"Ivan Vegvary" wrote in message
news:4t5_e.5101$il4.553@trnddc04...
I had acquired a used Craftsman wood shaper 15 years ago and still have not
set it up. It has a heavy cast iron table, 3 hp motor, and I believe, a
1/2" spindle.
HOWEVER, I note on all of the wood working shows that everybody (Norm,
etc.) is using router tables for their work, including raised panels.

Is this thing really worth setting up? Am I better of with a large router
table? Does one need both? If I don't plan on doing large doors, what
will the shaper do for me that a router could not?


The shaper will run for hours. It will also handle large bits with
considerably less pucker factor, rotating, as it does at a lower speed, and
with a real 1.5 HP behind it.

If you have the room, leave it set up with one of the dual roundover bits on
it for that most common of tasks. Acquire cutters for cope/mold and panel
raising as you require.