[timshufflin]

[QUOTE=Norton_BMW;2169988]In mine I had to fix the alignment and had the surfaces precision ground and then use a precision shim. The GIB retention plate was also too flimsy.

[/QUOTE

I had read that several pages back. My cheap WT 11x26 has issues but nothing like some of the things discussed here, the tailstock works great . I do believe that you all are expecting a tad too much from a $6500 machine, might be the lowest price on the market. On the other hand it was the $6500 units marketing that boasted of the specs and the things it could do, not you all.

[n1tr0]

It sucks when a 'company' tries to hide behind the fine print rather than stepping up and fixing/replacing their defective parts.A lot of the numbers look good, but I know when I ordered mine they omitted some critical ones by using terms like "0-max" on the speeds. The whole, you have to keep the machine for a year before you can return it is just a gamble that people will give up and walk away or try to resell the turd privately at a loss before then. I've heard a few stories about guys having to sign NDAs and take down youtube videos before they could get any sort of return as well.
@Norton, thanks for the suggestion on the shimming. When I found that tail-stock so out of alignment, I just pulled it off the machine and stuck it on a shelf. To be fair, I haven't tried to use the machine in ages, I usually just knock out the parts I need after-hours on either the Haas or Tormach at work, no surprises there.

[instructor37]

[timshufflin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYwfTcddBRA

Hmm, a stupid kid going on about philosophy. I care as much about that as I do about their opinions on gun control.

[instructor37]

OOPS- in your haste to respond you forgot to log in under your other alias.

[timshufflin]

OOPS- in your haste to respond you forgot to log in under your other alias.

I guess I'm confused. My name is Tim Shufflin and I own Shuff's Parkerizing. If anyone ever wants to chat with me my phone number and email are clearly listed on my website. Now "instructor37", that's an alias. My name IS my forum name. Before you insinuate something please know your stuff.

[instructor37]

OK- I'll call you Dr. Jekyll- watch now as Mr. Hyde shows up.

[timshufflin]

OK- I'll call you Dr. Jekyll- watch now as Mr. Hyde shows up.

What are you insinuating Sir/Ma'am (I don't know because you are an alias)? Quit speaking in riddles and let loose. I came to this forum looking for a machine to help my business and now I'm accosted by the riddler. Like I clearly said, anyone can see who I am and how to contact me. I don't hide, I don't play any games, I'm right here asking you what in the heck are you trying to insinuate?

[timshufflin]

You know instructor37 the Shopmaster is the machine I wanted. The machine has the right spindle bore for me, the right footprint, nobody can say the price isn't right... if it works. It would even probably allow me to get rid of one of my extra mills. How can I take the risk of buying it though? I look at all sorts of posts/videos and I have never seen so much like/hate for a machine. Seriously, it's all over the map. I don't need to put a man on the moon with the machine either. The lathe needs to re contour some gun barrels, cut a few vertical keys, put some 9/16 32 threads on, finish it all of with an outside crown . The Mill (if there's room on the bed for an indexer) needs to cut some horizontal keys and drill a gas port. The rest of the time the lathe needs to make gas pistons.

instructor37, if you have a special place in your heart for Shopmaster then put in a good word for me. Perhaps we can all win. I have the cash money to buy that machine no problem. Have them put up a public posting on this forum with a field review challenge. I'll buy the mill (cash for the mill held in escrow till the end of the review) and Shopmaster gives me an un conditional money back warranty if I'm not happy with it after 90 days are up. I'll post in detail, all my trials, tribulations, victory's, and wins with the unit. The clock will tick down to day 91 where I get to decide if I keep the mill or not.

I'll put some skin in the game and have to pay a flat $500 shipping to return it (NO restocking fee). I'd expect that Shopmaster would have some skin in the game as well because they'd want to make sure they get a good review and keep the sale. We can take a look at how many days the machine is broken down or running over the 90 day period. Examine how quickly Shopmaster responds to my stupid questions, and I will have stupid questions. Evaluate how long it takes to get parts if needed and blah blah blah.

If you have pull instructor37 have them contact me. We can have their corporate lawyer chat with my corporate lawyer and put the whole thing together.

And the final benefit? The Shopmaster would be sent to my NON alias address of 8300 Walworth Road, Jerome, MI 49249. See now instructor37, you'll even get to see that I am who I am, Tim Shufflin the owner of Shuff's Parkerizing.

[n1tr0]

JT/smallblock/bigblock/instructor/shopmaster/whatever just assumes everyone else is an alias because that's what he does.

[Norton_BMW]

FYI here is the difference between the original Tailstrock GIB arangement and what I ended up with.

In mine I had to fix the alignment and had the surfaces precision ground and then use a precision shim. The GIB retention plate was also too flimsy.