Replies

1. 
   _mj_ | Oct 30, 2020 02:30pm | #1

   I sat in on the infomer....ummm...webinar a week or 2 back and was impressed. I think it's live on the FW site somewhere. I think the only way I wind up with one is if I win the drawing. I'd buy the second Domino first.

   There it is:

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/2020/10/05/fine-woodworking-shop-class-shaper-tools-101

2. 
   user-7752495 | Oct 30, 2020 02:58pm | #2

   _MJ_

   Thanks for the response. I will take a look at that. I also entered the drawing.

3. 
   john_c2 | Oct 30, 2020 03:50pm | #3

   Which Domino do you have?

4. 
   ral3wood | Oct 30, 2020 05:21pm | #4

   I have had the Shaper Origin for a bit less than a year and just recently received the Workstation. It is truly an amazing tool - especially for inlays where the precision is pretty remarkable. But last month I was building a customer a kitchen island with a very complicated base with a number of inside and outside 90 and 45 degree corners over about 36" width and 84" length - and they had to be dead on accurate... Wasn't sure how I was going to do it, but then I realized - use tape and the shaper origin! I used it to router corner profiles then a track saw for the long lengths. Unbelievable - perfection! So I am just scratching the surface of what you can use it for.

   When I see complaints about it often it is from people with limited woodworking knowledge/skills. Like they are trying to make a long straight line and get a lousy edge... Well, I would never use a router to cut a long edge, so it doesn't make sense for that! Likewise people complaining about troubles when cutting fairly deeply in a single pass in very hard woods.... They also show doing things like box joints - guess it would work, but not sure why I would use that when my simple box joint jig with a dado blade in the tablesaw works great!

   The other issue is designing and uploading - I use Sketchup to design all my projects and Shaper Origin really pushes people into other software programs. Luckily there is a plugin that solves that issue!

   For smaller projects the Workstation really seems like a must otherwise you will find yourself constantly making different thickness spoil boards to stick tape on to make it work - so add that to the cost of the tool.

   My general thought is if you have reasonable woodworking skills (especially working with routers) and tools it can be an excellent addition. I would say if you are a novice woodworker it isn't a great investment. Does it replace other tools for me - no. Am I glad I bought it, yes. It is AMAZING technology!

1. 
   FrankSabel | Jan 19, 2021 12:39am | #7

   Wise words.

   What Sketchup plug-in are you refering to? The one Shaper adviced me to use only works with Sketchup 16/17/18.

   I had to download Fusion 360 which has a Shaper-made add-on. I wish they would make an extension for Sketchup.

   What is your path from Sketchup to svg?

   Thanks!

5. 
   _mj_ | Oct 30, 2020 10:32pm | #5

   JC2; I have the smaller of the Domino machines.

6. 
   john_c2 | Oct 31, 2020 02:10am | #6

   I have the 500 as well. It was the only one available at the time, and I really don't use it that often. I think the larger machine would be more useful for my purposes though.