Warren

I've never used one (routers have covered all of my needs so far). But, a friend of mine recently purchased a used one which can be operated in reverse. Why would you want to reverse the cutter direction? Are shaper cutters made to operate ineither clock-wise or counter? I told him I would ask the experts and get an answer for him.

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Mike

The reverse feature is for clearing jams, not for cutting.

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reible

I have never seen one with a reverse..... How is it done with the motor or belts????

As far as I know from the shapers I've used/seen the cutter is mounted on a shaft with a special washer the fits in a groove then the nut. Even with that spinning backwards would worry me.

I'm guessing that aniceone2hold is right, I sure don't think one would want to cut that way.

Ed

Warren

Thanks Mike. That's one of those answers where you shrug the shoulders and slap the forehead when you hear it. Pretty obvious once you think about it.

ED, I'll get back to you on that after I talk with Jim, my friend with the shaper.

PEARCO

Warren;

The reverse switch on a shaper is for clockwise and counter clockwise cutters for different cutting operations. For example if you are using a panel rasing cutter, you will want to refference off the shaper table top. On the next operation, you may need to feed in the opposite direction for a different cutter.
Many profiles are designed to cut from different feed directions. It also is desinged to operate with different power feeds - forward and reverse systems.
This design works with mounting of the power feeds. I assure you it is not to clear a jamb. In my forth years in the buisness I have never seen a shaper jamb or one without a reverse switch.


Jim

reible

Thanks for clearing this up for us.

Now I was worrying about my memory.... how could I have missed this feature..... I don't remember a method of making it run anything but counterclockwise....

But as luck would have it I still have the book (not the shaper) and the book was printed in 1952 (age of the shaper unknown) and I have to tell you the old sears one did not have any method of making it run backward nor is it mentioned or shown to do so.

I don't recall that feature on the ones in school either but maybe I just don't remember..... or maybe I "knew it all" and didn't pay attention.

It makes sence that they could do that, that would also let you use a different profile on a cutter by having it "upside down" It also explains why some of the cutters I have that I never could figure out how to use the "other" profile.

I know I learned a lot from this post..... good question and even better answer..... it is good to learn from those that know.

Thank YOU!

Ed

Warren

Jim,

Thanks for the information. My friend has yet to fire the machine up. I'm telling him that all of the reading and research I did to get the answer is worth a couple of hundred feet of the molding of my choice.

Seriously, thanks to all of you for the help.

Mike

Well dont I just have egg all over my face! I learned from this too. I was unaware that you could feed either direction but it makes good sense. Thanks for correcting my mistake Jim!

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hcbph

My shaper has a reversing switch on it, and I use it all the time. Left and Right feed cutters exist. Additionally sometimes you want to use the cutter either on the top or bottom of a particular cut. It really adds to the flexibility of your cutters.