First of all, let me preface this by saying (yet again) that I am not a Shopsmith collector. (I’m not a plane collector, either, but that’s another story)
I did, however, trade some carving basswood for a non running Shopsmith. Since I already have 2-10er’s (if you’re not a Shopsmith guy, you can check my previous tool review of a 10er for reference) and an old “greenie” mark 5 shorty in the shop (cut down tubes) that I use mostly for running the jointer & bandsaw, I really didn’t feel I needed another in my fairly small shop.
My first thought was to simply upgrade from the greenie to the newer, 1983 model to run the peripheral tools, but the 1958 greenie runs every bit as well as the 1983, so it seemed a shame to relegate it to parts storage, so I decided that if one headstock is good, then two would be better. The result saves space, but still satisfies the “Tim, the toolman Taylor” in me.
I mounted the headstocks opposing each other so that I have a left side power coupling at each end of the machine. (The right side couplings still work for the table saw & disc sander) That way the bandsaw & jointer can stay hooked up if I choose. This is the way it will get the most use. I give up the lathe & drill press functions, but one of my other machines will handle them.
By the way, if you wonder why Shopsmith owners get less woodworking done than separate tool guys, it’s not because of the change over time…it’s because, instead of woodworking, they spend too much time playing with their tools. (yeah, I know, but I just couldn’t resist) -SST
-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you
5 comments so far
PurpLev
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7814 posts in 1845 days
#1 posted 1400 days ago
awesome… and yes, you have too many SS…. I’ll send you my address, so that you can be relieved of one. I always wanted one for the boring/drilling/lathe functionality. I think it’s a great machine to have for those.
really nice setup on the double-header. that thing must weigh a ton – literally.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Bill White
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2649 posts in 2157 days
#2 posted 1400 days ago
Now THAT’S usin’ the old bean. Great idea.
Bill
-- bill@magraphics.us
Shopsmithtom
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769 posts in 2391 days
#3 posted 1400 days ago
I don’t think it weighs as much as one on my old 10er’s. The old ones have cast iron parts & the mark 5’s use aluminum. But it’s still a bit on the heavy side. Thank God it’s on casters. -SST
-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you
reible
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34 posts in 1958 days
#4 posted 1400 days ago
Hi,
A few years back I photoshopped a second headstock on a machine with a story about how to run them in tandem… of course it was a story for April Fools day but I got a bunch of takers on the idea and photos. Think of two sanding disks together in the middle and them both touching and matching speed to provide twice the power….
So now you come along and show a two head machine, is it for real? Have to say it looks real.
How about a name for it like a “5&V” or a “V&5” as in one machine is a Mark 5 and the other a Mark V.
I can also see you need a helper so you can rip on one saw while the helper molds an edge on the second machine…. or maybe….
Let us know how this works out for you.
-- Knight of the Shopsmith
Napaman
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5036 posts in 2274 days
#5 posted 1398 days ago
what are you doing with all the wasted space…you could easily two-tier this baby…come on man,..challenge yourself…with a ladder and another tier of headstocks your floor space would be the same…
OK…you are amazing…great stuff…now put this bad boy into a video so all those single function machine owners could see how great we have it…
Matt
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
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