Realm shaper

I am just getting round to tidying up a, new to me, Realm shaper. A manual would be great, but even where to lubricate and what with, would be good information!

I suspect a worn cross feed screw or nut is giving me a little more backlash than I would like, but that can be easily sorted. I may have some trouble putting in a new slightly oversized motor, but what are friends for if not to help!

I have read the Lathes UK write up and it sounds a good machine, even has the vertical axis and the tilt facility on the table is great.

Anything anyone can tell me about this machine would be most appreciated.

Regards,

Andrew.

Hello Andrew,

Great to hear you have shaper, they are a 'love or leave' machine. Extremely useful. You didn't say what size your shaper is. I have an Alba 1-A which is a 10" shaper.

Can I suggest the N.E.M.E.S. website for a lot of information on useing a shaper. The work by Delmar is about all you need. I have it sorted out and chapters labled if you want it as a zip.

Lubrication: The gears use, a good quality grease, a 'Moly' grease applied by hand. Use a proper slideway oil for the ram, reccomendation from many manufactures is for Shell Vitria 33 but I am using Sinolube L-HM 46 which is a hydrualic oil, to this I add 10% Morey's Heavy Duty Oil Stabiliser. Works fine. ,(oil cups should be either side of ram. Look at the top of the link there may be an oil hole there. The slide on the link will need lube as well, again there will be a hole at the top.

If you visit the N.E.M.E.S. site download the manual for the Elliot 10" which will explain a lot.

It seems a lot of people are discovering just how usefull a shaper is and how satisfying they are to use. They are the perfect accompliment to a verticle mill as well.

There are a coulple of books that I have downloaded from the Internet Archive dating from the late 1800's to the early 1900's which I found a greaty read as well as gaining a lot of valuable information.

I'll have a look at your machine later tonight. My interest is piqued.

- Barry.

Hello Barry,

Thanks for the info, I am always bothered that I might miss some oiling point on a new to me machine

I have always had a soft spot for shapers and it seems that very few other people have one! Which is good, as you can pick one up for very little money.

They are extremely versatile. I got rid of a big industrial shaper and missed it from the word go. I machined dovetails, table T slots, as well as making new gib strips for my Myford. I machined the angle on a piece of ground flat stock, of the correct size, a lot cheaper than buying from Myfords.

On the last shaper, I even machined a Myford saddle ! I intend to cut gears on my new shaper, when I have it fully fettled, as per the recent discussion on here.

All the above can be achieved using a cheap single point too,l so no expensive milling cutters! Cheap to buy and cheap to run and the things you can do with one are amazing!

Andrew.

Andrew.

That Nemes site got me a download of the manual for my Boxford 8" shaper. Very good site.

Regards

Richard

Edited By richardandtracy on 07/05/2017 16:50:23

The shaper was made by Realm and is called a Royal shaper, it is 10.5 inch stroke. It has power vertical feed as well as the usual horizontal feed.

I have crawled over and under it to see where lubrication is needed. However I usually miss things, hence my request for help. It is a rather well made unit and was apparently sold into schools and apprentice training centres, That is really all I know about it.

Andrew.