Replies

1. 
   Hastings | Apr 14, 2007 03:45pm | #1

   Creek:

   Just ordered a 1 1/4" bore panel cutter from Cutterbits. Haven't tried it yet but great service and about the best prices I could find after an extensive search. Go to:

   http://www.cutterbits.com/products.html

   Like you, I quickly came to the conclusion that my shaper would empty my wallet faster than a cocaine addiction. I did get a universal cutterhead so I can use a number of profiles. Also I got a router spindle so I can use router bits as well.

   This universal is reasonably priced:

   http://www.cheyennesales.com/catalog/cmtshapersys.htm

   Do you have a power feeder as well? I don't but there is a camp out there that regards it as essential. I can use the slider to hold material and I use other hold-downs to stop the work piece from moving and a guard plate so my extremeties cannot get to all that rotating mass. Also, I never hold the work piece directly.

   Good luck with your new tool and be safe.

   Hastings

1. 
   creekwood | Apr 14, 2007 05:50pm | #3

   Thanks, I was wondering about the universal cutterhead. I've run some router bits already, but for the job that is in progress, the cutters will be needed. Thanks for the links.

   Jerry

2. 
   Spalted | Apr 14, 2007 04:34pm | #2

   Trust me THE POWER FEED IS WELL WORTH WHATEVER THE COST (given that it is not just a poorly manufactured piece of junk:) ) The power feed makes the shaper a safer and more precise machine. Buy one and you will never wonder why you spent the money. Try running a thousand linear feet of anything and your hands/back/legs/customer will thank you. The quality of the cut is way better than hand fed. we have a 4 speed w/rev and we can essentially dial chipout away or race through the nice stuff!

   Universal cutterheads are great b/c you only have to buy the blades for it and they are way cheaper than buying a whole new cutter. you can also get custom profiles ground relatively cheap. The quality of the cutter imho is user related: if you take the time to do a good clean job your cutters will last a long time.

   The shaper is the scariest tool for most ppl, but with the power feed you will love to hear the hum of the cutter head.

   
   

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   Edited 4/14/2007 9:38 am ET by Spalted

1. 
   creekwood | Apr 14, 2007 05:55pm | #4

   I've purchased a Jet powerfeeder, mounted on the TS, and can swing it over to the shaper, which is on a mobile base. I bought the feeder, after I ran my thumb across the TS blade back in Jan. Still getting the feeling back, gradually. That was when I decided I really liked my fingers.

   Thanks for the info.

   Jerry

3. 
   dgreen | Apr 15, 2007 12:33am | #5

   I've had very good luck with the MLCS shaper cutters, sharp, well balanced and very good life.

   ------------------------------------

   It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore

1. 
   creekwood | Apr 15, 2007 05:27am | #8

   Thanks, I've had good experience with their router bits, and was wondering if their shaper cutters were the same.

4. 
   frenchy | Apr 15, 2007 01:13am | #6

   creekwood,

    I've had marvilous experiance with Grizzly shapper cutters..  You can spend the money for their high end purple stuff although I can run thoussands of bd.ft. of hardwood thru mine using low end Grizzly cutters without the need for sharpening..

    I'm just going to order a few more cutters so I happen to have the catalog open. A 2 piece 1/4 inch tongue and groove set is $41.95 for both cutters.. a 1 inch straight cutter is $21.95

      their high end cutters are a bit more spendy  a 1 inch straight cutter is $89.95 and the 2 piece tongue and groove is $219.95

     I see the flooring guys who runs tens of thousand of bd.ft. use the high end grizzly cutters so they must be really durable for me the low end stuff has work well on the 40,000 bd. ft. of hardwood  I've run across my shaper thus far. 

1. 
   colebearanimals | Apr 15, 2007 02:03am | #7

   Hi creekwood,

            I agree with frenchy, mostly :). For single profiles the grizzly cutters are a good value. Cut cleanly and do lots of bf between sharpenings. But for cope and pattern sets I find they are just a tad short of a perfect fit. Not much but a little. Overall diameters seem to vary slightly ( same problem with 2 different profile sets ). It doesn't seem to matter when softer woods are used because compression takes care of it. But not so with harder woods. Of course, I'm a total spaz when it comes to my doors. I find Freeborn Tooling to be better in this area.

            There are some interesting choices available now in insert tooling. Although a little expensive, profiles can be changed quickly without as much setup.

                                Paul

                                   

1. 
   creekwood | Apr 15, 2007 05:34am | #10

   Not needing to run any doors right now, but I'll remember your experiences when the time comes. I had looked at the Freeborn web site, just didn't spend much time there. The insert cutters are looking pretty good for what I need, so I may go that route.

   Thanks for the info.

   Jerry

2. 
   frenchy | Apr 15, 2007 06:35pm | #11

   colebearanimals,

    See, that's where the internet is great! I don't build doors so I don't have that sort of experiance..

    Well actually I do build doors but great big honkin doors made with 4 inch thick black walnut.  There I use a chain morticer and  groove cutter to get close and sneak up to a perfect fit with chisels and hand planes.

2. 
   creekwood | Apr 15, 2007 05:30am | #9

   I hadn't thought of Grizzly cutters, I'll check them out on what profiles I need.

   Thanks