LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

I am a budding Shopsmith enthusiast and this is my 3rd Shopsmith (the other two being older Model 10ER machines). This one wasn't in too bad of shape when I got it (last picture), but I still decided to tear it down and completely refurbish it. I enjoy rebuilding old woodworking machines (I also have a couple vintage jointers and a lathe in my collection) and when I do, I like to give them a personal touch. I don't like for them to look like everybody else's machine.

I'm also a huge New Orleans Saints fan and had decided to go with a paint scheme honoring them about half way through their historic Super Bowl season. The only change I made to my design after the Super Bowl was to add the Super Bowl XLIV logo.

These are fun machines to use, and now that I've got it looking so great I can't wait to get it all dirty from use!

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
98 Posts
Nice Restore Job. Do you know what year it was made?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
22 Posts
This one was made in 1986. So it's relatively young and new compared to my other tools. I also have two 10ERs that were made in 1949 and 1950 by my best guesses.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,460 Posts
Nice job!!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,424 Posts
Excellent !!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3,661 Posts
I have a soft spot in my heart for ShopSmith. I began woodworking with a ShopSmith many years ago. I still have that original ShopSmith but it is now only used for a few miscellaneous tasks. Nonetheless, ShopSmith is a great beginners tool and for many, it is all you will need. It's pure American and very well engineered.

I really like seeing a well restored ShopSmith original. Thanks for posting.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
7,027 Posts
I deffently don´t know this mashine
but it seams to me you have make a excelent job
on this one , it looks brand new to me , and your
painting job looks great too

congrats with the very fine restored mashine

Dennis
 

· Registered
Joined
·
126 Posts
WHODAT Say dey gonna beat dem Saints now WHODAT!!

It looks great man..

If you haven't checked this already, then you're missing out. SaintsReport.com
I post there as RickBoy…
 

· Registered
Joined
·
286 Posts
That looks nice! I have one rotting away in my back yard.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
22 Posts
WHODAT!! I'll check out the site, Rick.
 

· Banned
Joined
·
2,577 Posts
Excellent restoration. I had a shopsmith for many years and it was an extremely useful machine. I used it freqquently because of its portability and flexability when I was restoring some boats. Lost it during Katrina.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
126 Posts
Oh man, all us Cajuns, Creoles, and just plain crazy Louisiana folk are gonna start come out of the woodwork..

Heath, I guarantee that you'll become very popular over at SR.com if you post up pics of that Shop Smith. Obviously every Whodat is going nuts over anything with a Fleur-de-lis on it..
 

· Registered
Joined
·
556 Posts
Great job. I've restored a bunch of Shopsmiths & have one 10er at my summer place & 2 10er's, a MK5 and a MK5 "shorty" in my home shop. I think I enjoy putzing with them as much as I love building stuff with them. A question, though, since I haven't gotten my aluminum parts to look as nice as you have. What steps do you take in polishing them up?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
275 Posts
Like Shopsmithton said - How do you get that aluminum looking so good?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
22 Posts
richgreer, the Shopsmith is a great tool for a beginner. But it's also a great tool for an experienced woodworker. It has tremendous versatility.

oregonburls, you too can bring a Shopsmith back to life! Seriously, they're actually very easy to work on and restore to great working order. The hard part is just the cosmetics.

Shopsmithtom and Broglea, the aluminum polishing was perhaps the most time intensive part of the restoration. Each part was sanded with 220 grit, then 400 wet, then 600 wet. Other aluminum polishers go through a greater array of grits, but that worked for me. After sanding, I went through a three step polishing process using black polishing compound on a spiral sewn wheel, brown compound on a cotton wheel, and white compound on a flannel wheel. It's important to thoroughly clean each piece with acetone or mineral spirits between compounds so you don't cross-contaminate your buffing wheels.

I mounted the buffing wheels on one of my Shopsmith 10ERs. In fact, I've found that the best tool for restoring a Shopsmith is another Shopsmith!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
556 Posts
Thanks for the polishing update. When I get some time, I think I'll go back & do mine that way. I agree as to using a Smith to restore another one. I've used one of my 10er's with a wire wheel setup to clean up rusty tubes from other machines. -SST
 

· Registered
Joined
·
0 Posts
Wow, you wont believe this but I was just at the Depot looking at the rustoleum black and gold paint and was envisioning a very similar paint scheme on my recently purchased Mark V 510 (circa 1992). I'm in New Orleans and also a big Saints fan. Did a google search for Shopsmith paint schemes just now and Whoop There it is! Very nice job and you have inspired me to go hole hog on the restore.

Since you have the Saints covered, I guess I'll do an LSU Tiger theme instead!
 
Top