Should I buy a cheap used Shopsmith?

Some folks love them and some folks hate them. It can probably do all you need fairly well except for the table saw which you don’t mention – that seems pretty dinky to me. If space is at a premium and you don’t mind taking the time to set up each tool as you need it then go it.

I have almost all of the power equipment I need already. I was just thinking about the lathe part of it. The rest would be a bonus.

-- Chuck, Michigan,

Since your goal is to use it primarily as a lathe, maybe a better question to ask to get the responses you need is how good is a Shopsmith in lathe mode.

If it is in good condition, $300 seems like a good price based upon what I have seen on Craigs List. Usually at that price, they are nothing more than a corroded pile of components sitting in a dirty barn and are missing key pieces.

-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

Since your goal is to use it primarily as a lathe, maybe a better question to ask to get the responses you need is how good is a Shopsmith in lathe mode.

If it is in good condition, $300 seems like a good price based upon what I have seen on Craigs List. Usually at that price, they are nothing more than a corroded pile of components sitting in a dirty barn and are missing key pieces.

- Lazyman

-- Chuck, Michigan,

If you get it & don’t like it you could always resell it for what you paid as long as its worth the price to someone else later on. Delivered too, thats awesome. Im not sure about those though, my dad wanted one bad when I was a kid. For me i’d like a lathe with variable speed but if its complete & you want it $300 is good but Id defiantly go check it out first before you pay, check for cracks, missing parts, check the motor. check the pulleys. I have an old bandsaw that was my fathers, I cant restore it because it has a cracked tensioner so it sits up in the rafters. Good luck Chuck!

-- -Mike, Southern California, YouTube User ( Give & Take )

holy dang that looks brand new, ok I don’t think you have anything to loose, you could probably sell it for a profit if you change your mind later…

Tough call, hey especially on that trailer a lot of pieces can vibrate off & be lost on the drive, it looks like a bouncy trailer too so damage can happen. Id still go check it out in person first but it sure looks clean. If transporting it like that id shrink wrap the heck out of it first so nothing is lost…........ It even has wheels, I don’t know but I like it because its in great shape.

-- -Mike, Southern California, YouTube User ( Give & Take )

If you get it & don t like it you could always resell it for what you paid as long as its worth the price to someone else later on. Delivered too, thats awesome. Im not sure about those though, my dad wanted one bad when I was a kid. For me i d like a lathe with variable speed but if its complete & you want it $300 is good but Id defiantly go check it out first before you pay, check for cracks, missing parts, check the motor. check the pulleys. I have an old bandsaw that was my fathers, I cant restore it because it has a cracked tensioner so it sits up in the rafters. Good luck Chuck!

- MikesProjects

They’re all variable speeds. Theres a dial on the head unit. I guess they are good for horizontal boring also. I don’t do much of that, but you never know. haha

-- Chuck, Michigan,

holy dang that looks brand new, ok I don t think you have anything to loose, you could probably sell it for a profit if you change your mind later…

- MikesProjects

Thats what I was thinking. EBay has them starting at about $900

-- Chuck, Michigan,

IMHO the Shopsmith provide I does some unique capability. I use mine for sanding with a pneumatic drum among the other things. I also plan to use it to it to build a thickness sander. For the price, there are so many useful things for it. As for a lathe, it works fine for smaller stuff.

Where can you find a variable speed piece of equipment with so many uses for $300?

Hah! It is a good thing I don’t live anywhere near Lansing. I’d have already bought it out from under you have the thing delivered. At that price and condition (assuming no problems not visible in the pictures) , I know that I could get more than $300 for it even I hated it. Don’t wait too long or I might schedule a road trip.

-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

We have all bought “stuff” that we didn’t need (I have a Rockwell/Delta shaper collecting dust). If you have the $$$ and want to experiment with it, go for it. Only thing I would question is how much floor-space does it require and whether you are willing to give that up. When I was a young lad I recall the ads in “Boy’s Life” (a boy scout thing) and “Popular Mechanics” magazines…the ShopSmith was very appealing.

I would grab this in a heart beat. Does the motor work???

-- Don't outsmart your common sense

I’ve never understood the appeal of a product that incorporates miniature versions of other power tools. Always seemed to me to be a tool rewuiring a number of compromises.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

NO!!!!!!

-- Roger M, Aiken, SC

NO!!!!!!

- RogerM

Hahaha. The guy won’t even return my emails. I think it’s a sign to pass on it. It’s up for grabs guys! lol

-- Chuck, Michigan,