onlineshopclass.com

[weelildaddy]

Has anyone joined a relatively new site called onlineshopclass.com? They claim to use Shopsmith equipment for many of their video projects? I learned of this from a card included in my last Shopsmith purchase. Apparently, this is not a freebie. I would be intrested in knowing if any of you feel this site to be worth what you paid for it. Thank all of you for your past help.

[eldyfig]

Saw the card in my recent orders also. Went to the site and found it wasn't free, so I decided I will continue to sponge up the wealth of info my fellow woodworkers have here.

[nutball]

I joined for a year @ $49.00 (this was supposedly a charter member rate that would be held for as long as membership was maintained) and my membership just recently ended. I think it is possible to go on a month by month basis, with non-charter membership rates closer to $10 per month (check the "Membership Plans" link on their website).

I didn't watch all of the videos - probably somewhere between 25% to 50% of them. Of those I watched, some were good and some were basically a waste of bandwidth. I only recall seeing a few related to the SS, one on table alignment, one on spindle turning in lathe mode and one on drilling holes for a cribbage board in drill press mode. Of course, there may have been more SS related material in those videos I did not watch.

IMHO, there was nothing presented that couldn't be gleaned from other internet sites with free content or magazines/books. I think you'd get way more useful information, specific to the SS, in the Sawdust Sessions and shop tips presented by Nick and Drew through the SS web site. Also, I had continual problems with being automatically logged off after watching a video and then going back to try and view another - might have just been my system.

They did send a free gift with the membership (a spring-loaded nail-set from NOXON/Spring Tools, which is probably worth about $10) and they had some discount programs set up with a few companies that you could take advantage of. I think they plan on signing on with many more companies, but during my year of membership, I do not recall any being added.

All in all, I don't think it was worth what I spent, but it probably wasn't a complete waste of money either.

[rkh2]

I joined as a charter member when the onlineshopclass came about and renewed my membership for the same charter member rate this year. I also received the free tool mentioned by nutball. Initially things were moving along quite well with new information and videos being added regularly, especially since they added a prior TA instructor from Shopsmith to their group. Mike Cobb has done several videos since his arrival which are quite informative and well done. They use other equipment as well as Shopsmith and other types of tasks besides woodworking, such as drywall, framing, how to hang a door and other subjects which you may use around a house. I am not sure what is going on with the class since February, as they have not added anything since then. This class could expand your knowledge base but since things don't seem to be moving lately, I am hesitant to recommend getting a membership at this time. With all the information being shared on this forum and on the sawdust sessions, which are free, it's hard to beat what we have. Hope this input helps. Seeing that my membership is for the entire year, I will let you know if there are any changes.