Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Mar 30, 2002 06:17pm | #1

   Brian a router table would be your best bet unless you are going to be using a lot of big bits. The router can also be used out of the table for alot of free hand work were as the shaper is a little on the heavy side to be used upside down.

   Scott C. Frankland

   Newfoundland Wood Worker

1. 
   ChipTam | Mar 31, 2002 01:34pm | #2

   Hey Scott,

   You're right.  Shapers don't work all that well upside down.  Where in Newfoundland are you ?  I'll be spending some time there this summer.

1. 
   SCFrankland | Mar 31, 2002 02:09pm | #3

   St. John's is where I call home, but I also have a place in Central and on the West coast. What part of the Rock will you be visiting this summer. If ya need anything on this end let me know, I would be more than happy to see what I can do for ya.Scott C. Frankland

   Newfoundland Wood Worker

1. 
   ChipTam | Mar 31, 2002 06:21pm | #4

   Hi Scott,

   My wife and I will be in Trinity on Trinity Bay (Bonavista Peninsular).  We live in the States (near Detroit) but have been vacationing  in Newfoundland for the past four summers.  Can't seem to get enough of the rock.....a very lovely part of the world. While in Trinity we usually make a few trips to "town".  We enjoy wandering along Duckworth and Water Street.  I'm not much of a night owl but one of these days I'll also have to give George Street a try.

   All the best,

                     Chip 

2. 
   BenchMarkPhil | Apr 01, 2002 03:42am | #5

   I have a "router versus shaper" article on my web site that might help. To me the real issue is the cutters, not what spins them.

   PMB

   http://benchmark.20m.com

3. 
   jeffn7 | Apr 01, 2002 07:52am | #6

   shapers feature lower spindle speed than a router, which works well for cutters and large bits, but not so well for small diameter bits. Shapers can give you better quality work product because the cutter head has 3 cutting faces vs. 2 for a router bit. A well setup router table is more versatile, due to the nature of variable-speed, high power router motors.

   The problem that we get ourselves into is that we think of routers as the poor cousin of the shaper, when in fact they are similar tools for different environments. I went through this debate when I was considering buying a router lift, and like most people, it was the cost issue that made me think about it. But after setting up my table with a Woodpecker PRL and a PC 7518 3hp motor, along with a fence that I made, I don't think twice about not getting a shaper instead. If I ever find myself putting out a lot of cabinet doors, I may think about adding a shaper, but until then my router table will do everything I throw at it.

1. 
   BDW13 | Apr 01, 2002 02:45pm | #7

   Thanks Jeff, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the input.

                                                                                                Brian