- Joined
- Aug 3, 2017
- Messages
- 2,437
Hi all-
I've once again made the mistake of looking at shapers and feel like I want one in some way or another. I'm not sure how much I'd use it, or for what (though I might end up like Abom79 and just use it for just about everything, who knows!). The Atlas 7" ones seem like a good deal, but they show up quite rarely in the Pac-NW and I made the mistake of not snatching the only one I've seen in years at the end of last year (or so?).
SO, I've thought of making one. I have a couple of options that I wanted feedback/thoughts on. Talk me into/out of something
1- Strong arm hand shaper (http://www.martinmodel.com/MMPtools-subfiles/MMPtools-sub.html). At $500 for a casting kit, this doesn't seem like a bad idea. It seems small enough to put under a table. It is 'cute', and would likely cut keyways/etc which is likely handle the workloads I've had use for a shaper in the past.
2- Gingery Shaper. I bought the book. It seems that most videos on youtube end up being an effort in casting, which I likely won't want to do. Additionally, I've yet to see one that looks like a "really nice machine" rather than a garage project. I have a mill/grinder/lathe, so I'd want whatever I make to LOOK like a good shaper. But the videos I've seen on youtube make these look poorly designed/built, as well as both small capacity wise and large table-wise.
3- Acto Super 8 (https://www.machineryplans.com/product/acto-super-8-metal-shaper-plans/). I splurged and bought the plans last night. Turns out the plan maker is the only one to have actually MADE one. That said, it looks really great! Perhaps bigger than I need, and requires that I get a stick welder/learn what I'm doing, but perhaps the nicest?
SO, what should I do HM forum? The realist in me is leaning toward #1 and to just use it to cut keyways when I need to . The adventurer in me wants to do #3, but I've got no idea if I'd ever actually finish. What would you do?
I've once again made the mistake of looking at shapers and feel like I want one in some way or another. I'm not sure how much I'd use it, or for what (though I might end up like Abom79 and just use it for just about everything, who knows!). The Atlas 7" ones seem like a good deal, but they show up quite rarely in the Pac-NW and I made the mistake of not snatching the only one I've seen in years at the end of last year (or so?).
SO, I've thought of making one. I have a couple of options that I wanted feedback/thoughts on. Talk me into/out of something
1- Strong arm hand shaper (http://www.martinmodel.com/MMPtools-subfiles/MMPtools-sub.html). At $500 for a casting kit, this doesn't seem like a bad idea. It seems small enough to put under a table. It is 'cute', and would likely cut keyways/etc which is likely handle the workloads I've had use for a shaper in the past.
2- Gingery Shaper. I bought the book. It seems that most videos on youtube end up being an effort in casting, which I likely won't want to do. Additionally, I've yet to see one that looks like a "really nice machine" rather than a garage project. I have a mill/grinder/lathe, so I'd want whatever I make to LOOK like a good shaper. But the videos I've seen on youtube make these look poorly designed/built, as well as both small capacity wise and large table-wise.
3- Acto Super 8 (https://www.machineryplans.com/product/acto-super-8-metal-shaper-plans/). I splurged and bought the plans last night. Turns out the plan maker is the only one to have actually MADE one. That said, it looks really great! Perhaps bigger than I need, and requires that I get a stick welder/learn what I'm doing, but perhaps the nicest?
SO, what should I do HM forum? The realist in me is leaning toward #1 and to just use it to cut keyways when I need to . The adventurer in me wants to do #3, but I've got no idea if I'd ever actually finish. What would you do?
