Warning, brainstorming again, dedicated shaper

[robinson46176]

Somehow in the middle of all of this discussion of PowerPro's and right / left tilt, new Mark 7's, old Mark VII's and functions and speeds etc. I got to thinking about shapers. Shaping is I think the primary reason (or maybe the only reason?) for the left tilt. I'm not sure (weak memory) if we have really discussed the possible uses of the left tilt beyond basic shaping and routing, which are probably reasons enough by themselves.

Of course it is common knowledge that the regular Shopsmith is too slow to do any shaping or routing at all, right? Not being too bright and not knowing that, I have done a little of it since I got my 510 new back in 1988 not having any idea that I couldn't do it at all. I just fed it slowly and was happy with it, all the while being ignorant of the fact that I couldn't possibly be doing it properly on a Shopsmith. I never run with scissors nor do I run when feeding stock into a machine of any kind. OK, end of sarcastic remarks...
We have in the past (somewhere) discussed how easy it would be to increase maximum spindle speed for a dedicated purpose by adding a pair of poly-vee pulleys to the outside of the case on the idler shaft and upper shaft and removing the internal poly-vee belt. Poly-vee belts are not like Gilmer belts in that they are widely available in all sorts of sizes.
On a side note, a simple premium vee-belt could be used. Most shapers ran with simple vee-belts for many many years. Perhaps one of those newer link belts...
Moving on, the thought this morning is the possibility of making a dedicated shaper with SS components using a regular mini frame and inverting the headstock on the way tubes and using the regular right tilt.
Working height is as always a compromise whether it is a new Mark7, an old Mark VII or a regular Mark V. It would be the same height as a Mark 7 in left tilt but perhaps if it was deemed too tall the SS legs could be removed and a storage cabinet built to mount it on. The external belt would need guarding. The external belt would keep you from being able to use the stub shaft for anything unless it was somehow extended but for my purpose I am only interested in the shaper function. In my case it would likely sit with the last setup until needed for the next one.
If it were a headstock with a lot of hours on it all new upper bearings might be a good idea due to the increased speeds. This would still be variable speed, just with higher minimum and maximum speeds.

Has anyone else tried something like this or given it thought?

If I had to go buy everything I would be ahead to just buy a shaper but I would only have to buy the pulleys and belt and I would probably try it with a common vee-belt first so cost would be minimal. Besides, I like to play... I will not be trying to do anything about this until I get the shop better organized. I need to get going on my wall hanging system very soon. Dang! stuff hides well down in those boxes.

As an aside, I have been quite happy with the Push me / Pull me double drillpress. It does exactly what I wanted it for.


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[anmius]

I too have used my 1981 Shopsmith Mark V as a shaper without knowing it couldn't be done. I have done it enough that I still don't know that it can't be done. So the cutter is above the work and runs a little slower than a router (not too much slower than a stand-alone shaper). It still does a satisfactory job for me when I take my time - and being retired, time is what I have. I guess I'll just go on doing something that can't be done...........

[heathicus]

I haven't used it as a shaper yet (although I do have some shaper blades), but I have used it as a router a couple times. I was in a pinch and even held the router bit with a Jacob's chuck!

[JPG]

Yes thought has been given to such a setup(inverted headstock and reversed carriage and knobs[elevator/carriage lock][puts the power switch and knobs on the same side]). Also a reversible motor. M5/500 carriage,table.

That is the current plan for my mini 'FrankenGGG'. You are responsible for the convoluted name(you already took FrankenSmith!). GGG = GreenieGoldieGray since it consists of parts gleaned from machines of all those vintages.

I say 'current' since that collection of parts was originally intended to be a storage rack, but then I acquired more SPT's and that idea went begging. It may again change!;)

Re shaper vs router rpm's. Remember a thing called 'cutting speed' in machine shop? A shaper with a diameter of 1 1/2" has a cutting speed 3X that of a 1/2" diameter router.

[robinson46176]

Re shaper vs router rpm's. Remember a thing called 'cutting speed' in machine shop? A shaper with a diameter of 1 1/2" has a cutting speed 3X that of a 1/2" diameter router.

I learned much about the practical applications of such matters much younger than the machine shop years by growing up on the farm.


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[trainguytom]

Why wasn't I told this before I bought a door makers shaper bit set??? (cheap one..Harbor Freight) Why wasn't I warned in the shaper fence instructions??? Why didn't some alarm go off when I ran some oak sticks through it???

Am I now in trouble with the separate tool police? Should I get rid of the evidence? Yikes![ATTACH]16098[/ATTACH]