The dance with Lady Green begins ...

[fiatben]

Well, I did finish putting the "Greenie" back together, although there are still little details that would be a more complete job. Still, I decided I needed to be making sawdust and getting use out of it, which I have.

My "greenie" hard at work:
11141

yeah, yeah, I know, not a conventional paint scheme, but you know what? no matter how cluttered my shop gets, I can always find my SS!!!

[dlbristol]

I like it! There are enough " conventional" things and people around! I kind think ' " you ain't one of em", I like that as well.;)

[swampgator]

Does it glow at night? It needs lights to show off the true colors. And, then a glass window to keep the rubber neckers from touching it. Looks really good. Hoping to see pics of projects.:D

[bestdust]

I doubt that the upper belt is the wrong one. That model only came with the cogged gilmer style belt and I seriously doubt you could find any belt that would fit that machine unless it was manufactured for the SS.

[bestdust]

I doubt that the upper belt is the wrong one. That model only came with the cogged gilmer style belt and I seriously doubt you could find any belt that would fit that machine unless it was manufactured for the SS.






For those who read my earlier posts about the band saw, I apologize in advance for any redundancy, but being a true newbie, I realize this is where I should have started.

Fifteen days ago I became the latest beau of a diamond in the rough, "Lady Green," a greenie, s/n 292284. She is a few years older than I am, having been brought into existence in March of 1955 (versus my own birth in June of '57). And even though she was covered in dust from disuse for the past several years, it was love at first sight, especially when I saw her wearing a band saw on the backend! So, even though the guy was only asking $450, I told my sad tale of unemployment coupled with my aspirations of making my way in the world by manipulating wood, and he agreed to $400.

I came back the next day with my dad's pickup, driving in a slight rain, and with the help of another guy who just happened to be standing around, we put Lady Green in the back of the truck, laid her over for the ride, put the little stuff and band saw up in the cab, covered her headstock with a garbage bag and headed home. Weather favored her as it quit raining just as I left his shop and remained dry until after I got back home.

I once had a Shopsmith. As best I remember this was about 1996 and it came with almost everything, including the band saw, jointer, and belt sander. I spent my last $1300 that time and I loved that machine. But I was young and foolish. I didn't care about maintenance, only where the on/off switch was and how to hook things up to it. Life changes and I ended up selling all my woodworking stuff, even though it hurt. I've missed having an SS ever since.

But no more!! I now am getting to know this new lady in my life. However, I fear this will be a lengthy courtship (renovation) before we actually begin making beautiful music together (ahhh, the sound of wood being cut).

I will (or at least it is my intention to) post pics and updates as I progress. In part, because I have been inspired by the work, words and pics of many of you. Unfortunately I was already reading the forum and watching videos before I got my camera out, so even the first shots show the back cover off the headstock and the band saw opened up. Still these were before anything serious happened.

So where am I now? Tonight I built a cradle for the headstock, inspired by the one in Engler's Sawdust Sessions and reviving a goldie and now my headstock is on a worktable. However, my camera's battery went dead, so no pictures until tomorrow (later today?).

Known issues: the quill does not spring return after being extended. Everything seems a bit stiff even though the unit turns on, runs through the speed range and does not sound rough, and everything I can turn feels fairly smooth.

The speed control seems to sit at an angle to the body. And the threaded part of the locking mechanism on the table height lock has been bent. The bench tubes are rusty and the way tubes need a good polishing.

Observations made: it is definitely an early one, having the sandcast heaadstock without an access hole behind the nameplate. However, the belts have been replaced at some point with the lower belt stamped "Shopsmith" and the upper belt stamped "Goodyear." I question if the upper belt is correct.

But, overall, I'm pretty please, and I'm looking forward to this dating every evening as we get to know each other and I fix everything that's wrong with her. (Don't you wish you could do that with your spouse?)

I know I will have lots of questions, but that is ok because I know you guys will have lots of answers.

Let the journey begin................

8234

[mgbbob]

Hi from one guy with a car name to another. I am picking up my first Mark V Greenie tomorrow night. I will be most interested in your progress. Please keep us up to date.

This is my first Shopsmith. I always wanted one but he extra bucks were in the way.

[fiatben]

The best advice I can give is to not be afraid to ask for advice on this forum. Spend some time acquainting yourself with the inner workings of the machine by watching the Sawdust Session and reading some threads where others have completely restored machines most would have given up on.

Here is a good starting point: http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=7092

Take lots of pictures and share your journey with us. We all love to watch a guy take one apart, discover what its history has done to it, repair the damages and wear, and then bring it back to life. Besides, pictures you can post of the problems and things you don't understand will help all of us to better help you get your machine back to as good as new, or better!

I just recently got my 2nd Shopsmith for 1/5th of what this one cost me, and it is 34 years younger!! That is another thread: http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=7516

Can't wait to see what you've got and what you do with it.