The Last American Power Tool Company is (almost) dead
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2024
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With most tool manufacturing now overseas, it's rare to find a power tool brand still making tools in the USA - but Shopsmith is. Shopsmith has been around for almost 80 years and at one point was a major brand in the hobbyist woodworking community. Sadly, today it only employs around 20 people and is facing bankruptcy.
It was recently acquired by Nick who hopes to bring this American icon back to life. In this video we take a tour of the Shopsmith factory in Dayton, OH to find out how they are going to make their comeback. I love manufacturing and found this tour very interesting!
Do you wish more tools were still made here in America? What advice would you give Shopsmith for their epic return?
**This video was in no way sponsored by Shopsmith**
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Thanks for coming by and letting us share our story! 🙂 We're excited to revive the Shopsmith legacy and bring our innovative woodworking machines to both new and seasoned woodworkers!
Thank you for bringing fresh blood to the company. I snagged a used Shopsmith due to space limitations that’s in okay shape. I cleaned it up and it’s working pretty well for me. I need to get some new sanding discs as they are all slightly bent from the previous owner, but otherwise, basic cleaning and lubricating is all it needed. Admittedly, I’m using a Delta tablesaw because I think the SS weak point is the saw, but it pairs oh so well because of everything else that the SS excels at. I do need to get the lathe components, but I’m in no rush. Remaking about 20 old windows won’t require that function and they’re my priority.
For marketing, I think getting a strong UA-cam presence could help. Maybe spend some time finding channels with a good host, but is missing some of the functionality the SS provides would get you a beneficial presence.
I am skeptical that you have your target market dialed in but I really hope you succeed. It may be a year or two before my skill and experience are enough to warrant all the things. When that time comes I hope you are still around and going strong.
I was gifted a mark V and now I'm a customer for life, I LOVE this thing!
My father had two of them over the years. Sadly, I didn’t get either of them. However, I inherited an old rusty one from my father-in-law. Going to find out if it works.
I would *LOVE* to see y'all partner up with Lee Valley, as they also focus on quality over volume and locally-made products. (...and their loyal customers aren't shy about spending whatever is needed for that quality!)
Not a Shopsmith owner but rooting for you and your employees. Need to bring back American manufacturing and quality American made tools and products.
I’ve had one for about 8 years (mk 7), best power tool I’ve ever owned. Solid build quality, powerful, quiet, space efficient, and easy to use. I had a table saw, band saw etc. at my old house but I’m more space limited so I sold all that on got this, no regrets. He says it’s not much of a table saw, but I get the smoothest cuts out of it. If you’re at all interested in woodworking, you should just pick one up and never look back, you won’t regret it, I don’t.
My dad bought his Shopsmith in 1950 for $150 while on his honeymoon in California. He used it extensively in his 2-car garage until he couldn't work in his shop around 2003 or 4 and died in 2009. Mom died in 2022, sold the house in 23 & I now have it in my shop @ 72 years old.
As a retired Director of Materials at Yuba Heat Transfer, who at one time owned ShopSmith, as Yuba Consolidated Industries, I am familiar with the brand. I think Nick is spot in with targeting the younger weekend hobbyists for woodworking. I will watch and pray that the brand survives and continues to be made in the U.S.A.
Back around 1985, I watched a Shop Smith demo at a local mall in Houston and was hooked. I had a new Mark V delivered and set it up in my garage. I still have it and use it to this day and never had an issue with it. I wish Shop Smith all the best. YT demos and social media are great, but in person demos should be a priority as well.
I inherited my mark v. Since then I have upgraded the table system, added a speed reducer, bought a shaper fence, bought the mortising attachments and tenon jig, upgraded the hood on my 3300 dust collector, aquired two conical sanding discs, and am waiting on the call to pick up my dual lift bench upgrade. Nick, I'm trying to keep Shopsmith in business. I'm even working on a blade stopping tech for the Mark. Don't give up, Shopsmith is far from dead.
Watching the demo of the guy flipping the Mark7 on its side to be a drill press was amazing - I gotta get one of those bad boys!
When I was in my garage, I used my ShopSmith exclusively. Ever since I moved into my shop and got a SawStop, its now my drill press.
ShopSmith user here. I simply don’t have the space for individual machines. And I love my ShopSmith. I use it for everything, table saw, drill press, disk sander, belt sander, band saw and lathe. I’ve built 3 guitars on my ShopSmith. 😎
I'm a retired woodworker and no longer take build orders. But relatives, friends and neighbors all want custom made pieces. To accomodate, I provide the space, time, tools and knowledge. But, they provide the willingness to learn and work. So, I think Nick is right on about the desire being there. The number one issue I hear is, "Where would I put all this equipment?" Best of luck and God Bless.
Nick, I bought a MK5 in 1984. I am so glad to learn you are resurrecting the brand. It is a well-designed, well-built machine for what it was designed to accomplish. I remodeled my photography studio with it… Built doors, cabinets. Custom baseboards, … I purchased a table saw, but kept the MK5 for the disc sander and horizontal boring capability. The one thing I would encourage you to do is look at how Paul Akers turned around his company - Fastcap. He employs “Lean Manufacturing”. There are many UA-cam videos, interviews, etc. All are free. Look at his factory tour and compare it to yours. He has only had 3 price increases in 22 years because his employees keep discovering new ways to make products faster and for less money. Blessings NICK!!!
Interesting post thanks.
I would agree, utilizing Lean/Six Sigma processes could lead to streamlining the existing processes/methodology, but keeping the things that work for them.
As a Med Device Quality Engineer, I 100% agree.
Nick is the man! I got a Shopsmith Mark 7 this year and it is now my main workhorse in my shop. I love the new PowerPro Gen 2. I’ve slowing gotten rid of my massive Jet drill press, belt sander & noisy Jet dust collector. great video Travis and thank you @ShopSmith for how you are building a better machine right here in America.
If you’d like to help them, the best thing you could do is suggest things to them. How could it be better? What else would you buy from them if they offered it? The more of you who do that, the more they can improve your experience. It’s crazy what happens when ideas are coming from more than 1,000 sources. It’s empowering.
Have you made video about it?
@@PistonHonda87 i’m editing the video now and will be publishing it on my channel very soon.
I'm anxious to see how you incorporate it! Scott
I understand that $400 is not much margin, but it’s no secret that the Shopsmith Pro planer was the best 12” planer ever made. It’s a shame that it’s been discontinued.
I started woodworking on a ShopSmith about 1960 on my dads machine. I bought one new in 1987 … it has serve me well. It has seen a lot of action and is still going strong. I’m pulling for their survival because they make great equipment and stand behind it.
I’ve always wanted a Shopsmith, but never could afford one. Now I have a wood shop the old way. Table saw, router, bandsaw, etc. I’m 74 and it took me most of my life to build my shop. But I love it. My grandson can’t wait to get his hands on it. Best of luck to Shopsmith.
As an owner of not one but two Shopsmiths I am so glad that the company will survive. My oldest needs work and its nice to know that parts are still available. Great interview, thanks for putting this out there!
I have my father's Shopsmith he bought sometime in the late 70's. He used it in a small shop that was maybe 10'x12'. He made birdhouses, turned toy baseball bats for my brother and me, and replaced some bed spindles we probably broke. When I was in fifth grade, we moved to the farm I grew up on and he gave it to a family friend who used it until his death 20 years or so later. I got it from his son and used it in another small 8'x10'-ish building to build a blanket chest for my wife. When we moved to our current house, I brought it with me and my dad and I made some repairs to it and I used it a while longer. One of the parts on the spindle broke and I sat it to the side to use for some simple operations. As he said in the video, the table saw is probably the weakest part and having the older model with the belt drive the table is pretty small.
I hate to hear how the company has struggled and wish them success. This video inspired me to see about getting the spindle fixed and getting it running again. I need a bigger lathe than the small benchtop model I'm using now. 😉
I have been a Shopsmith owner for thirty years, and I absolutely love the system. I briefly taught high school wood shop, I've worked in two different woodworking stores, I've owned three stand alone table saws, so I've used many power tools, and the Shopsmith is my favorite.
Interesting,....I would of imagined that once you had table saws, returning to the Shopsmith would not be appealing.
Then again....I like multiple table saws and multiple drill presses. Hmmm, You have me thinking.
@@Dancing_Alone_wRentals A standard table saw with a big table works better than the Shopsmith for cutting large pieces of plywood. However, a track saw works far better than any table saw I've ever used when it comes to cutting plywood. Once I got my track saw, there was no real need for a standard table saw. At that point the Shopsmith became my table saw of choice. For the kind of work I do (banjo building, cabinet making, building decorative boxes) it is my favorite table saw. For instance, because I can move the blade with the quill feed (instead of the fence) I find it much easier to make tiny, precise adjustments, which is necessary for the kind of work I do. I can also use stop collars to make very precise, repeatable buts of a certain depth. Your needs might be different, but for the work I do it is the best table saw.
Very interesting @@WoodworkerDan . I would be fun to see some of your projects.
tHanks for the reply.
For long plywood rips I would make my own plywood straight edge. The circular saw would ride along and I still use them from time to time.
I'm setting up two table saws in a little workshop I'm organizing. Fine blade and a rougher blade for misc cuts.
What are you working on next?
Shopsmith owner here. 2 comments--machine changeover is quick and easy IF you plan your work well. If you don't, and have to go back more than once to do a changeover and repeat a procedure, it becomes a pain. #2--they will have to address the possible requirement that table saws will require SawStop type technology. Hard to see how that gets added to a ShopSmith.
Fair point about the sawstop thing, it will be interesting how that develops
Maybe a motorized table that shoots upwards instead of the saw moving downwards? 🤔 If potentially flinging your workpiece up is deemed safer than cutting off fingers, haha...
I highly doubt that SawStop change is even passed....
That actually isn't that hard of a thing to do as if you look at those technologies it attaches to the table. They would just need to provide a plug for power off the main board.
I hope that stupid idea of requiring a saw stop goes nowhere! Jesus people, just fu€|
My dad owns an old one, still works fine. I own a shopsmith dust collector. I’m very glad they’re still around and will be for the foreseeable future.
Thanks for taking the time to explore the gem that’s in your backyard, Travis. I’ve been using Shopsmith tools since 1987 but was a fan of them for years before jumping in. I deeply desire that Nick is able to raise awareness of this tool and that this generation of Makers open their minds to the potential of these tools.
Two things they might need to overcome that didn’t come up:
1) “Jack of all trades” perception. Two parts to this. The first is that tools that can do several things can’t do any of them well. Prove that quality doesn’t go down. Part two is capacity- help us understand that most of the time, most people don’t really need the extra capacity we’re giving up by not getting individual tools.
2) High entry cost. Yes, the total cost might be lower, but not everyone needs all these tools or all at once and budgets are tight. It can be hard to justify if you’re not 100% committed that you’re going to stick with woodworking. Potential solutions: offer financing models to minimize purchase risk like a “rent to own” program. Or maybe a 5(?) year buyback program where you offer to repurchase the machine at a prorated amount - discounted for each month owned. Then offer these repurchased and refurbished machines as other low cost options?
Would love to see Shopsmith stay alive. I’ll be watching with hope!
I think just selling a base model that is eg the lathe and disc sander, or even like, pick your choices would help. 6k USD up front is a crazy amount for a beginner woodworker, but if each tool can be bought separately then it's a lot easier to justify and buy incrementally
If I were nick and considering your 1st good point:
I’d market comparing my product to a smart phone. Barely anybody is carrying a calculator and camera in their pocket today. Both are technically better at their job, but really only in specific production environments. Consumers have overwhelming picked smart phones because despite being jack of all trades, they’re more than good enough to get the job done. Similarly, his product is designed well, so much so it has been in business XYZ and sold # of units. It’s more than good enough to get these variety of jobs done. I think the consumer can relate to this if portrayed well.
Shopsmith sells the Mark 4 to cut entry cost. The buyer chooses only the mode they want and can add more later.
Very thoughtful! Great suggestions in my opinion.
Nick should reach out to John Malecki woodworking channel and watch the two videos he did for the SM. The SM community really got after John. It might be worth bringing him on a tour of the plant also. John also has that access to the market that lives through him. I wish you luck so many of our American brands have died.
I'm sure he's well aware of those videos. John's def not a fan of the SM, and he's right.
John lives in Pittsburg so it would not be a big drive to go there.
@@aweisen1 , in my opinion John made that video to get views, period. He was a pure clown in it. He made me upset with his actions and blabber. If he was a professional it all went away with that and other videos.
@@johnirwin1837 nah, his experience was similar to mine. The tool takes such a long time to figure out and use. For the cost of the tool and all the accessories, the time it takes to configure, and the learning curve, all of those issues are better served by other tools. I know there’s a cult following for the SM but, that doesn’t mean it’s good and in my experience it’s not.
@@aweisen1 Well guess what? I still disagree as I hade one for years. Now to old to worry with it. He is still a clown in my book at times. To each their own
My 40+ year old Shopsmith is still a vital part of my shop. I appreciate the new owner's honesty about the product limitations. The table saw is a weak spot but still quite usable. I own a stand-alone Jet tablesaw which is my go to, but the Shopsmith jointer, bandsaw, and drill press are perfect for my use and still perform as good as they did when I got them in 1983. Surprisingly, in all these years I have never once used the lathe feature! I'm very happy to see the company still in business and wish it much success and growth.
I quite literally worked in the twin building next to Shopsmith in ... 1983... Mead Digital which became Diconix when Kodak bought us... left in 1985... Right there south of the intersection of I70 and I75... actually just south of Little York Rd... and the witch's mother Agnes Moorehead is buried right across the road... :)
one thing that using a ShopSmith does do, is make the person become organization, so you are not having to swap out tools all the time, make all your cuts at one time, all the drilling at one time, etc.
As a Shopsmith owner, I am happy to see the serious commitment to continuing sales and support of Shopsmith. And I need my motorreplaced,
I'm 72. I have always known about SS. I bought a used one about 15 years ago. Upgraded to the new power head. I always had a small work shop, but I have made kitchen cabinets, furniture, and of coarse cutting boards. I have been a long-time supporter of this product and a long-time subscriber to your channel. I am finally so glad to see you supporting that product, too. Thank you. I'm excited to see how the new owner carries on this great tradition.
I think ShopSmiith is American Heritage at its best. I have a 5/500 along with all the other bells & whistles that come with it. Unfortunately I got hurt and was forced to buy separate machines. The Shopsmith is still the center of my shop. It’s my pride and joy. Thank You for your comment to the brand. I love my Shopsmith. Thank You!
I've got a Mark 1, which is a great machine. When I get it 42 years ago I tore it apart, cleaned and lubricated the bearings. It has been a wonderful machine. I'm so glad to have discovered that Shopsmith is still in business. I'll definitely make inquiries about tooling that I would like to add to my already overstuffed shop. Great video thumbs up.
It isn't surprising that buyers are dropping. We took shop class out of schools 30 years ago. We started telling kids they all had to go to college. We aren't building basic entry level skills in them, or firing dreams. If you want to build the company, get into the schools, and start homeschool programs. Not only are other power tools made overseas, they are pretty much all owned by the same company TTI, who also owns most vacuum cleaner brands. When you choose to buy a TTI product, you are building China. When you choose a Shopsmith or a Kirby or Riccar vacuum, you are building the USA.
23 years ago I bought my dads ShopSmith and that got me by for about 10 years. Thanks ShopSmith and best of luck helping young people get into the hobby.
My father sold them as a side hustle in the 50’s. He had his till the day he died in 2012 and the only part he ever had to replace was the toothed belt that drives the quill. I could not wait to inherit his, so I bought one in the mid 80’s. Still the workhorse of my studio. The thing about the Shopsmith is that it’s perfect for someone who doesn’t have a lot of room for all the various tools it covers. It rolls way to take up no more space than a bicycle. And I have a raft of attachments, from a bandsaw to a planer, that all get stored in a single cabinet. It is so versatile, that it does things no other tools can do. My son was refurbishing some old conga drums and needed the open end sand to a perfect lane. So I put on the disc sander, then configured it like a drill press and took off the table so the conga could stand on the floor and I could use the quilt to take down the top. Or, I needed to bore a 40” long hole so I rigged a rest where the tail stock fits to hold the end of an improvised auger ( made from copper tubing ) and used the combination of the 4” of quill travel, plus sliding the entire headstock the full length of the ways.
I am running a sculpture studio, not a cabinet business. So the versatility of the Shopsmith in so compact a space is a huge benefit.
My dad bought his Shopsmith in 1955...I bought mine in 1981. They're both very much in business. Good to see this businessman taking the lead in reviving the brand. My suggestion is they build a strong UA-cam presence- both in terms of demonstrating the use and capability of the Shopsmith as well as having Shopsmith Masters perform simple and advanced woodworking projects with their machines. My experience in the boating industry has reinforced the belief that a strong relationship between the factory and the owners is key to growing the business. Weekend programs (2 or 3 days) where folks can come to Dayton and engage in a real Shopsmith Workout might also be something worth piloting and growing....
I'm 74, my father had a Mark 5 (or 3...can't recall now) with all the attachments, in 1963. We built all our small church altar furniture and my 8th grade graduation desk with it. My Brother had a Mark 5 until he passed away in 2014, I had a Mark 5 in 1976 for 10 years until I sold it to pay the rent (seriously regret that decision). I'm hoping to get dad's Mark 6 from my nephew at some point. Good to see I can still get parts. I still have the jigsaw attachment hanging in the garage ceiling. If not, I'd love to get a new or even used one, and get rid of most of my free standing machines. ShopSmith....still doin' it right. Thanks for hanging in there.
I think what Nick is doing is absolutely awesome! Best of luck and to him and the Shop Smith brand.
I know enough to know that I dont know enough to give meaningful advice. I admire the vision and wish the best of luck!
Good to know they're still with us. I have an old ShopSmith in my barn but until recently never had the space to set it up...will look into setting it up now...Cheers.
Advertising in unconventional areas or in unconventional ways.
A spot during a car show on TV or an outdoors show, or a televised race.
So many people have what he described as vicariously living through what they watch. I truly wish nothing but great success for Shop Smith. Thanks for having them on your channel.
Advertising is EXPENSIVE. I don't think they should do that. If they have a good product, then get it to the influencers. Stumpy, Rob, etc. Like what Harvey machines has done.
I worked for Shopsmith as an instructor and for the most part I was proud of what I did but somewhere along the way things changed drastically in the late 90's (and not for the best). The company went from 48 stores and instruction facilities to 3. I am a retired woodworker!
I bought a ShopSmith 35 years ago and still have it. And it's still working. Love everything about it but the table saw. It's a great drill press, sander, lathe in a small space. Hopefully one day they will be able to fix the short comings of the table saw. Can't believe they're not as popular as they use to be great to
I miss seeing the demonstrators at Fairs and home shows. They always made woodworking look so easy. I could stand there for an hour or more.
I never got to see those and wish I had. They should bring that back.
I bought my first at the BIG E
@@michaeldesabrais2082Someone’s a New Englander.
I still have my shopsmith and appreciate the people who still make this multi functional tool ❤
As a beginner woodworker / DIY person, the shopsmith is both enticing and overwhelming. It is obviously a very capable and well built machine. Yet…I am not sure I need it because I am not sure I need all of the things it does. They one thing it does and I am certain I need, the table saw, is the one thing that the owner downplays.
The dilemma:
- Am I really the target market when I am not even certain I need all the things?
- Are Delta & Sawstop really the right table saws to self compare? This is a compact sorta-mobile product. Wouldn’t Dewalt, Rigid, Bosch,…etc. be better comparisons? As a beginner most of my tool exposure is from walking through big-box DIY stores where Delta & Sawstop have zero footprint.
I feel like the owner has misjudged the target market. I don’t think the target should be the source constrained beginner. I think the target should be the downsizing space constrained experienced woodworker.
Hook the retiree who is crying over having to downsize & dismantle their beloved full-sized workshop. Or the recent empty nester who is dreaming about picking up where they left off before kids got in the way but who also doesn’t want 5 empty bedrooms anymore.
I also think high/trade/tech schools and small-moderate facility maintenance departments would also be excellent targets.
As a beginning woodworker during the pandemic I sold my first table saw and router table to make room for a Mark 5 510 SS - and it has been exactly what I needed. The table saw was a vast improvement over the $50 pos that I started with, and the jointer was solid - I regret selling it, and wish I had sold the bandsaw instead. (NB the bandsaw is another story, and I'm far from alone in my experience - but tl;dr I bought a small Rikon and doubt I'll keep the SSBS much longer)
Biggest surprise for me is the lathe: I feared that function more than any other until I took a quick class in turning bowls; after that I’m using it for any manner of spindles and chair parts.
If you buy vintage, I would prepare to do some upkeep and tuning, and definitely calibrate expectations to the DeWalt end of the market - the Delta and Sawstop talk sounds aspirational at best - but also know that the company is great to work with, and these tools are incredibly serviceable - especially with help from the community of other SS owners.
Bonus: this is just based on my experience but I tend to see the SS as an especially good fit for a new-ish woodworker who is moving in a primarily hand-tool direction. It's really nice to have all these features available for dimensioning stock and handling the drudgery - so you can focus more of your limited time, space, and resources on the fun part - ie potato-powered work.
I would say a entry level track saw is more useful and safer than a table saw. After building a mft style Paulk bench with said saw I've built 3 more pieces of furniture and never pulled out the table saw once.
I am 52. I didn't get my Shopsmith until about a 1.5 years ago. I haven't bought the attachments, or master each process the Shopsmith can do, but I can tell you its a well-built machine. Growing up I never knew these existed. It was around 2019 when I learned of the machine and couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Thanks for doing this vidya. Zum Wohle!
My grandfather bought one new in1955. My dad taught me how to use it when I was a kid in the mid 1960's. It is now in my garage doing various jobs. Very versatile machine that does not take up a lot of floor space! Well designed, well built.
Partner with Mike Rowe and get them into High Schools with limited space and $ that want to start/restart “shop” class.
Most of us that grew up with shop class aren’t craftsmen by trade, but the art (yes art), math, and analytical thinking skills have served us well regardless of our profession.
Smart
That's a very smart idea. It makes me wonder how many schools would be receptive and how their insurance carriers view woodworking tools in schools today? I would imagine Sawstop would be the table saw of choice. Our high school woodworking teacher was showing the class safety when it comes to a planer and when the planer was running he got his hand too close to it during the demonstration and lost most of the fingers on his hand. That class never forgot the example that is still talked about 40 years later
I was also thinking putting them into shop classrooms, but also trade schools and maker spaces. And offering a payment plan. Reduce every barrier to entry.
Maybe sell to the Navy, with limited shipboard space, sounds like a natural fit.
Great idea.
@@genjii931 Turns out, the Navy believes in very capable machine shops on vessels that can support them. Not a lot of woodwork on a ship...
I'm glad to see there's still some life in the old company yet. That's good news for my 1986 Mk 510 which I took with me to Japan in 1987 when my job transferred me there. She's been with me ever since. She draws a lot of interest every time I wheel her out in front of my shop to cut some wood. I plan to send the headstock in to Dayton for an overhaul as soon as I find a shipper who won't charge me a fortune to ship it. She's the only one in Japan and has been with me for 38 years. I can't bear to sell or junk her now that I'm retired and finally have the time to get some real use out of her. I'd start a Japan user club but I think I'd be the only member. The internet forums are a big help as they keep me connected. Gambatte Shopsmith!
Strongest selling point is the space factor. As I look at my garage with miter saw, table saw, band saw, drill press, joiner, router I am drawn to get rid of it all to get my space back but I don't want to give up woodworking to do so.
Apart from the fact that's cost me an arm and a leg to get it to Europe I can't see myself paying 5k for an all-in-one stationary machine. My 'shop' is 6x8 feet and my machines need to be mobile to begin with. And for the price of one shopsmith I can buy a lot of tools to do the job.
Glad to see this! I didn't realize that Shopsmith was still in business until I watched the Maleki hit piece on them and became curious. Keep bringing industry back to Dayton!
Classic case of a great American company that failed to innovate. I really hope Nick can turn the company around b/c I have wanted a ShopSmith forever.
Well I would say a ShopSmith is quite innovative because of how multi-function it is. No other tool really does that. But it would seem that the broader market doesn't want a tool that takes time to reconfigure and maybe is only so-so at any given task its configured for, compared to a dedicated tool. So I don't know if it's the lack of innovation or just the business decision to cater to a very niche market.
@@vbikcl I am not knocking the product's capabilities. I was referring to their lack of innovation in the marketing space and failure to update their manufacturing processes.
Buy the ShopSmith 😊
So spending money on automation with no return on investment is a good idea? They are in a niche market that’s why they are doing what they do.
@@jwhittington188 being in a niche market is fine, even preferable in most cases. Being in a niche market AND selling a product that lasts for a lifetime though is a different story. Making a good product is a good thing, but how many one time customers are there for your specific niche?
THIS is a GREAT video!!! I'm almost 70. I've owned 4 Marks in my life and 1 knock-off. Nick, you are correct the table saw is where things tend to fall apart as EVERY TIME I need to reduce 4x8 sheets of material down in size the Mark does not do that well for me. I have noticed over the years SS has improved its table saw capability as far as handling large heavy sheet stock, BUT... I haven't ever been personally exposed to how well those improvements works. Almost everyone I know that has used a SS has said the same thing... it's a GREAT machine, but a lousy table saw.
With all of that said, that's the reason behind owning 5 of them over 45+ years. It seems I always miss something they do well and get ANOTHER one. I've owned the the model 10er all the way through the Mark 5 series. I've enjoyed all of the upgrades, but the pricing seemed to get a little too high for supplies (sand paper, tooling, some accessories) so I would find myself looking beyond SS for things and then eventually I would sell it off and start the process all over again. Not sure why... maybe (I'm an idiot... haha).
I do think you are on to something though.... if you can get things past the table saw issues. Marketing it to Crafters obviously is where I think it's best usage is, and I think most of us Old Timers will be rooting for you and your Team. Bring in a full line of current HOW TO videos will always be needed, and getting it priced in line with Crafter's price range maybe a challenge, BUT the product is ROCK SOLID.
Wishing you the very best,
Hersh
Had my carpentry business for 10 years and the Shopsmith did every job I needed. I’m in the U.K. and there is only one company that deals with Shopsmith. I think it’s a brilliant machine as the instruction manual is very comprehensive and maintenance and adjustment is fully documented. Shopsmith please come back to the U.K. especially now that you have the digital motor with extra power. I promote Shopsmith at every opportunity. Well done that man.
As someone who has worked QC in the manufacturing industry for over 7 years, people do not understand how expensive NRE charges are. Not to mention RnD and other things that aren't seen by many people. Hope to see them come back strong and a part of the American Manufacturing revitalization.
I’m one of those guys who took one of those 600,000 existing machines (1954 model, in my case) and added a new digital-controlled motor. Great [now-]modern machine built on a classic platform - it’s the heart of my workshop!
That is really interesting and tempting. There are bunch on my local classifieds going for between $250 and $2500 with little to no difference between them to justify the price difference. I am seriously tempted to pick up one on the $250 end and set it aside for the future. I will have to look at what it would take to update an old one to modern day capabilities. It feels sorta like an automobile rest-mod exercise.
Im glad you took the opportunity to tour and spread some light on that company. I am lacking both a lathe and drill press and because of this video and i will definitely look into acquiring one in the near future.
The first time I saw one of these was in the 70's, in a bard, under a tarp. It was my grandfathers and I asked him why he would hide something so cool looking. He and my uncles laughed but as my grandpas FIRST grandson, he couldn't say no. By the eighties, I was building shelves and small farm projects with my grandpa and fell in love with wood working. I hope Shopsmith gets connected with the right people to help them make a big splash in the digital world ASAP.
Got my Shopsmith back in the early 80's after I got married. there were live demonstrations every year at our yearly Home and Garden Show. I had an interest in woodworking but very little expierance. . Went to the Shopsmith School and went on to enjoy it for the next 35 years. Building kitchen table and chairs, quilt rack, bedroom Dresser, rocking horse, toys for the kids, etc....I really enjoyed the Shopsmith, I hope they continue.
I was with my Dad in 1953 when he bought a new Shopmith, over the next 10 years we moved to 3 different houses. Dad built new Kitchens, 'rec' rooms, built in bookcases, bunk beds, everything.
ShopSmith was the machine after the War that was affordable and made sense. In todays world, unfortunately, no one want's to take the time to change it from a Saw to a Drillpress or a Sander.
At 81, I admire this mans loyalty to Shopsmiths history and or Legacy. Shopsmith has its place in a garage setting for a DIYer but that's where it ends. I wish this Gentleman all the best. Fred
That was fantastic Travis. Nick is a sincere business owner that believes in his product. I wish them all the success in the world. They’ve got a huge challenge ahead but I think his leadership and determination will help Shopsmith prevail.
I have bought 2 off of Craigslist and completely refurbished them. One I use as a drill press which works vertically as well as horizontally. The other I use primarily as a lathe. Wonderful tools and so well made. Thanks for doing this video.
I Love shopsmith products. I currently own 3 mark 5's, 2 planers, jointer, bandsaw, scroll saw and lots of accessories. Hoping to one day upgrade to the power pro. Outstanding product for my small shop!
Thanks for this episode. When I was a kid my dad had a small shop with a band saw and my uncle had a shop with a 14" Dewalt radial arm saw. Back then I was enthralled with getting a Shopsmith. Best of luck to Nick and team! P.S. I wish I still had both the radial arm and band saw.
A friend of mine back in the 90’s ha$ a ShopSmith and the things he built were absolutely beautiful and certainly beyond my ability. I truly hope they can save this tool and company.
Never heard of shop smith. But just watching this makes me want to clear out my garage and get one, it looks rugged and I like that it's a company right here in the US
I am so glad you put this vid up and I found it!!! I was given a shop smith by a friend, but he had lost the power had for it. I think I can get one now and be able to use my tool!!! I've got a ton of attachments for it too. Thanks so much for putting this up!
I grew up using a shopsmith. In fact, I i need to help my dad get his head unit to the service center for repair 🤔. Helps that it's local for us!
My Dad bought one in 1981. It was so cool, my brother and I grew up working with it and learning so much. Sad to see how far they have fallen
Great interview. I wish I discovered the Shopsmith system long before I did. But I now own and use 3 of them. Really great machines and accessories.
I hope Nick can fulfill his vision.
My uncle had one when I was a kid. I remember thinking its ability to transform into all those different tools was the coolest thing ever. I'm definitely rooting for their success.
Great video, I remember growing up my dad had a shop smith. I don’t know what happened to it but now that I’m recently retired I’m wishing I had one. I do a little woodworking as a hobby and primarily use had tools just because I don’t have space for a table saw, drill press, etc. glad to see they’re still in business
My dad owned a Shopsmith mark 5 for the very reason Nick mentioned, space - or lack there of. I own one now, even though, ostensibly, I have enough room in my garage for the big boys. But living in central Florida as a transplant I’m ever aware of tropical storms and hurricanes and having the ability to pull our vehicles out of the elements still drives me so the small footprint appeals to me. That being said, I am glad that Nick acknowledged that the table saw element is their weakest point. It IS a lathe platform and that has its benefits, just maybe not so much with the table saw. As a Shopsmith enthusiast, I would say to Nick that the two things to address that might help the brand is 1) well-made UA-cam content showing set-up, transitions from one tool to the next, and education for those of us that don’t live in Ohio and can’t just hike on up there for a weekly or monthly class. A former Shopsmith employee who sold the units at malls in the 80’s trained new guys by making them walk through the transitions from tool to tool over and over again, Mr. Miyagi-style for, like, 6 weeks before he ever taught them how to make the cool little trinkets they’d make to sell the units (like compound miters with splines and wooden flowers). I’d happily do a work along for a simple project (like shop class in HS, making, I don’t know, a birdhouse or jewelry box) so that a new user can feel more comfortable with the workflow. Which leads to point 2) The disinformation of Shopsmith being one of the most dangerous tools out there should be addressed. ALL shop tools can be dangerous. By proper training and using good shop sense we can mitigate some of that danger but it’s, at its center, still dangerous. Anything with that much power is. But a search on UA-cam for Shopsmith left me with video after video of Shopsmith bashers. He’s got to somehow reverse that toxic knee-jerk that is out there when someone types in Shopsmith on a UA-cam search bar. Hope that might help. Good luck, I’m pulling for you.
I purchased a Mark V in 1978 after watching a demo at a home show. It's a great machine that does it all. It gets rolled to the side of my basement shop and out of the way. I was able to replicate some balusters for a friend who bought an older home using the lath. It replaces all the machines that would take up my limited floor space.
I had one of these and made a lot of items. One in particular stands out.
A local lumber yard was next to a railroad line. One day a train was stopped behind the Lumber Yard unloading lumber. A fire broke out and the local fire department put it out quickly, but in doing so water
logged a couple of pallets if 1" x 4" x 10' that had to be salvaged. I came to the rescue and bought
all the salvage. Now what do it do? I put my Shop Smith to good use and made 147 pairs of
Adirondack Chairs. My hobby became a business and actually burned me out making wood items. I used my Shop Smith for a lot of other uses then wood. I made a number of aluminum and plastic items that could be machined with the Shop Smith. It is a fantastic tool and a multi tool in one.
Longtime and legacy owner. A great durable and well engineered set of products for a whole range of activities.
Subscribed. Looking forward to checking out this channel.
ok, one thought, 2 words.... 'International Sales.....!!! As someone with definite space issues (UK garages are 'Single' only, and most often you can't even fit a car into them, i kid you not, so something like this would be absolutely amazing to have. I have never, not once, seen, or even heard of anything like these tools, and that's just crazy. Maybe even try and get the UK Forces to use them? There is always restrictions when it comes to space and one of these in a dedicated 'box body' (so as to fit on a truck etc) is a no brainer.
There used to be a UK distributor for Shopsmith.
They don’t produce the machine in metric system-I asked.
I still have my shopsmith, Mark5 and I inherit my Father in laws Shopsmith and appreciate the people who still make this multi functional tool❤
I got started on a Shopsmith, as a child, in my basement. Eventually I bought one of my own. I now have all the individually tools, but still use the Shopsmith as a disk sander, lathe and horizontal boring machine.
When I was in 7th grade, my mom inherited my great uncle's Shopsmith and her and dad gave me free reign with that thing. I can't even begin to guess how many hours I spent out in the garage turning, drilling and cutting wood with it. It really can do tons of things in a small footprint.
I've had my Mk 5/510 Shopsmith since 1980. very beam in my house was planed on the Shopsmith planer. Many years ago I built several jewelry boxes & 'necklace trees' using my Shopsmith. I still use it almost weekly for parts of projects. After viewing this video, I think I will upgrade parts of my Shopsmith. Thanks for this video. I hope Nick is successful at keeping this great tool going into the next decade & beyond.
My Dad bought his Shopsmith in the early '50s to do interior finish work on his newly built home. It now sits in my garage were I pull it out every so often for projects - still with the original motor no less!
For marketing, I think ShopSmith should focus on the things like jointer and lathe that are 2 tools a beginning woodworker typically doesn’t have, but will significantly upgrade their work. A jointer is such a time-saver that now even a small shop can have. To marry that with drill press, horizontal boring, lathe, etc…what a magic thing! And to be able to do all that with a machine that can take up so little space. It’s wonderful!
I got into woodworking with a Shopsmith when I got so irritated with my inexpensive table saw with its plastic base. I could never keep it square. So I asked around on woodworking forums, saying I had a tiny shop but wanted a saw I could align well, and someone said "Well, most people don't like them, but maybe the Shopsmith would be a good fit for you".... and it was.
The woodworking community is like most other communities, its users connect through media which is paid for by advertising, and advertising wants to sell you as many machines as possible - go look at any featured workshop and it will generally have a standalone machine for every purpose, and expensive machines at that. Much like so many other groups, advertising has driven a "more is better" mentality in woodworking, with people building large workshops who then don't ever utilize all the machines they've been able to buy. Most people don't like Shopsmiths because they are routinely dismissed by the woodworking media and it's 'stars' as not 'professional grade' tools because they aren't standalone tools... because 'standalone' is the Holy Grail, not of woodworkers, but of woodworking media - which always miraculously assumes you have 10,000 square feet of shop available and a budget of about $50 grand...
The Shopsmith does many things very well, it does some things oddly, but well (a table saw where the blade is stationary but the table moves is definitely not mainstream) and it's biggest single advantage is space. My workshop is a 10x12 space - 120sf! In it I have the following tools: table saw, lathe disk sander, belt sander, jointer, 19" drum sander, overarm router, undertable router, band saw, scroll saw, jig saw, shaper, strip sander, precision tool sharpener, and every single one of those is driven by or mounted on the Shopsmith. (Some, like the 19 drum sander and the tool sharpener, I made myself to mount on the Shopsmith). I could not begin to have the versatility and precision that the Shopsmith gives me, with any other tools that would fit in my shop. If you don't have a lot of space, buy a Shopsmith today. If you have a lot of space, you might still want a Shopsmith - a professional factory furniture maker said that he always keeps 2 Shopsmiths, because whenever he needs to changing jigging during a production run, it's easier to do it on the Shopsmith than build all new jigs for the standalone tools!
I did not even know it was still in production....and now I want 2!
Good morning Mr. Nick. I always wanted a shop smith. But couldn’t afford one. My brother in law has one bought in 1984. He loves it he tells everybody lad be lost with out this machine. Iam very proud to see you bring back armican tools made in USA. Sincerely Anthony Ciotti
I bought an entire wood shop 9 years ago built around a Shop Smith, always wanted one as a kid, He was a gentleman who was retiring and he was at age where he didn't want to get hurt.
I still use the planer, Jointer and the Band saw for small projects. I have all the attachments to do wood turning, but that hasn't entered my realm of wood working as of yet.
The motor is a thing of genius, so smooth and no vibration just a marvel of engineering. I think Norm Abram used the Shop Smith as a lathe to turn some table legs if I remember correctly.
Great Video, I own 2 Shop smiths. Glad to see it getting some more love.
My grandfather had a Mark V Shop Smith from the 1960s in his garage. I wish I had found a way to keep it when he passed away a decade ago.
I hope they make it, I was never in position to get the shopsmith I always wanted, but I am so glad they are still going.
Good video. I have all the equipment I need, but seeing you can upgrade the older equipment definitely adds value to it
Wishing Shopsmith great success!! I have a 1983 Mark V500 that I am still using.
I’m happy someone is picking up the torch. I’ve got a Mark V in the garage and for a very casual woodworker having a lot of capability is so nice.
Great to see Shopsmith is still going! My dad built a some fine furniture with his Mark V 500 from 1960 to the 80's and taught me woodworking with it. He had all the attachments and the Shopsmith Hands On Magazines. I inherited the Mark V in 1990 and built stuff for my first house with it. If you only have a small space to work you can't beat the Shopsmith .
I always wanted a ShopSmith for the reason Nick said, space. It funny, before I saw your video, I was going to see if they were still in business and look into getting one. Now I am definitely getting on! Thanks, great video!
I have 2 in my shop, and my go to, building guitars, molds of thermoforming and more. I love mine so much and all the uses. My favorite use is the overhead router on guitar necks!
I remember seeing the demo at Christmas in a mall in TN back in 98-99ish while in college and thinking this thing is a slick setup especially when space is a premium.
I have an old 10er I restored. I use it on every project, and plan on getting a new Mark 7 one of these days. A Shopsmith plus a stand alone table saw is the perfect set up. No reason to have a bunch of machines taking up space, and needing maintained. The great thing about it is you now have a 2nd table saw, meaning you can set up a dado on one and it really speeds things up. I and buddy did an entire kitchen's drawers in about 2.5hrs using both machines. The change overs are a non issue if you think about the order of your work.
Shopsmith Mark V owner here. Thanks for the video! Really enjoyed this interview and factory tour.
Cool to see they're still in business in the USA. That's a neat machine. Definitely worth checking out when I get to that part of the house renovations. All the free/cheap stuff I have takes up A TON of space.
My dad bought a Shopsmith as his first serious woodworking machine back in the early 80's. AFAIK, he still owned it upon his passing last year. Unfortunately, I was unable to salvage it, I lived too far away to recover the machine that launched his 40 year career as a furniture restoration specialist.
I have owned and used Shopsmiths of all generations for 50+ years. I have also owned many large professional woodworking machines. When I retired and sold off my woodworking machinery, the only machines I kept were two Shopsmith Mark V 520s. They are upgradable to the lastest version without modification. No other woodworking tool company can say that!
I am in my mid 50's in age, my father had the available space. Not so much the money. We actually built our own power tools from salvaged dryers. I wanted a shopsmith, but my father's reasoning was you will spend most of your time adapting a single motor with your required tool.
And if anything happened to that motor, you lost your whole shop! A shopsmith was not cheap. And we already had built most of our own power tools except for a planer and radial arm saw and had plenty of space so it just didn't make sense for us.
I can see for the average suburban type dweller, however space is very limited and this solution can make sense as long as build quality and reliability can remain high and priced to be competitive. Shopsmith should be in a good place as long as they can get into a suburbanites hands early in the game Before a bunch of money gets spent on standalone equipment.
Perhaps offering a new homeowner (or builder) a discount with a yearly reprise for attachment purchases. Because once the tool motor is sold, the owner will want to expand on that. But will likely buy a cheap standalone machine if an attachment is overpriced.
that is awesome! I did not know ShopSmith was still in production. Cheers to Nick for taking on this challenge for us
no bandsaw/belt sander attachment?