I’m currently trying to get as much info as possible before buying a shaper for my shop. I’m interested in a 3 hp, tilting arbor, interchangeable spindle, single phase machine. Anyone have any experience on Rojek, MiniMax, Seco (I know it’s not the same league as the other two, but the price is dramatically less), or any other machines I may have not mentioned?
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Replies
Did you look at the jet units They have a 3HP. model JWS-25C. Check it out on there web site. Good luck.
http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/JETWood/Tools/JWS25CS.html
If you intend to hand feed try to get a shaper where the arbor tilts backwards rather than forwards, that way there's less chance of a workpiece being "nipped" between the cutterblock and the table - this can cause kickbacks. If you are power feeding it doesn't make too much difference as the feeder will prevent almost any kickback. I'm looking at buying a second spindle moulder for the shop to compliment my existing SCM industrial and the Rojek (non-tilter) comes pretty high on my list, they're a bit rough around the edges but they are a proper trade machine rather than than a home shop special - good fence mechanism, too - I've looked at the MiniMax T40i and it's just too small and light to be a serious contender (the T50i is a diferent matter).
Scrit
Thanks for the feedback. This is exactly what I hoped to find out. I'm a professional woodworker, and I use a 9 hp Bauerle at work, so I'm somewhat spoiled, but still trying to get something good and solid for my home shop. An SCM would be great, but having no room for a large industrial shaper in my converted garage narrows the possibilities quite a bit, and I have no experience at all with smaller machines, hence my request. The only Rojek machines I've been able to see are their 16" jointer (nice machine) and their 5-way combo (not for me). The description of their shaper in their literature sounds as if they've gotten all the proper details worked out, but without actually being able to open up the door and look underneath makes it difficult to know for sure. If you don't mind, what were your reasons for eliminating the MiniMax T40 from consideration?
Thanks.
Peter
Hi Peter
Primarily size and price. For what you pay the Rojek is very good value for money, at least where I am in the UK. The FSN300F (non-tilt) works out around GBP1100 + taxes (circa $2000 - most things are a lot more expensive here) which puts it around $300 or so cheaper that the T40. Not only that, but it is also heavier and more powerful (although for your market that may not be so) as well as having a bigger table and one of the optional sliding tables is much larger than anything SCM offer for the T40, so I could use it for tenoning (if my s/e tenoner ever gave out). As a basic 4-speed spindle it will compliment my SCM T130C very nicely. As I said, finish a bit rougher, but other than that a good machine. the Uk mag. "Furniture and Cabinetmaking" ran a review a year or two back, I'll see if I can pull it out if you like.
Regards
Scrit
Scrit
If you wouldn't mind pulling it out, it would be a great help. Here in the USofA, most magazines don't do reviews of shapers at all, and if they do, it's only the hobby-sized ones, so they are of little use.
Thanks again.
Peter
Peter
Pulled the review out last night. It' a 3 pager done about 18 months ago. All I've got to do now is get the scanner to work on my PC!
Scrit
Peter
why is it that all mags are just hobby based in review. My Boss does get industrial shop reviews mags he receives. But, yet those machines are to large for a home shop. We need reviews for Profesonials that review mid range machines. not the $50,000. or the $300.00
I agree, there's a real need for reviews of smaller, professional quality machines. I do receive about 6 professional (industrial) cabinetmaking and furniture making magazines at work, but they offer precious little in the way of objective reviews of the machines, offering usually nothing more than lists or photographs of machines sold by their advertisers. So, for people looking for high quality machines for smaller workshops, there's not much information available, short of doing what I did here, asking other woodworkers for input on machines which they may already have in their shops.
For tool shopers it can be fun to go to govliquidation.com to check out govt. surplus auctions. Mostly 3 phase, but not always and there is a lot of woodworking and metalworking exuipment available that way. On my former job for a sheltered workshop I biought a lot of govt. surplus and set up a very nice shop, both metal and woodworking. Of course I got it from a slightly different path via state distribution center of Federal surplus, not by bidding (except once.) But that route is not available except to municipalities certain govt. institutuons and certain not-for-profits. However the same stuff is available via the bid method and can be neat. BTW: don't overlook metalworking equipment for woodworking. A small verticle milling machine does fine and precise routing and is also great for making tooling, fixturing etc. for your special ideas.
I have the T40i here in NZ with sliding table and and power feed.Bought about 8 years ago and has not missed a beat.The fence leaves a bit to be desired.
The shop where I bought the mini Max is now importing a line of machines from Taiwan and they are brilliant,the fence adjustment is like silk.Oh and about a third less than the the Italian jobbie.
The company owner is of the opinion that the Germans and Italians should start to worry as the chinese machines improve in leeps and bounds.
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