Shopsmith Mark V

[Taz]

Hello All,
I have a question about the Shopsmith Mark V. I just saw an infomercial for this machine. It is a machine that is a 5-in-1 including a 10" tablesaw, a lathe, drill press and etc. Does anyone know anything about it. Since I have yet to convince the wife to allow me a dedicated shop, I am relegated to the garage where space is an issue. Any help at all would be appreciated greatly.

Taz

[daveferg]

First off, do a search on this and other sites---there's pleanty of discussion of Shop Smith. If I can, the highlights are as follows:

--Very expensive---$3,000 plus---for that price, you can get very good individual tools. Space really has to be an issue for you.

--Extremely well built.

--Table Saw is worst feature---too small and bevel cuts require you to tilt table.

--Well thought of lathe and drill press.

--Holds value---even 40 year old units go for nearly what they cost new.

Personally, if space was an issue, take a look around at various compact shop designs---this month's Wood Magazine has some DeWalt award winners. There are also some unique commercial and homemade solutions. I'd add these into your consdiereation.

[Lou_williams]

The overall review from many.

Very good quality tool. But, changing from one tool to another is a pain. At first it is not too bad but as you get into it you find that you have to go back and forth too many times.

Table saw not very useable.

Most people tend to move away from them to stand alone tools. I have one combo tool. I bought it so that I could get a wide jointer and a industial planer without spending more than I had. I wish that I had bought two different tools. I don't have the space, or the money and the tool I have is very very good, but the time to convert is a pain and that time is a few sec.

Hope this helps