A different style boring head

[Frank S]

Sounds like you need a small shaper. They say you can make anything but money with a shaper, but there are some things you can't do with anything else, and the cutters are pretty cheap.

Bill

I have actually thought about buying or building a shaper Haven't found one that would be within my budget for one or found the extra time to construct one from scratch for two.

[marksbug]

Ive seen a lot done with shapers, one of my old bosses tryed to give me one, it was in the way,I did not have a clue what it was or could do.

[Toolmaker51]

An 'adjustable' cutter is fairly easy to preset a specific diameter, even a flycutter. Set up the holder in a Vee block, clocked vertical with plane of cutter slot. Use height gauge to figure centerline of shank, add radius of desired diameter to centerline. This works quite well in square/ rectangular tubing. I wouldn't expect bearing fits, but .001-.002 for weldments of round tubing, rods etc easily. Our technique for machine frames, put holes in first with hole saw [CRS 1018], and two bore passes, first as a primary to overcome ragged saw cut. To lessen tool changes, table had two equal vises and a stop bar for material, swapping them instead of tools.

[Toolmaker51]

'They' say can't make money with a shaper.....but watch prices on a Bridgeport attachment, [usually $1200 USD] or a real shaper of 20" something stroke, upwards of $2.5k. I'd say some folks have a better idea how to utilize them, and have room. My rule of thumb; stroke 3x widest cut anticipated. That's adequate rigidity for key ways and such. Planing/ profiling cuts aren't so demanding.
Can't count the Atlas etc, good little machines and capable, but there is a complete hobby engineer crowd chasing those at outrageous prices.