5 inch shaper

[threesixesinarow]

This is my little hand powered traveling head shaper. I copied many details from small machines like Perfecto, Adept, and Bradley, but also from some old full size shapers.

I changed the arrangement to make it more compact and portable, with the feed handle higher up and the feed screw farther back than on those. The heavy rectangular base has t-slots on the front and on the top and the whole working part can be repositioned or removed as easily as the two tables I have for it, so that the machine can be mounted directly onto work. I built it planning to add automatic feed and a motor drive as I needed them, but haven’t done either yet.

It takes a pretty good cut! But that depends on the “motor,” too. It has about 8” cross feed and 1-1/2” down feed, and the overall size is about 16x16x16”. I think it weighs a little over 100lbs.








E. H. Knight’s 3” stroke shaper from the October 9, 1952 issue of Model Engineer

Very short webcam video:

[DIYer]

Thanks threesixesinarow! We've added your 5 Inch Shaper to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: threesixesinarow's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

5 Inch Shaper by threesixesinarow

tags: shaper

[Subtlehustle]

Brilliant!!!

[old_toolmaker]

Clark,
That is a very nice concept you came up with and very well executed. I always follow your projects as they are interesting to me.
Keep up the good work!

[threesixesinarow]

Thanks, Subtlehustle - thanks, Dick - it’s been a good little worker and I can do things with it that I can’t do with other tools.

One thing, the way it’s arranged, overalls - or a bib! - are pretty much required using it.

[Jon]

Congratulations threesixesinarow - your 5 Inch Shaper is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

Big week around here, but this is a decisive winner!

Some more good builds from this week:

Encoder Mounting Plate by thehomeengineer
Coffee Filter Retainer by Frank S
Straight Edge Cutting Guide by bobs409
Low Pressure High Volume Pump Repair by rgsparber
Angle Grinder Steady by Kwandotechnic
Pipe Positioner by bobs409
Surplus Metal Drawer by rgsparber
Stepper Motor Cover by thehomeengineer
Crosscut Sled by Christofix
Mini Drill Vise by Kwandotechnic
Aluminum Foundry by Mr.DK DIY
Shear Waste Deflector by Keith William Knull
Flint Striker by Philip Davies
Featherboard Jig by Make Things
V Block Clamping Pads by bobs409
Fishing Worm Collector by Mr.DK DIY
Drill Powered Angle Grinder by HandmadeCreativeChannel
Roughing Tool by mr herb


threesixesinarow - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:



You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and award choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

Nice work!

[old_toolmaker]

Threesixesinarow,

Congrats on your Homemade Tool of the Week award!

[threesixesinarow]

Wow! Thanks, it means a lot to me.

[threesixesinarow]

Thanks, Dick,

It was an interesting project that really pushed the limits of my skills and of my tools - it’s really not much smaller than those - but it’s satisfying to use and has really surprised me what I can do with it.

A lot of the machining was done with a Unimat headstock strapped to my Atlas mill.

I tried to evoke some of the details from a much older planer built just down the road here. Putnam planer, ca.1845


- Clark

[threesixesinarow]

Off base