Shop Smith

[teejk]

AND THEN, what really killed Shop Smith, was when the Chinese copied it and came on the market for a fraction of the price of a new SS!

SR

My guess is that "New Yankee Workshop" killed it. I think Norm introduced the concept of being able to move from one machine to another to another to another, all within a 60 minute show. Woodworking seems to have been a "fad"...my sons have no interest in playing in my shop with dedicated tools (table saw, drill press, jointer, planer, etc.) so perhaps the multi-purpose machines will come back.

 

[dragoneggs]

My guess is that "New Yankee Workshop" killed it. I think Norm introduced the concept of being able to move from one machine to another to another to another, all within a 60 minute show. Woodworking seems to have been a "fad"...my sons have no interest in playing in my shop with dedicated tools (table saw, drill press, jointer, planer, etc.) so perhaps the multi-purpose machines will come back.

Not so sure it is so much a fad rather than a generational thing. My son up until just recently showed no interest in my tools or shop. Sports, Video games, and women were more on his mind. Now that he is settling down with a steady girl and a dog maybe he is changing. He shocked me the other day and said he wants to do some woodworking... maybe make some furniture. So there's hope! Thinking my collection of tools was destined for an estate sale some day... maybe not!

 

[Billrog]

I see a lot of SS for sale here ranging from $100 to $500 older but have seen very little use. I think the continual set up wears owners down fast and it starts collecting dust.

 

[dragoneggs]

Little use should be your first clue! People get sucked into these 'do it all' tools with good salesmanship.

 

[ultrarunner]

The shop where I keep my Bridgeport and South Bend was built using a Shopsmith... the previous owner built accessories to make the table saw very usable and had many of the attachments...

Of course this was 40 years ago... people have more today... average home size has increased so room is less of a factor.

 

[Code54]

The shop where I keep my Bridgeport and South Bend was built using a Shopsmith... the previous owner built accessories to make the table saw very usable and had many of the attachments...

Of course this was 40 years ago... people have more today... average home size has increased so room is less of a factor.

That is true - growing up my dads "Shop" was not quite 10x12 so a shop Smith was about the only option. I remember that we always had to open the doors to cut a 4x8 sheet or long board.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^Exactly how I remember it too... space was at a premium and homes were over all less spacious unless you happen to live on a farm or ranch with out buildings.