shaper

having completed the shaper based on the potanuck shaper I thought I would show the image.I aquired the shaper from my deceased friend.He was an agricultural engineer and his fabrication of the base was spot on.He had completed the ram but not accurately as I had to bore the head of the ram and make and fit a bush. The ram ran on a base with two 1" inserts of brass which acted as gib strips ,gib screws from underneath.This I found wrong and changed it to a dovetail base and cut dovetails on the ram which was just possible on my mill.He had made the scotch crank but without the gear and pinion and was relying on pulleys for the drive.As I could not get the shaper box on the mill to cut out for the pinion I could not alter this and I built a housing with ball bearings to carry the pinion and pullys.The small gear and large gear came off a Drummond.The cross rail had a 12mm threaded rod wich I scrapped ,I bought a acme tap for a 5/8" threaded rod and then fitted the nut which I screwed to the base of the table.This runs on two strips with dovetails which again only just fitted on the mill.I then cut two dovetailed lengths to screw to the the base of the table,drilled and tapped for gib strip.He had built the knee but it didn't fit so I adjusted it accordingly.I fitted vertical dovetail to face and made two dovetails that fixed to the knee.I made a jacking screw for the knee with capstan handles.I found that the strips the table runs on were slightly bowed upwards,I think from clamping when cutting the dovetails.Many hours of scraping was required to right this problem .Making the spring ratchet box was a nice change from scraping with gear cutting for the ratchet.The counter shaft I fabricated .I used the shaper to true the table and it gives a 6" length of cut.I then built a low level vice attached with T nuts with a loose jaw which can be clamped tight down to prevent lifting.I think he would have been pleased to see it running as was I.I have used it to true a 4" block and was pleased with the result.On with the next project.

Very nice ! The shaper is a much under rated machine tool. Noel.

Well done.

Thor

There are two kinds of people in this world, those who have shapers and those who don't. I think you have made the right decision

I'm trying to give away a part fabricated Ginery shaper, see for sale ads. A project I wanted to finish but too many projects and not enough time. I have a Drummond hand shaper, lovely machine. Been trying to think for ages about trying to motorize it! Still it is quite theraputic to mindlessly pull the handle back and forth and watch it shave metal off. I know I am sad.

John

John, you are not sad, or if you are so am I. On Sunday morning I was cleaning up a rusty slab of mild steel on the surface grinder and, although you can set trips and walk away, I solemnly stood watching it oscillate and reversing the cross feed for about an hour. It was also mindlessly therapeutic.

I did not want or need a shaper but I could not throw it in the scrap bin.I have made tentitive cuts but confidence is growing and I am up to 1/16" depth of cut I am experimenting to see what cut it will stand.I agree with Chris it is addictive.

Frank