Should I buy a Shaper?

Dranreb said:

My shaper was bought to do square-ish sort of work that my lathe can't, I can't justify buying a mill and don't really need one now as I'm not in a hurry..

I just wanted one and one came along, I haven't been bored since, putting a lump of old rusty old metal in it and watch in become new again is one of my favorite things.....

Bernard

Click to expand...

Yeah it is fun and strangely relaxing. Same with the CNC router but noisies

Yes

Page three and, uuh, I forgot the question.
Oh! There it is. Thats just a silly thing to ask.
Love the shaper pictures. Thanks to all for showing them off.
My shaper is still all apart while I try to get the lathe and mill-drill in reasonable condition for making parts and a 50 deg. straight edge.
Got to scrape everything in as well as a 60 deg. straight edge ( got that done for now ) before I can finish scraping the mill parts.
Really wish there were reasonably priced working shapers and other machines around these parts.

I have two shapers but they are small ones. I have a hand powered shaper similar to an Adept. It has no makers markings so I suspect it was made as a casting and machining project in a training institute. I made a base for it that cam locks to the bed of my lathe and it is fantastic for knocking out small gears in a hurry. I can turn the gear blank and then fit the shaper and shape each tooth in turn. The base has provision for swivelling the whole shaper - a feature I used to great effect when making a new speedo drive gear for a classic car. My other shaper is a Perfecto 7" powered shaper. The tool holder is easily removed and I have made a power hacksaw frame that pivots from the top of the ram. Buying the Perfecto allowed me to dispose of a large homemade power hacksaw that was just taking up too much floor space compared to it's usefulness. The perfecto makes a fantastic power hacksaw that doesn't take up a lot of space and can occasionally be converted back to shaping duty as required. I don't have the space for a mill and shapers are just such fun and versatile machines.

I really don't need many of the tools i own as I have 4 kids and very seldom have free time for projects (I guess those come in my 50's when the last kiddo heads out into the world.). But its nice to know they are there on the few occasions when I HAVE needed them. That, and to me, Vintage shop machines are works of industrial art. Does anyone thinking about buying a Picasso think about weather or not they really have a need for it? Heck, when I was a kid, I collected motel soaps from around the country (My mom traveled a lot for work.), and there is not a little boy under ten that thinks they have any use for soap........

Once you have one, you'll see why you need it. And, if like mine, it sits most of the time, it doesn't cost anything to feed and water, so why shouldn't I keep it? You can do things with a shaper that next to impossible, or impossible to do on a mill. And as others have mentioned, the smooth rhythmatic motion is relaxing. Unless you are peeling off some really heavy, hot chips.....then it's a little unsettling. But that's rare for a hobby machine I would think.

I use mine every year or two. Twice I think this year. But it was cutting ring gear teeth. The only way I have to do it. Maybe someday some real gear machines, but not now.

YES, you should buy it if you haven't already. This is an old thread...........

Shapers are old Tony and I for one never tire of this thread. By all means if you don't have a shaper, get one. If nothing else run it with no stock in it once in a while, the melodic sound of the click-swish-click is mesmerizing.

"Billy G"

+1 what billy G said
They are old school and considered obsolete, but they have there place. Mine is home made but I will occasionally turn it on and watch it for giggles and use it.

Oh, I actually do that. Mine is a 24" G&E off a Navy vessel, with a 3 phase motor conversion from DC. Have to keep the oil circulating, you know? And the knobs somewhat shiny.

I have a 7 inch Atlas and I would never part with it. I may build the Australian 10 inch from prints some time in the future. Wonder what they sound like in Stereo HD. LOL

"Billy G"