From Table Routing To A Shaper

cabinetman

In the beginning (sounds like a Bible story) working in a tiny shop, it was a period of isolation. Go to work every day with no exposure to tools or procedures. At the time there wasn't much of a selection in any of the stores that catered to woodworkers, as they were basically lumberyards, like microscopic versions of HD.

Seeing a router in one of my visits there prompted me to get one to try it out. After using it and seeing the bits that were available at the time, figured out it could be mounted in a table like I did with my circular saw before I had a table saw.

Taking the router out of my hands allowed much larger stock to be profiled, and increased the router's versatility. During projects there would be brainstorms on how to improve the table with fence modifications and grooves like what was on the table saw.

The industry was not well advertised especially when you spent all day in a shop with no source of information. Being a flea market and garage sale junkie, ran across an ad in the newspaper from a guy closing his shop and selling everything. Those sales you have to go early. I was one of the first there and saw a machine called a shaper. I asked him about it and he said if you know what a router can do, this is the big brother.

I bought it and had to get a friend to help me move it to the shop. Only had one 220V receptacle for a plug in, but that was OK, didn't have anything else that was 220V. At the time the Rockwell/Delta machinery was pretty much the same. A 5HP, single phase, with interchangeable spindles up to 1 1/4". With the room under the nut and a wide variety of cutters broadened the scope of what profiles could be done. Eventually I talked myself into buying a variable speed power feeder. Money well spent. I bought two mounting bases and put the second one on the table saw.

A big brother to a router, that and a lot more. It really gets your respect and attention looking down at a massive wing cutter.

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bobj3

Hi cabinetman

Shaper,,sometimes called a auto finger remover on the same lines as a dice o'matic, slice o'matic, power feed is almost a must on the shaper.. plus you must have alot of gutts to turn one on...if the sound does'nt make you turn it off or stand way back.. nasty/ hairy machine to run...

But this is just my 2 cents



I recall the hairy molding set that Sears put out for a bit for the table saw, one more finger remover.... almost like the shaper....that like to put the stock in the air, in the shop...or into the wall


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cabinetman

Yup, gotta agree the power feeder does make the machine more "usable". Guts - I don't know about that one - not too much flusters me. Following safe operation is critical for any tool. As for the Sears moulding head, I kinda like that thing. I've got many sets of the inserts. It's holding down the stock on the TS that makes it tricky.

I found on the shaper as on many table top machinery, a long infeed and outfeed helps a lot if you have the room. If you don't have the room, make a temporary one with folding legs. There's been many times doing commercial work that heavy mouldings in hardwood of 12 ft and longer had to be shaped, maybe a couple of hundred feet at a time, and the long supports and the power feeder really make it happen.

Joe Lyddon

Hey Capt. Marvel,

That sounds like an awesome machine... please be safe!

Any pics of it yet?

cabinetman

Joe

That machine and a few others went bye bye when I downsized. When you get rid of equipment it feels like you're losing an appendage.

challagan

Neat story and from the looks of some of your work you took full advantage of it. I am with Bj though... I would have to have a belt or two just to turn the SOB on and then I would watch it run from accross the room and get a stick to shut it off with...LOL

Corey

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cabinetman

Just for S & G's, I should have saved the "Featherless" boards made from Maple. It's a sight seeing it EAT solid hardwood like cotton candy. Fortunately, a power feeder feeds it and holds the stock pretty good, considering the power.