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56K views 614 replies 53 participants last post by  Vmaxknives 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
This is a group for Supershop owners to share information about their machines. I used to be a dealer for the Fox Supershop designed and built by Tony Fox operations and one has been in my shop since 1980, a year after they were introduced in 1979.

A lot of information has already been shared.

Many knock offs have been produced and most are faithful reproductions of the original, with the exception of the power lateral feed. Many parts will be interchangeable (withing machining tolerances). There are no known caches of parts any more. As of 2018 Smithy has stopped taking calls about Super Shops.

Let's share our information, experiences, setups. We can offer machines for sale or point to sites trying to sell one. If you find or have a stash of parts, please post here.
From the manual:
Font Machine tool Art Rectangle Machine


One at work:
Wood Gas Machine tool Electrical wiring Engineering


DanK
 

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#3 ·
Other than the functions the machine performs, the Fox Super Shop has very little in common with Shopsmith. Tony Fox was an engineer at Magna Engineering, the birthplace of the Shopsmith, and they came to a parting of ways over future designs. Tony designed the Super Shop to be heavy enough for metal work because he wanted both DIY markets, the woodworkers and the metal workers. The problematic Reeves pulleys used by Shopsmith were his pet peeve, so none of the Super Shops have them. Variable speed is achieved by constant torque electronic controls of a 110V/220V DC motor. It also has powered lateral feed which Shopsmith never considered. In 1975 I proposed a lateral feed idea to Shopsmith, sending them full size mechanical drawings of how they could do it economically, but they politely said "no thanks". The Super Shop outweighs the Shopsmith by nearly 400 lbs. Having owned and used Super Shops and Shopsmith machines side by side, I can testify that they both have limitations, but both are worthy machines. The Shopsmith organization is strong enough to have survived some very trying times, to their credit. Shopsmith people and machines are welcome here too!
DanK
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
One of the setups I experimented with was power cutting dowels. Notice that I'm using a custom tail stock which holds a hollow shaft with R-8 collet taper and threaded like the head stock spindle. This makes tooling setups very convenient. There's a much better method I think, and some day I'll get around to experimenting with it. The three jaw chuck on the tail is stationary (don't get excited about key left in chuck) and fitted with wooden jaws that hold the round section of the stick after the cutter. The little chuck on the headstock is a four jaw that grips the square stick. When in operation, the headstock is cranked toward the tailstock while the stick is spinning against the cutter. The round stock exits through the hollow tail stock tube, which also holds it from flopping like a fish out of water.
Motor vehicle Combat vehicle Engineering Gas Self-propelled artillery


Gas Fixture Machine tool Household hardware Machine


Milling Machine tool Engineering Machine Auto part


The middle and last picture are from the back side. The middle picture shows the stationary cutter in the lathe tool rest. This tool holder was an optional accessory available in the day.

DanK
 

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#10 ·
I was fascinated by this conversion effprt. I'm kinda curious though, If you replaced the lateral carriage motor with a stepping motor, would that not have served well? Too much back lash? Not that it matter, but I think that is what Tony's original intent was.

Top RPM for main spindle is 7200 RPM.

DanK
 
#14 ·
Yes, PPK. They still make mills and lathes and combo machines but not the Supershop. Their metal working stuff has a pretty good reputation and I've been tempted. Missed a GREAT deal at Christmas last year where they were selling deeply discounted.
DanK
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
Is this the same Smithy Corp that used to make miniature overhead mills and precision metal working lathes for small shops?

- poopiekat
Yes Same business out of Michigan (still in business), in fact they provided light milling options for the Super Shop. I passed on that, but with the R8 collet you can pick up those options on other websites. The machine seems to be identical to the Fox. I did purchase the 6 in. joiner option, the thing weighs 80 lbs. I have all of the wood turning options, but didn't pick up the band saw. I would assume the Fox band saw would work, been on craigslist for that options, but owners were selling that as a package with the machine ( wouldn't separate for purchase).
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi Dan and others!

I picked up an old (and slightly rough-around-the-edges) SuperShop a few years ago. I already had a pretty full woodshop - I bought it solely to use as a drill press and lathe. I think it would be a fantastic drill press if it was in better condition. So I've been looking for another in better shape, ever since. Finally found one - will be picking it up next weekend, I hope. Looks like it has all the add-on tools as well (which I doubt I'll ever use). I can post some pictures of both machines when I get it home, if there is interest.

Mine has the motorized carriage…I'm hoping to do a little light metalworking on it at some point, but haven't yet. I need some metalworking cutters, first :)
 
#19 ·
Hi to my white squirrel buddy.
Since 1975 there has been at least one Shopsmith in my shop. It's down to two, now. One outfitted with a Jointech and router table. As you might surmise, that one is pretty much limited to the saw and router functions. My other one is a shorty, with all her functions still intact. Well, more or less. I don't do any turning. Other than the disc sanders, the only accessories are the BS and the 6X48 belt sander. My metal working tasks are handled by my son. I stick with wood.
But, were a Total Shop machine to become available anywhere near me, I'd sure consider owning it…or turn my boy on to it.
 
#20 ·
Merrill77- is the one you are picking up the same as just sold on eBay for around $360 in West Virginia? I considered but not ready to make a road trip yet. I repair Shopsmith tools for over 16 years now and used them in my shop for over 40. I have 5 main Shopsmith machines- 510/520 (I can change out the table rails); 2 minis- one bandsaw & jigsaw- saw station & one belt sander disc or strip sander- sanding station; one is short base as drill press- 2 tables- one for wood and other with machinest's vise for metal; 2 machines connected together as a lathe originally used to core wooden baseball bats until Sosa got busted.
I just traded a repaired headstock for a Fox SuperShop. What a tank! The table height lock front brake broke but I was able to jury rig it and it fits back into slot but doesn't brake. I am still working with adjustments and ideas to make it grab. But I am impressed with it overall. I especially like the lathe function and 32-7200 rpm.
I contacted Dan K and his goal starting this blog was to assist SuperShop owners. I am starting to collect as much information about them and the differences between the machines over the manufacturing years from Fox, to Ironwoo, to Smithy and whatever other companies made it similar branded machine. If you have some information about parts and sources, please send to me and I will start compiling it so we can all share it. If you have any Shopsmith questions, feel free to also bump me. Work email is drt@hpe.com.
 
#21 ·
Yup, that is the one. I think the same feature is broken on the one I'm going to pick up. Oddly, I don't think I've ever really used that feature on the one I have. Hmm.

So far, I've only dealt with Smithy for repair parts, so I have nothing to offer there. Thanks for your offer to help!
 
#22 ·
I forgot to mention in private conversation with DTM that a pair of hose clamps on the table holding shafts will hold the table securely. There must have been a bad batch of brake shoes somewhere along the line. If you find them to be cast, replace them with turned steel ones like the originals.

DanK
 
#24 ·
Yes, that's a stretch version alright!

I have the capability of stretching a Supershop similarly. A second pair of way tubes has inserts that slip into the right end of the way tubes on a machine and terminate in the tailstock casting resting on another base. Extends the lathe to almost 9 feet and is very solid. I haven't used it since digital cameras so I have no pictures of it set up. The interesting thing is that the power feed carriage works on the extended tubes without interruption because the spacing of the broached teeth on the underside of the ways' ends is perfect match when fully butted together. Turned a set of 6×6" porch posts.

There is a danger that may not be obvious to someone trying to stretch a Supershop. The tailstock casting has an extremely heavy torsion spring in it that must be carefully locked down when the way tubes are to be removed. I made sure that both locks (that secure the machine vertically AND horizontally) were firmly engaged in a dimple I drilled for the purpose. Be very careful.

DanK
 
#25 ·
Dan - do you remember how you modified the tubes to connect them together? I don't know that I'll ever turn a 6' post, but I'd think I may have the need to turn something a little longer than the stock limitations allow, such as a baseball bat or barstool leg.
 
#26 ·
M77, yes, I turned some steel rod to fit the ID of the way tubes. You should note that on Tony's machines the ID of the front tube is different than the back tube. That is due, I think, to the broached teeth in the front one.
The connectors are only about 8" long and are secured with short set screws. A very tight slip fit is essential.

The standard lathe on my setup can reach 39" CTC. It would be a real pain to set up the stretch in my crowded shop now!

DanK
 
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