My SB Shaper

[aametalmaster]

Dirty as it was just found sitting in a body shop unused for years. Needs a good clean up but its all there. And i need to build a stand...Bob

[imagedude]

Shaping machines are probably the most underestimated machine available to the blacksmith. They can perform many complex machining operations and will happily use homemade cutters.

[John N]

I'ld spin the vice round 90 deg before you use it

what do you intend using it for? - in my experience the reason they sit unused for years is they are not very versatile at all.

I had a lovely decent sized 'ALBA' and it went to the big recyclers in the sky

They are handy for cutting dovetails on very small hammer die blocks (slowly)

One hint - dont over tighten the stroke adjustment clamp when you use it, then when the tool digs in and jams (which it will) it will slip, and save the tool / workpiece smashing.

[John N]

Shaping machines are probably the most underestimated machine available to the blacksmith. They can perform many complex machining operations and will happily use homemade cutters.

name a few bob , other than skimming die block dovetails.

[imagedude]

Originally Posted by John N

name a few bob , other than skimming die block dovetails.

Simple gear cutting
Cutting internal and external splines on driveshafts
Fettling operations on castings
Machining rack and pinion gears
Cutting shoulders or making deep grooves
T-Slots
Dovetails

You can even machine curves if you are clever.

There's a good reason that many machine shops have a dusty shaper in a dark corner, they do jobs that mills can't and you can make your own tooling without the help of a cutter/grinder.

[John N]

Simple gear cutting
Cutting internal and external splines on driveshafts
Fettling operations on castings
Machining rack and pinion gears
Cutting shoulders or making deep grooves
T-Slots
Dovetails

went back to dovetails there ! - Im a pretty good machine operator and getting a small shaper to even skim you a flat face is tricky and time consuming enough (with tool push off and drag)

they are good for internal keyways if youve got an angle plate.

Im just not convinced of their use in a blacksmiths shop. sorry.

[imagedude]

I could make just about any type of powerhammer die or hydraulic press die on a shaper. I could do the same on a mill easier but would need to spend more on cutting tools. A shaper is a versatile tool for performing 'one off' operations to blacksmithing levels of accuracy.

[aametalmaster]

The vise is loose from when i carried it in.
I have about 100 small gears to cut.
I have tooling to cut internal keyways.
I had a 32" shaper but it was just way too big . I will find lots of things to make to go with my lathe's. I will post some more pics as i go...Bob

[the_sandy_creek_forge]

Nice grab Bob!

Hey John, Just a few questions.
1). What's wrong with the vice in that orientation?
2). not being sure of you background with powerhammers, what is your definition of a "very small hammer die block"?

I'd have to agree with Imagedude on a lot of points. For the 140ish dollars I spent on mine, and about 30-40 dollars worth of cutters from the 'Bay, I've got enough to cover probably 80% of the BLACKSMITH related machining I need to do. No I am not going to try to plane engine heads with it, or try using it to machine something with 0.0001" clearance. I am using/plan on using the shaper mostly for jigs, dies for my IrnSrgn style guillotine tool, stuff like that. For that stuff, 0.01" is fine, 0.001" is a thing of beauty.

Imagedude: "blacksmithing levels of accuracy" Can I get permission to use that for my signature line? I love it.

-Aaron @ the SCF

[John N]

The vise is loose from when i carried it in.
I have about 100 small gears to cut.
I have tooling to cut internal keyways.
I had a 32" shaper but it was just way too big . I will find lots of things to make to go with my lathe's. I will post some more pics as i go...Bob

hey bob - I would class that more as machine shop work !

from my experience they are a tricky machine to get to do much other than very light skimming. Even with well ground tooling, and the machine set up as rigid as you can the tool will still 'push off' for the 1st 1/4" of the cut, requiring multiple passes to get semi-flat.

Any metal tougher than Mild steel causes even more problems.

I class a small die block as less than 4" along the dovetail.

The orientation of the vice is usually set so the work cannot be pushed through the jaws (ie the cutting load should be into the jaw).

Perhaps they are just not for me!