Thread: Shaper basics

Another thing I thought of Bob is making masters for scraping. A lot easier to make and a lot less work scraping the master for dovetails etc.

Phil

Even if it never gets used. I still want a shaper, just sitting there in the corner. A lovely piece of history. I've seen some videos and watching them at work is analogous to watching a camp fire..... mesmerising!

Simon

Originally Posted by simonl

Even if it never gets used. I still want a shaper, just sitting there in the corner. A lovely piece of history. I've seen some videos and watching them at work is analogous to watching a camp fire..... mesmerising!

Simon

Yup i have a SB 7" and just love it...Bob

this may be of use ..........http://users.beagle.com.au/lathefan/...a%20shaper.pdf

You can cut the keyway at the top of the part that way it doesn't matter if the clapper is bolted tight because there is always down force on it both cutting and returning. Plus it gives you room to clamp the part in a vise if needed. Here is the key cutter attachment i made for my little shaper...Bob

Originally Posted by aametalmaster

You can cut the keyway at the top of the part that way it doesn't matter if the clapper is bolted tight because there is always down force on it both cutting and returning. Plus it gives you room to clamp the part in a vise if needed. Here is the key cutter attachment i made for my little shaper...Bob

Hi Bob,
Another advantage of cutting the keyway on the top is you can see what you are cutting a lot easier as the tool holder doesn't get in the way of the tool.

Phil

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

OK Boys,

My tune might change if I had a larger shaper. I find the Douglas frustratingly too small. The jobs that would be perfect for the shaper, such as machining the abused face of my Waldown base casting, won't happen because I'm an inch short of travel. (In defence of the Douglas, it performed an nice job on the smaller Tough base.) A larger shaper would possibly address the one shortcoming of my mill... something to ponder.

BT

I agree and find the Douglas a nice have not a must have.
The larger shapers are the way to go but the weight goes up real quick. I never thought about this until my move recently where the Alba was left behind because it's just to big to cart around.

Dave
PS
The Ward lathe was left behind as well because of the same reason, sorry I never got any photos Bob.

Found this tool holder drawing on the yahoo metal shapers group...............

Hi These pages scanned from the 1949 booklet by Percival Marshall , explains the reason why the bit is mounted a certain way on shapers

Originally Posted by morrisman

Found this tool holder drawing on the yahoo metal shapers group...............

I'm pretty sure i put that one on the stick too.....but well done finding so much info, it is all fascinating.

Here is some more good reading...Bob
Euro Spares - Tools - Shapers

The mechanism was indeed invented by Joseph Whitworth, it is called the whitworth motion Whitworth Quick Return
The Fitting and Machining textbooks that I had in 1977 detailed it.
Will