I have been using a Delta shaper/router for several years and it has
served me well. I now need to upgrade since I have started to use a lot of
6/4 and 8/4 materials and the Delta is only a 1/2 HP. I use router bits
exclusively now and doubt that I will need shaper heads in the future.
Which ever I get I will also get a power feeder for it.
The router or shaper will be installed in the right side of my TS which
has a 50" fence and uses a 1.5 HP dust collector. I am looking at the
Grizzly 1 1/2 HP shaper or getting another ( my fourth) Hitachi 12V router,
3 1/4 HP, variable speed, soft start etc. and if I go with the router it
will be used exclusively on the table.
I run a one man shop and weekly average use of shaper/router will be about
1 hour
Grizzly pros no time spent building table
cons $200 more than a router and materials but I won't spend
several days building table.
1 1/2 HP as opposed to 3 1/4HP
Comments or suggestions. TIA
--
Art Ransom
Lancaster , Texas

www.turningaround.org

If you aren't going to use a large (5") panel raiser, the router is a fine
deal. It's better on small stuff.. I love the big panel raiser, but it
really needs 3 HP.. The wider raiser lends considerable class to doors, but
you may be able to accomplish the same with vertical panel raising bits.
Wilson

"Art Ransom" wrote in message
...
I have been using a Delta shaper/router for several years and it has
served me well. I now need to upgrade since I have started to use a lot
of 6/4 and 8/4 materials and the Delta is only a 1/2 HP. I use router
bits exclusively now and doubt that I will need shaper heads in the
future. Which ever I get I will also get a power feeder for it.
The router or shaper will be installed in the right side of my TS which
has a 50" fence and uses a 1.5 HP dust collector. I am looking at the
Grizzly 1 1/2 HP shaper or getting another ( my fourth) Hitachi 12V
router, 3 1/4 HP, variable speed, soft start etc. and if I go with the
router it will be used exclusively on the table.
I run a one man shop and weekly average use of shaper/router will be
about 1 hour
Grizzly pros no time spent building table
cons $200 more than a router and materials but I won't spend
several days building table.
1 1/2 HP as opposed to 3 1/4HP
Comments or suggestions. TIA
--
Art Ransom
Lancaster , Texas

www.turningaround.org

Hi Art,

I have the Griz 1.5 HP shaper for about 5 years. I got
it mainly because I figured it would cost the same
or more for a good router table. IIRC I paid around
$400. Got the extension wing and the router spindle
attachment at the same time - so I can use any router
bit with the shaper. The only disadvantage is that the shaper
has only 2 speeds (12K & 9K I think). Sometimes that's
a little slow for a router bit.

It is great for raised panels using one of those 3/4 bore
3 wing bits (I use an MLCS for around $70). Another
nice feature is the raise/lower handle & lock - similar
to a TS. Also, it is pretty hefty and seems to have plenty of
power for my needs.

OTOH, I have also been toying with the idea of mounting
an extra router that I don't use much on my TS too. Just
to have it available for smaller jobs or when I don't want
to have to switch out the shaper spindle for the router spindle.

A downside to shaper bits is their cost. I only have about
a half dozen shaper bits - the cope/stick & panel bits are
used most of the time.

I would definitely buy it again if I were making the same
decision today.

Lou

In article , Art Ransom
wrote:

I have been using a Delta shaper/router for several years and it has
served me well. I now need to upgrade since I have started to use a lot of
6/4 and 8/4 materials and the Delta is only a 1/2 HP. I use router bits
exclusively now and doubt that I will need shaper heads in the future.
Which ever I get I will also get a power feeder for it.
The router or shaper will be installed in the right side of my TS which
has a 50" fence and uses a 1.5 HP dust collector. I am looking at the
Grizzly 1 1/2 HP shaper or getting another ( my fourth) Hitachi 12V router,
3 1/4 HP, variable speed, soft start etc. and if I go with the router it
will be used exclusively on the table.
I run a one man shop and weekly average use of shaper/router will be about
1 hour
Grizzly pros no time spent building table
cons $200 more than a router and materials but I won't spend
several days building table.
1 1/2 HP as opposed to 3 1/4HP
Comments or suggestions. TIA

In article ,
"Art Ransom" wrote:

[snipperized for brevity]

Grizzly pros no time spent building table
cons $200 more than a router and materials but I won't spend
several days building table.
1 1/2 HP as opposed to 3 1/4HP
Comments or suggestions. TIA

Apples and oranges.

1 1/2 HP of induction motor vs 3 1/4 HP for a universal motor...at
10.000 RPM with a large panel raising cutter..the shaper will seem so
much stronger than 1-1/2HP.
The shaper will work its butt off all day. The Hitachi (I own a couple)
will be working its ballbearings off.

The shaper heads/cutters cost a lot more money if you're talking carbide.
The shaper set-up is a lot more complex/involved.
The shaper speed change usually involves re-tightening of the belt(s).
The shaper is much quieter.
I don't know about the Grizzly, but a lot of shapers can take a chuck
for 1/2" router bits, so the investment you have won't go to waste.

But... if you're going to lean into it with a hunk of 8/4 oak... a 1-1/2
HP shaper may not be adequate either.

A router table is a cheap and dirty but will not do a shaper's job over
the long haul.

IMHO