I Bought Woodworkings Most Dangerous Tool

I Bought Woodworkings Most Dangerous tool - The shopsmith Mach 5

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[robertprice]

My dad was an Army officer and loved to do woodworking. Because we moved a lot he couldn't drag a full shop around the world. He and I were in a mall somewhere and there was a guy demonstrating a Shopsmith. My dad went every weekend to watch this guy demo the machine. He bought one and used it for years. When he got to his last duty station he built a full shop and put the machine away. He gave it away having never had an accident or issue with it. He built some amazing stuff with it. Before he died he bought a CNC for my shop that was delivered three weeks after he died. He and I spent days in the shop together.

[jamesnelson]

The plastic shaft extension is meant to act like a shear pin on a propeller shaft. It's a safety mechanism.
Also, while seemingly outdated now, that machine was once revolutionary, and its features led to a lot of what we see used today.

[SteveRamsey]

I learned woodworking with my dad using a Shopsmith. It's a great tool for people without a lot of space or money. Works fine. 👍

[andrews]

My father bought one in 1987 when I was 8 year old. He still has it, along with all his fingers. It’s a great machine for those who don’t have the large wood shop you have John. My dad has turned many bowls, vases, pens, table legs on this thing. Built book cases, desks, our dining room table, and so much more. Maybe 25 years as a helicopter pilot in the Army taught him to start by reading the manual. I agree it’s not for beginners, but those who have experience, just not the space.

[Nick-hmrh]

Johns videos proof to me over and over again that reading the manual is indeed the right thing to do

[carloslemos]

i bought an old shopsmith for cheap and fixed it up during the pandemic, and it has served me well for what i need. i am an experienced carpenter, and know tools, so that helps, and i dont use it much for the table saw. the real gem is the lathe, i turn bowls on it all the time, and it you upgrade to the nova chuck its even better. the drill press is great cause the shop smith comes with a motor that is generally more powerful that your average small shop drill press, plus it can be a horizontal drill press which allows you that much more versatility on it. last thing, since you can control the speed on the side, you can slow down the table saw, making it so that you can put on a low rpm blade to cut metal and use the machine to cut sheet metal. its a great tool for someone who doesnt have the money to buy a bunch of individual tools that take up alot of space.

[rodneywalker]

ShopSmiths aren't bad tools for what they are intended to be-a Jack of All Trades for small shops. These machines were first designed in the 1940s when tilt-top tablesaws were still in common use. They're also still made here in the USA and ShopSmith has excellent support for even their older machines. How many major US tool companies can still say that?

[MrKentHimself]

I purchased a shop smith Mark 4 about 5 months ago. The videos available on how to use it are easy to watch and understand. What I love most is that you can still get parts for everything on it. I think the most dangerous element in your shop is you.

[digitalwebwarrior]

My dad, in the 70's used his Shop Smith all the time. Never lost any fingers or even got upset about setting up the tool he wanted to use. His shop was a 10 ft x 16 foot shed, and made anything he wanted or needed. When he passed, I wanted it, but my mom had already sold it to a neighbor, who still uses it to this day. And you even said it, after each tool was setup, each one worked pretty good.

[JohnSmith-cncw]

Half the danger of the tool appears to be John not wanting to read the instruction manual.

[lakemarine]

I'm a retired 40 year manual and CNC machinist including programming and tool design. That Shopsmith seems well made and extremely versatile with a small footprint for something designed in 1950 so I don't think its fair to compare it with today's equipment! This well made video reminds me of the new guy who rolls into the machine shop proclaiming they know what they're doing and slapstick's setups, breaks tools and equipment then gets fired. I disagree with the evaluation but enjoyed seeing this machine and I will be on the lookout for one to buy! Thanks!

[czthqfx]

I bought a Shopsmith when I was 17. I'm now 60 and still use it! I have a full wood shop with every tool from lumber mill down to hand files and everything in between. I have workers that don't have the patience to learn something new - like you - and they're not allowed to touch the shopsmith. It's not my production machine, but it allows me to have a second of everything if needed.

[brianroossien]

I grew up/learned woodworking from my dad on a Shopsmith he had for 25 years before handing it on to me. I still use it regularly. Watching you guys figure out the attachments was something I really needed to see today. I kept telling myself, "if they just read the manual..." lol

[amescreative]

I've been using one safely for over 10 years because I read the manual. It's a great space saver for small shops and very versatile. Not as fast as having stand alone tools, but the money and space savings make up for it. True, it does take more patience and attention, but once you get used to it, it's easy.

[prglass]

I agree with most of the comments. I bought mine over 40 years ago because I was an active duty soldier. I still have/use it. Never had an accident or injury. John is snarky because he has a monstrous big shop with all the tools you could want. He also seems to be able to spend his money pretty casually. In all my years in the Army, one thing I learned and taught was RTFMD! (Read the Manual, Dummy.
If you don't need or want it, sell it. Most of us love our Shopsmiths.

[ddroffut]

Shopsmith has an interesting history and is a different company today than in the past. I own a 1949 model 10er that was bought by an Air Force Pilot. All of the information, instruction manuals, receipts, mail correspondence with the manufacturer (Magna), news letters and such. The thing is a beast and i love it. I've owned it 15 years. Tools are only dangerous as you make them so work safely.

[Sailormakes]

Wow just a great example of how you can make something look so much harder than it actually is

[ckaynx]

You proved that any tool you don't understand and didn't learn to use is dangerous. Because I don't have a lot of room for a work shop the Shopsmith has proven to be a great tool. Over 30 years of use and never had an issue. Changing over from one tool to another takes about two minutes. You soon to learn how to plan your work. How many tools built in 1947 are still supported by the company that built them. I hear negative comments about Shopsmith all the time and when I do (just as I did with your video) I just smile and enjoy making things safely with my 35 year old Shopsmith.

[alexjohnson]

I am another longtime, satisfied, user of the Shopsmith machines and have acquired most of the accessories over the years. They are great tools and well suited for their intended purpose. As a teacher with many years of "woodshop" classes under my belt I can say that all tools can be dangerous if used incorrectly, and the Shopsmith is no different from any other tool in that respect. That being said the company has put a lot of time and attention into making these tools as safe as they can. From what I have seen you could definitely benefit from Scott's generous offer to come and provide you some training on that Shopsmith.

[vqjvsfg]

John, I bought my Shopsmith Mark 5 in 1981. Didn't have a shop so I worked out of my garage. My job required me to move around about every 4 years and the family and the Mark 5 made every move and was used to renovate every house we lived in. Built cabinets, desks, furniture, bowls, stairs...etc. In 43 years I never had an accident or a runaway saw blade. My manual was bigger then the one you have but I did read it. I am settled now and have upgraded the Shopsmith to a Mark 7 (DIY project that added a larger motor and computer control). I have actually run into other woodworkers with big shops with multiple Shopsmiths that have set the machines up permanently as a lathe, drill press, table saw, panel routers and bandsaws. Shopsmith also sold tool stands that included motors that turned your band saw and belt sanders into stand alone tools. The biggest complaint I heard was that Shopsmith suffered from accuracy problems because it was trying to be several tools. The fences on the new machines are much better and easier to use. Upgraded table extensions allow me to cut 4X8 sheets of plywood. I don't really think the machine is any more dangerous than any other power tool as long as you read the manual and show it some respect. Thanks for the opportunity to reply.