"Charley" wrote in message
. com...
Think of it as the "router table from hell". It can do most of what a
router
in a table can do plus many more heavy duty jobs. It uses cutters with a
1/2
or 3/4 inch hole in the middle instead of a 1/4 or 1/2 inch shaft like a
router bit, but it may also have an adapter available for it to allow it
to
use router bits as well. Most shaper bits can be stacked in different
combinations to produce many different shapes with the same cutters.
Shapers
aren't as popular as they once were, mostly due to the availability of
large
routers and large router bits that can now make raised panels, but prior
to
the availability of the big routers they were the cabinet shop's tool of
choice for making raised panels and cabinet doors. I still use, and in
many
ways prefer, mine over routers for these bigger cut jobs.

The better shaper machines also allow you to tilt the arbor to give you even
more cutting options and shaping variations.
--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 50 woodworking product reviews online!
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