Shaper Questions from a Beginner

RandyC · Post by **RandyC** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:36 pm

Hello All,
New user here and almost new woodworker, so pardon if my ignorance shows...

I haven't used the speed increaser/shaper I recently acquired with my 510 but am anxious to do so. I have a pile of 1x4 rs pecky cypress that I would like to turn into vee joint tongue and groove for the walls of a den I'm working on.

My understanding is that a shaper would be much more appropriate for this task than my little router due to the volume of cutting. So far my searches for tongue and groove cutters have produced lots more router bits than shaper cutters, and I'm wondering if there's a reason for this that I'm not aware of? Is the shaper the right tool for this job? If so, what are some recommendations to obtain cutters for it in a vee joint wedge style tongue and groove pattern?

Alternative suggestions or thoughts are welcome, since as I said, I'm new to this hobby. Thanks in advance for your input.

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:58 pm

That is a perfect job for the shaper. You can get T & G shaper cutters here:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... ives_5.htm

http://grizzly.com/products/Shaper-Cutt ... Bore/C2006

Whatever cutters you get, make sure they are compatible with the 1/2" arbor.
Alec

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:59 pm

Yes, the shaper will do the job for you, without the speed increaser. You will have to get this item http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... rfence.htm OR make a suitable substitute for yourself. The main point is to be safe.

There are several shaper cutters from Shopsmith that seem to meet your desires.
The last one on the list is a wedge type glue joint cutter. I plan to use that one to assemble boards for a coffee table top.
1) http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... tem=505609
2) http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... 5612&qty=1
3) http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... 5095&qty=1

RandyC · Post by **RandyC** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:21 am

Thanks to both for your info and suggestions. I do have the 555113 adjustable shaper fence and recognize that safety is a major consideration in operating the shaper--even moreso than some of the other equipment by most accounts.

It looks like the cutters you directed me to will easily produce the tongue and groove I need. As far as the vee-joint surface pattern, I suppose that will require a third and fourth pass for each board to ease the edge after the tongue and groove passes.

I had seen router bits that have the eased edge for the vee-joint and would eliminate half of the passes required. Apparently shaper cutters don't come that way. Any suggestions?

Thanks again for your help.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:07 pm

IF you do not already have some feather board 'hold downs', get some!

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/part ... xpview.htm

RandyC · Post by **RandyC** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:43 pm

Thanks for the advice. I do have both the quill-mounted top feather board hold down and the slot-mounted side version. Plan to use either/both depending on configuration of machine.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:48 pm

RandyC wrote:...I had seen router bits that have the eased edge for the vee-joint and would eliminate half of the passes required. Apparently shaper cutters don't come that way. Any suggestions?

Thanks again for your help.

Yep! to my knowledge you'd have to do a second operation to ease the top edges.
You could use a router with a 'V' bit, or if you want you could buy a Vee Groove Shaper Cutter (505935). This cutter, like the other shaper cutters has three cutting edges.