I’m looking to get a molding machine
aakBoston
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hello,
I’m wanting to get a molding machine to reproduce architechural moldings. Could someone give me some advice on what sort of equipment is out there, what it costs, where to get it, etc.? A sort of primer on molding equipment.
Thanks,
Aak
Replies
aak
I have a Williams and Hussey moulding maker. I think it's one of the best out there for reasonable money. I've also used the woodmaster, and there is no comparison. Expect to spend $2k for a new one, and there are many people out there who make knives for them. I've got a guy locally who can make a knife to match any moulding I need. I recently ran 2500 feet for a restoration project for a local contractor. The moulding was over 100 years old, made with hand planes.
Jeff
In addition to WH and Woodmaster, you can buy these machines from RBI and Jet. I think Foley Belsaw used to make one as well, but I'm not even sure these folks are still in business.
WH seems to be the top choice, however. Only machine that can accomodate curves too.
EDIT: Is this going to be for a one time use (like for your house), or do you hope to sell moldings to other folks?
********************************************************
"I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
-- Herb Caen (1916-1997)
Edited 6/16/2005 8:36 pm ET by nikkiwood
I'm getting into the home restoration business (starting with my own) and I'd also like to have the option to make moldings for others
I asked because unless you're doing a whole house full of casings, a molder is probably not worth the money or shop space. For duplicating a few here and there, you can generally cobble together router bits to do the job. But in your case, it sounds like a real molding machine is the way to go. Let us know which model you decide on.********************************************************
"I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
-- Herb Caen (1916-1997)
Hopefully you'll be able to get one cheap, cause many other folks may be hard pressed to justify the outright cost of the machine, support the cost of getting the knives ground, or rationalize the costs of maintaining a fixed boat anchor when portable high powered routers are capable of providing the equivalent "effect" for moulding runs under 1k-ft. The seller may well want to get rid of such a "dog" tool somehow and be willing to sell it cheap. Not that over the last thirty years some folks have done well for themselves by having such beasties in their shop. Times change. What was marketable twenty years ago is not neccesarily so these days. I got a radial arm saw that sees use once every 3 years these days. Hard to justify it's existance. But that's not to say that some enterprising individual can find some really good use for it. I'd go for a Belsaw moulder if I got it for under a cuppla hunnerd, BUT ONLY if it came with a lot of cutters, cause it would allow me to run curved mouldings. If it cost more than that, I'd just continue to use scratch beaders and routers tethered to a big stick for those rare occassions when it really is requiredjust my thoughts. Eric in Cowtown.PS>...Scratch beaders and routers don't take up floor space either. Tooling for either is way cheaper than molding machines too, and you can toss either of em in the bubba mobile without straining yer back either.
I have had my W&H molding machine for several years now and don't believe it would be3 possible to get the size and quality of moldings with a router that I do with the molder. A shaper maybe, but with many more passes and gigging which increases labour costs.
I bought mine with stand and the baldour motor and have never had a problem with the machine for thousands of feet of renovation replicates. I run poplar and pine primarily, but have worked Fir, mohagany, and cedar.
I did make my own custom top from MEDEX as I found the small cast table too small to use comfortably. A sub of mine has two of the same machine. Here in new England, it is not hard to find used ones for $800 to $1000 with a few cutters thrown in. A lot of guys will buy it for a one-off job and sell again when finished with it.
a word about custom cutters - do not send the design via fax. Many fax machines will distort the shape. I found that out the hard way with a seven inch one. Also, if you are cutting a curved profile piece, be sure to specify the direction on the design sheet. I have had W&H cut the knife bacakwards and they replaced it free because it was their mistake - I had been specific.
I've attached a few photos of the machine
well, I have a new netscape v 8 and it doesn't seem to want to get the photos. I'll come back with them
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
here we goThe top platen is made by routing out a dao to fit the existing cast plate base. It snaps on and off easily. I made it so it takes exactly a half inch of elevation so I can calc the size when using the gauge to set up.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
They can all do curved mouldings; WH has just developed more in the way of off the shelf accessories, etc.cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
This is a nice molding machine. A little more serious than some of the ones others have mentioned and a little more money too. If you anticipate running lots of multi profiled stuff, this will stand up to the use.
http://www.logosolplaners.com/
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Shop Fox, which is Grizzly in white paint, makes one that looks like the W&H. It's about have the price. I don't own one, but I do have a Shop Fox drum sander and am very happy with it.
Shop Fox has no connection to Grizzly. Shop Fox is a seperate company distributed by other companies other as well. I used to think there was a connection due to the misinformation highway but I talked to some folks at Shop Fox and cleared up the misconception. I do agree the Shop Fox molder is worth a look as it is half the price of the W &H moulder.
I think someone was blowing smoke at you. Shop Fox and Grizzly use the same three warehouses. Coincidence, I don't think so.Bear
I just talked to Grizzly. They confirmed it. Grizzly carries some of the Shop Fox tools and is not affiliated with the company.. Shop Fox is part of Woodstock International.
Shiraz Balolia owns both Grizzly and Woodstock International.
Very industrious individual. You got me to do a google search on his name, and a lot comes up.
I hope they also didn't try to sell you a brigde, did they?Bear
Is your shop fox sander a dual drum model at under 1500 dollars? i am looking at a powermatic at over 2000 and would sure consider a goog machine at a lower price. thanks
Yes it is a dual drum sander. 26" capacity. It works very well for a two man shop.Bear
Adding a picture.
BOSTON
I AGREE THE W&H MOLDER IS AN OUSTANDING MACHINE. WE HAVE USED THEM
FOR NUMBERIOUS MOLDINGS. THIS MOLDER IS LIKE A TIMEX IT KEEPS ON MOLDING.
THE KNIVES CAN GET COSTLY BUT MOST OF THE TIME ITS WORTH IT
THE SHOP FOX AND THE GRIZZLYS ARE JUST KNOCKOFFS THE THE SAME DESIGNS BUT
THE GEARS AND THE BEARINGS ARE LOWER QUALITY .IF YOU ARE JUST RUNING
A FEW PIECES HERE AND THERE THEYRE OK. BUT THE W&H WE EASLY 500 TO
1000 LNF PER WEEK. WITH GOOD MAINTANCE. WE HAD MINUMAL PROBLEMS
AGAPE
I would buy the Williams & Hussey molder. It is made in New Hampshire, and by buying it you are supporting the American economy, not the Chinese economy. Unlike the imports, it has a seven year warranty and if you ever have a problem a phone call can put you in touch with the people who actually built it. Try that with an import.
All my major machines are North American made. Zero problems over the past 25 years. The few Asian imports that I have bought have all had problems.
Besides, I have a Williams and Hussey molder so it is my interest to promote the company.
I ordered the new Shop Fox but Grizzly couldn't deliver it untill I was past the intended use of the molder. Thus I wound up uasing my shaper instead and it was almost as fast, almost! (I single passed almost everything and the detail was great)
I do agree that it is basically a knock off of the WH molder but I disagree that the gears and bearings are inferior.. The specifications were differant but my research indicated they were easily up to the task..
My experiance with Grizzly has been wonderfully positive, In the tens of thousands of board feet I've run over all of my Grizzly equipment (I have 7 major pieces) I have only had one fan belt fail and I was able to get one locally and have the machine back to work in less than 15 minutes.. they sure is are good basic machines that are easy to work on and repair..
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled