to three weeks for the average worker.

But today the cheaper ShopSmith is $3559. If that is two weeks pay today, then the buyer is earning $92,534 per year. That is a lot more than the average pay in the USA. If its three weeks pay, then we are talking about a yearly pay of $60,503. Almost exactly the median income in the USA in 2017..

If the $800 in 1978 is accurate and the $3559 today, it takes the average worker 2-3 weeks of income to buy a ShopSmith.

On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 18:45:00 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:52:39 PM UTC-5, Clare Snyder wrote:
On Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:15:03 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 3/28/2018 5:55 AM, BillinGA wrote:
I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table) to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm, router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when compared to dedicated tools but I've never
regretted the purchase.



IIRC in 1978 the Shop Smith was about 1/3rd the price it is today, maybe
a bit less, I was thinking $800 or so. Like everything else it has gone
up in price.
But not as fast as the average wage, or the price of Gasoline, or
beer.

In 1978 $800 was a pretty sizeable chunk of cash!! A good 2 weeks pay
for an average laborer.

The cheaper ShopSmith Mark V is $3559 today on their website. If $800 was two weeks pay back then, the average laborer made $20,800 in 1978. Seems high. Maybe it was three weeks pay for $800. That would be average pay of $13,600 in 1978. Based on a Google search I did, I found annual income in 1978 of $17,700. So two to three weeks for the average worker.

But today the cheaper ShopSmith is $3559. If that is two weeks pay today, then the buyer is earning $92,534 per year. That is a lot more than the average pay in the USA. If its three weeks pay, then we are talking about a yearly pay of $60,503. Almost exactly the median income in the USA in 2017.

If the $800 in 1978 is accurate and the $3559 today, it takes the average worker 2-3 weeks of income to buy a ShopSmith.
So, however you run the numbers, the price of the Shopsmith really
has NOT gone up very much - which was my point.
(if it has, in reality, gone up at all)

"BillinGA" wrote in message
...

I bought one in 1978. I was limited to keeping my woodworking equipment in
a 4x 8 carport storage room. When needed, I would roll it out onto the
carport and cut/turn away. Shopsmith offered classes at a very reasonable
rate and the training projects made one familiar with the different
configurations. The variable speed motor is plenty strong and doesn't rely
on expensive electronics. Still runs well after all these years. The ease
of dado adjustment comes to mind as the blades are right there and you
lower the table over them for use. I've never taken 20 minutes to make any
setup change and that includes going from a "table saw" (not much table)
to a drill press....more like 5-6 minutes. Since then I was able to have a
larger shop and , like most others, acquired a table saw, radial arm,
router tables, etc. The Shopsmith met my financial and space needs at the
time of purchase. It doesn't do any one function particularly well when
compared to dedicated tools but I've never regretted the purchase.


My father got a new in the crate Shopsmith with a jointer and scroll saw
from a retired Boy Scout Scoutmaster around 1960... His troop gave it to him
when he retired but he had no interest in woodworking and sold it at a good
discount off retail. The Shopsmith still resides in my father's shop. I
started using it when I was very young making jig saw puzzles at first and
then moved on to using the drill press, jointer and table saw. Switching
between options isn't a big deal... I was doing it as a kid (though the
jointer seemed to weigh a ton to me back then!).

After using my big stationary tools I find the Shopsmith inadequate but it
has served my father well for nearly 60 years... and he can still get parts
for it! He upgraded the motor to a larger one when Shopsmith had a sale on
them. That was a good move as the original was grossly underpowered for
table saw use... It doesn't look a whole lot different from the Mark 5 they
sell today.

replying to oswin2461, Paula L ODELL wrote:
I have a wood lathe that was inherited to me and I have no clue in how to use
it nor would I want to. How much are they worth?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/woodwo...ith-34401-.htm

Paula L ODELL m writes:
replying to oswin2461, Paula L ODELL wrote:
I have a wood lathe that was inherited to me and I have no clue in how to use
it nor would I want to. How much are they worth?

Technically it was bequeathed to you. You inherited it.

They can be worth nothing, or upwards of $1000. It depends on the
brand, model and condition.

(Scott Lurndal) on Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:24:58 GMT
typed in rec.woodworking the following:
Paula L ODELL m writes:
replying to oswin2461, Paula L ODELL wrote:
I have a wood lathe that was inherited to me and I have no clue in how to use
it nor would I want to. How much are they worth?

Technically it was bequeathed to you. You inherited it.

They can be worth nothing, or upwards of $1000. It depends on the
brand, model and condition.

As I said earlier: value to whom? value as what?
--
pyotr filipivich
Next month's Panel: Graft - Boon or blessing?

pyotr filipivich wrote:
(Scott Lurndal) on Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:24:58 GMT
typed in rec.woodworking the following:
Paula L ODELL m writes:
replying to oswin2461, Paula L ODELL wrote:
I have a wood lathe that was inherited to me and I have no clue in how to use
it nor would I want to. How much are they worth?

Technically it was bequeathed to you. You inherited it.

They can be worth nothing, or upwards of $1000. It depends on the
brand, model and condition.

As I said earlier: value to whom? value as what?



Hey, this one is on its way to becoming a family heirloom!