Small shaper vs big router

[ltmckinlay]

Looking at a couple of projects (cabinets and door/window casing) which require more power than my smaller Porter Cable router can handle.

If it was just cabinet doors the decision would be easy, a large variable speed router to fit my existing router table. However, the door casing has detail in the center of the 5 1/2" width, which requires starting the profile nearly 1 1/2" above the table top--even if I could find the right combination of bits (I haven't yet).

Any experience or opinions with small floor model shapers such as the 3/4 hp Grizzly G0510Z? It appears the spindle is long enough, but I wonder about the accuracy and power on such a small machine. I need to run about 700' of casing. Thoughts?

[beamerweb]

What about a molding head in your table saw? That way you can put the profile anywhere on the board.

[Jeffk]

Other than a moulding head in a table saw, another thought would be to make a jig to mount a router horizontal rather than vertical. Personally I'd probably go with a higher powered router mounted horizontaly unless I had a use for the shaper on a regular basis rather than a one time job. Just my opinion... Jeff

[jasfrank]

A shaper is a great tool to have. They sureley outperform the best routers in most shaping operations. The tooling is spendy though. However, if you did invest in one, don't get such a small unit. Buy at the minimum a 2 HP with a 3/4 spindle. If its affordable you wont regret it.

[fshrmn43]

I have never used a shaper but I can`t imagine one outperforming a big router in a good table on almost every job. I have a 3 1/4 hp Porta-Cable on a Rockler table and have used anywhere from a 3/8" roundover to a 3" moulding bit. It has performed flawlessly in every application. I have run literally miles of lumber through this thing for molding in a church and I must say it turned out beautiful. If there has ever been imperfections in a cut it has more times than not been because the lumber has a cup, twist or bow in it, no fault of the machinery. But to get back to the question I have to agree with the tablesaw on this one.

[Sonny Edmonds]

I'm with you, Mike.
My PC mounted in my tablesaws side table have formed many thousands of feet of moldings now (maybe miles), and the TS w/molding head has helped make any the router couldn't do alone.

But opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one. Some stink more than others. ;)

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
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"Lurkimus turdius orifus"

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[jasfrank]

""I have never used a shaper ""........

And your and sonny's point was? Before I spout off whether things work better or not I actually use them. Whats your reasoning for your advice? Cause you read it somewhere on the internet?

[fshrmn43]

Apparently you have used similar machines to mine and didn`t think they performed as well, I don`t know what your reason is but I thought I got my toes stepped on when you said shapers would outperform in most cases.I don`t think so IMO. Why do you think that? Explain?

[jasfrank]

Your toes stepped on? Sorry if my stating my opinion of two machines hurt your feelings! I based my opinion on using both machines. For 20+ years I owned a powermatic 3hp 1" shaft shaper, and used it quite frequently with a power feeder attached to it. I sold that shaper just last summer and went with a PC 3 HP router mounted in a table on my unisaw. Its a usable thing for hobby work, but nowhere near as easy to use as a real shaper. It whines like a jet taking off, and tooling doesnt stay sharp nearly as long as the shaper cutters. The bearings on router bits are way inferior to those on shapers. You say you have produced miles of moulding? I operated a hardwood lumber and millwork business for many years, and although I ran most mouldings through a moulding machine, I did do enough small profiles on the shaper to know what I'm talking about. BTW, don;t take my word for it, walk into any comercial woodworking place and ask them what they use to shape lumber. Then tell them about the miles of lumber you and sonny run through your routers. They'll thank you profusely for giving them the best laugh they've had in a while.
PS sorry about the feelings. Bet we'd do better discussing fishing. :)

[fshrmn43]

OK!!!! you`ve made you`re point I obviously don`t have a clue what I`m talking about and you do. Sorry for my insulting your intelligence, I`m just a hobbiest that dabbles at this thing called woodworking. It`s not my bread and butter like it is yours and yes I probably would be upset to if you tried to tell me that a belt-driven winch head was as good as a 14" sheaved hydraulic pothauler. I can bet there wouldn`t be much of a discussion between you and I about fishin. I have run a piece of lumber on a router table, I should damnly doubt if you`ve even seen a picture of what I work out of. So maybe you`d be better off sticking to a subject that you know something about.