bobh@teklabs.UUCP (Bob Hubbard) (06/24/85)
Why hasnt anyone mentioned Shopsmith? Even as a combination tool (table saw, drill press, sander, lathe, boring drill) I found it to be superior in quality and accuracy to the usual Sears, B&D and Rockwell junk. It also expands to include jointer, planer, jig saw, band saw, molder, shaper ad nauseum! After several years I am even more pleased. I especially like the variable speeds. I sure cant blame the tools anymore!
lef@nlm-vax.ARPA (Larry Fitzpatrick) (06/28/85)
In article <3122@teklabs.UUCP> bobh@teklabs.UUCP (Bob Hubbard) writes: >Why hasnt anyone mentioned Shopsmith? Even as a combination tool >(table saw, drill press, sander, lathe, boring drill) I found it >to be superior in quality and accuracy to the usual Sears, B&D and >Rockwell junk. It also expands to include jointer, planer, jig saw, >band saw, molder, shaper ad nauseum! After several years I am even >more pleased. I especially like the variable speeds. i considered Shopsmith briefly. The MAJOR turnoff was that most accessories (saw blades, etc) MUST be purchased through Shopsmith (hole size is non- standard. This led me to wonder what other little goodies that I didn't know about would turn up. There is also this general impression that all-in-one gadgets tend not to do any one job as well as specialized gadget for each job. Initial outlay is fairly high, especially if you are not sure you need all those things (lathe, etc). Correct me if I am wrong ... my mind can be changed -fitz
megcng@mb2c.UUCP (Carter Grabarczyk) (07/02/85)
> In article <3122@teklabs.UUCP> bobh@teklabs.UUCP (Bob Hubbard) writes: > >Why hasnt anyone mentioned Shopsmith? Even as a combination tool > >(table saw, drill press, sander, lathe, boring drill) I found it > >to be superior in quality and accuracy to the usual Sears, B&D and > >Rockwell junk. It also expands to include jointer, planer, jig saw, > >band saw, molder, shaper ad nauseum! After several years I am even > >more pleased. I especially like the variable speeds. > > i considered Shopsmith briefly. The MAJOR turnoff was that most accessories > (saw blades, etc) MUST be purchased through Shopsmith (hole size is non- > standard. This led me to wonder what other little goodies that I didn't > know about would turn up. > > There is also this general impression that all-in-one gadgets tend > not to do any one job as well as specialized gadget for each job. > > Initial outlay is fairly high, especially if you are not sure you > need all those things (lathe, etc). > > Correct me if I am wrong ... my mind can be changed > > -fitz Don't decide for or against a Shopsmith just because of the hole in the blades. For less than 10 bucks you can get a 5/8" arbor that will allow you to use standard blades. Whatever else you can say, it is a unique machine. Lathe: The variable speed is a plus; minuses are that it is fairly light- weight, rattles a bit and is too low for most people (ideal height for spindle is at your elbow). Drill Press: Again, variable speed is nice as is the availability of the table and fence. A little wiggly for metal but OK for wood. The horizontal drilling feature is also somewhat unique in a home shop and has its uses. Disc/Drum sander: To me this is the best feature of the machine. Variable speeds and they will sell you plans for a nice dust collection system. Table saw: I feel this is the weakest point of the machine, mainly because of the small table, a tilting table (rather than a tilting arbor) and the awkwardness of setting up the main table height to align with the auxilliary table height. Acessory machines (band saw, jig saw, jointer): Don't know about the jig saw, but the other two are too small and in my opinion, priced too high. For less or the same money, you can get a Taiwan Rockwell clone 14" bandsaw (instead of 10") and a 6" Rockwell Taiwan clone jointer instead of a 4". (The Rockwell/Taiwan clones are another story). Common fallacy: It is said that it takes too long to go from one machine to another. Not true! - it takes less than a minute. If I seem a little negative, no flames please. I own one, although it did drive me to buy separates and spends most of its life as a disk/drum sander. However it is unique in that you can get a complete shop in a very small space. It is also nice when you make a compound cut with the saw and then are able to sand, drill etc at the EXACT same angle. It is the primary tool of one of my computer buddies and he does excellent work with it. Bottom line: "The craftsman makes the tool; the tool doesn't make the craftsman".