Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Jul 05, 2006 05:58pm | #1

   Hadley,

   I searched our archives and couldn't find any reference to Lonnie Bird making gooseneck moldings with a shaper.  Can you give me a reference to where you saw him doing this?

   Thanks

   John White

1. 
   hadley | Jul 05, 2006 07:52pm | #2

   Dear John:  Thank you for your timely response to my inquiry about where to buy shaper knives to cut gooseneck moldings on a shaper. In answer to your inquiry, there is an elaborate pictoral depiction of Mr. Bird cutting such molding beginning on page 100 of a Taunton publication entitled "Period Furniture Details" by Lonnie Bird.

             I will really appreciate your help in this matter.

                                                              Kindest Regards,    Hadley

1. 
   JohnWW | Jul 06, 2006 12:15am | #3

   Hadley,

   I looked at several of sources for stock shaper cutters and none of them have the profile you are looking for, but I wasn't too surprised by this. 

   Once you get beyond the simplest molding shapes, most molding cutters are custom ground for the exact profile needed, this flexibility is one of the advantages to having a shaper.  Many millwork shops grind their own cutters out of steel, using a special grinding machine, or send a drawing of the profile, or a sample of the molding to be matched, to a local tool shop that specializes in grinding cutters.  The steel cutters are locked into a shaper head that can hold any profile, so you only need one head and then you can have knives made as needed. 

   Depending on the profile and the number of knives, having a custom set of steel knives made will probably cost between $50 and $150, plus a one time investment in a head.  For short runs, like a goose neck molding, the steel knives will cut cleaner and wear won't be a problem as long as the wood doesn't have glue lines in it.

   Having a custom carbide tipped head made, like the one Lonnie Bird is using, is, I would guess, considerably more expensive.  Since they have already made one, and have the information on hand about the profile, you should call Freeborn for a price, 1-800-523-8988.

   For steel knives you might be able to find a local shop that grinds steel cutters from blank stock and they would also be able to supply a head to hold the knives.  If you can't find a local source, W. Moore Profiles LTD, 1-800-228-8151, an advertiser in Fine Woodworking Magazine, sells heads and grinds knives.

   Hope this helps,

   John

   Post script: It just occurred to me that it may be necessary to work with a carbide bit like Lonnie uses because the diameter of a conventional steel bladed cutting head is somewhat larger than the carbide cutter and the steel cutter may not fit into the sharp inside curves of the goose neck molding.  This would explain why he went to the additional expense of having the custom cutter made.  

   Edited 7/5/2006 6:40 pm ET by JohnWW

1. 
   hadley | Jul 06, 2006 05:59am | #4

   Dear Mr. White: Thank tou ever so much for your courteous and prompt reply to my inquiry about shaper knives. Your information is just what I needed.

                                                                 Respectfully, Hadley