Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | May 28, 2003 08:13pm | #1

   No experiences, but some additional information and an opinion or two (of course).

   The 3/4 HP motor is a 6 amp motor, per their catalog.  The 1.5 HP motor appears to be 20 amps at 115V.

   IMO, the table in the G0510 is too small and would lead to frustration.  3/4HP motor woefully underpowered, not much better with the Delta.  I would not like having an aluminum table.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   LeeTree | May 28, 2003 09:41pm | #2

   I have to agree with forestgirl on this. Neither will be as good as building/buying a good router table, router, lift, etc or a full size shaper. Of course this is a little more expensive. However, it is cheaper than a full size shaper, and certainly much better than either of the two first choices.

   I started with the Delta/HD solution, used it once, and put it on eBay for the router table solution.

   just my two cents.

   - lee -

3. 
   JeffKurtz | May 28, 2003 10:49pm | #3

   From what I've seen, none of these small, inexpensive "shapers" are worth buying.  For a shaper to do the work for which it is intended, a 2 hp. motor would be the minimum.  (Smaller units lack sufficient power to make raised panels and other heavy cuts.)  These units start at around $700 and the 3 hp machines run $800 and up.

   If cost puts a shaper out of range, then a good router mounted on a table is a better alternative, provided you stay away from the ridiculously priced ready-made tables and build your own.  (Some of these plus the cost of the router actually exceed the price of a shaper.)

   Two other considerations:
   A shaper can be fitted with a power stock feeder.
   Router bits are much less expensive that shaper cutters.

   Jeff

1. 
   fdampier5 | May 29, 2003 02:03am | #4

   Jeff,

     Have you owned one of those cheaper shapers?

     I have and found them an excellant value for the money..   I would have burnt out a half dozen routers with all of the shaping I've done so far..  

     using a home made router table for a weekend was what convinced me to buy the shaper..

     It looked great with tons of details and little touches.   However, feeding hard maple into it to quickly burned out the bit...  OK bad bit and I'll go get a more expensive one..  less than three boards later, the replacement bit was showing signs of stress, burning the wood, and discoloring the bit..

        It must have been me,   I feed it too fast..

       yet with thousands of bd. ft. to do I couldn't take the time to go slower..

1. 
   JeffKurtz | May 29, 2003 02:12pm | #8

   I've never owned one, but I've tried two that belong to friends and base my opinions on that.  Granted, I am used to using a 3 hp. unit which, I'll grant you, makes me prejudiced against the small units, but I still stand by my advice.

   Now, just don't try to tell me that you used yours to chamfer those timbers for your house!!!

   Jeff

1. 
   fdampier5 | May 29, 2003 04:29pm | #12

   No jeff, 

       I left the corners on in case I damaged a timber putting it in place.  Luckily I didn't but  I have bought three routers and six bits to do the champering in place..  I suspect that with the proper infeed/outfeed tables I could get by with the shaper and just two cutters.. 

       sub flooring and finish flooring has been the main use other then about 6,000 bd.ft. of eastern white pine that I champered prior to putting on the inside ceiling in the billard room.

     the sub  flooring (tamarck) I could shove thru almost as fast as I could keep it against the fence.. while the black walnut was just a tick slower, I suspect it was because I spent more time being careful rather than any HP shortage.. rarely did I ever hear the motor bog down at all and I did full depth, single pass cuts..   Since the motor on it is at least five times the size of a motor in a router and runs on 220 volts, I believe that it will be extemely durable. None of my cutters (grizzley) are showing any signs of getting dull and I regularly have to sharpen the router cutters (or just throw them away and buy new) 

     It could be the noise too that convinces me.  A router is this high pitched scream all of the time while the shaper is a soft whir untill it bits into wood and then it's a lower, softer, less strained sound then the router.

     Now that I've used mine a fair amount I too would have opted for the three hp model, both for the added stablity and bigger table.. Maybe I will have to make several passes to to the raised panels, but considering the woods I'll be using (fiddle back maple or Burled white oak perhaps that isn't a serious consideration..)

4. 
   forestgirl | May 29, 2003 02:11am | #5

   "Given my expected usage" -- it might help to provide a little more information here.  Do you expect to be using panel-raising bits and other very large diameter bits?  That's where the main power-challenge comes in.  If not, I'd think the 1.5HP Grizz would work pretty nicely for you.  However, if you see raised-panel kitchen cabinets and such in your future, a bigger shaper or a hefty router such as the 3.5HP Freud in a good table are probably the way to go.

   I was going to sell my Freud, but decided to let it languish in the cabinet just in case it's needed for those big bits down the road.  You can lock one of those into a home-made table (or a Veritas steel top with universal clamps) for a reasonable price. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   Manchild | May 29, 2003 05:01am | #6

   If you want to build raised panel doors then buy a shaper. That is one of their main uses and why most people buy them. Otherwise a good router will do thew trick imho.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 29, 2003 09:14am | #7

   David, johnnyd's the one with the dough for the shaper.  I'm just in here stirring up trouble.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   Manchild | May 29, 2003 02:58pm | #9

   Forestgirl, My coments were a little sharp. Sometimes I want to cut to the point.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 29, 2003 07:52pm | #14

   Oh, I didn't perceive that response as "sharp" -- just addressed to the wrong person!  No prob.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

5. 
   ChasStanford | May 29, 2003 03:04pm | #10

   Concern has been raised in other threads about the availability of parts for Grizzly machines years down the road.  It is generally acknowledged that parts for old Delta machines are pretty much available; although the company has sold several times the purchasers and sellers have understood the importance of maintaining the parts inventories and have apparently done just that.

   I don't (never did) get overly flushed with excitement about either brand, but I do believe that I'd go Delta.  In the interest of disclosure, I have owned machinery from both companies. 

1. 
   johnnyd | May 29, 2003 03:31pm | #11

   Thanks for your advice!

   Think I'll go with this combo...even though the table isn't the best, you know how it goes...you need something to get started, like what am I gonna use to help the BUILD a quality router table? and the 69x PC router with two bases looks like a "can't go wrong" deal.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000226AT/qid%3D1054135144/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-4484740-1357564

1. 
   jimmyk | May 29, 2003 04:57pm | #13

   That's a great idea!