Rhodes shaper!

[lazyLathe]

My latest purchase is this Rhodes Shaper with a slotter head!!
1929 vintage and it still runs like a dream!!!


The dovetails still have the original scraping and flaking marks.
Unfortunately it did not come with a vise....


And of course the pictures:









This is one of the older Rhodes shapers since it has the motor above the machine. This was most likely line driven at some time.
Later models had it connected to the castings base.


When i first set it up the motor had been wire for the incorrect rotation.
It was cutting faster on the forward stroke and returning slowly.
A quick rewire and it sounds and works a lot better!!!
This was luckily pointed out to me by HMEM members otherwise i would never have known!
The manuals available have very little info in them...


And a quick video of it running:
http://youtu.be/PJnH_189v48


I hope you enjoyed the pics and video!!!


Andrew

 

[Old Iron]

Nice score on the shaper Andrew, It really looks like it is new. I wish my 1939 12" Hendey looked that good.

You can use it to do things a mill won't do. Like internal splines, Key ways and lots of other stuff.

Paul

 

[dickr]

I'm a little concerned if you're old enough to have a license to operate that. :biggrin: That looks like you took it off the dealers showroom floor. Sharpening tools for that is certainly different than a lathe and Paul mention the other secret. (versatility, especially in its heyday) Enjoy!
dickr

 

[Hawkeye]

Yeah, Andrew. That is sweet! I'm assuming 7"? Paint on a thin coat of cutting oil and watch the tracers. :biggrin:

 

[ScrapMetal]

Very, very nice! It's condition is amazing.

I've got to ask though, what is that piece of angled metal for on the top of the slide? Just to get some air moving or a real purpose? :biggrin:

-Ron

 

[lazyLathe]

Not quite sure what the metal plate is for?
The original locking lever is missing and someone replaced it with the plate.
It has holes drilled in it so it must have had some use.

Andrew

 

[Hawkeye]

Just don't mount your video camera on it. We'd all get seasick.

 

[lazyLathe]

That would be funny!!!!:lmao:

Lets see who has the strongest constitution and can watch the longest without going green!!!!anic:

Andrew

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't think that's allowed even in Gittmo.

 

[lazyLathe]

LOL!!!

My one issue with the shaper is the speed....
The motor it has on is a 1HP, 1725 rpm one.
All the literature i can find on it recommends a 1/2HP motor and that is pretty much it.

My friend has an Atlas 7B and it runs nice and slowly while mine looks like it is on a mission!

Any ideas on how to slow it down a bit?
As you can see from the pics it already has a small motor pulley and much larger countershaft pulley.

Andrew