To me; the shaper is a tool that needs one special piece of tooling, a brain. A shaper provides the lowest cost machine for metal removal. It is also the only machine that can do several specialized jobs. This is a forum for machinists? I did not have room or money when I brought home my shaper. If I held the winning lotto ticket; I would buy a TL15 Haas tomorrow. Many things would have to go out to make room for my first piece of CNC. My South Bend lathes, shaper, and cone head 'J' Bridgeport would not move one inch.
What machine can cut a gear cheaper? What machine can cut bastard splines, keyways, hexes, gears, and other complex surfaces on inside and outside; without very expensive equipment?
At work I needed a special hydrant wrench. At home I made the wrench in less than an hour, on a shaper. I did not even need a dividing head. A square, boring bar, and vise was all I needed for the task. Yes, I take work home. Technically this is 'government work' but no one complains, much.
I lost my automotive oil pressure switch socket to a friend. My shaper made me one, from aluminum, in a few minutes. Has anyone ever tried to install a pressure switch in their car without one? Have you thought about what you did, with those pliers, as you walked home, following that trail of oil, after drizzling out your last drop of engine oil, and only then did the pressure indicator drop off?
I need a keyway in a pulley for my 16-24 South Bend. I refuse to go through the weighty expense of buying a set of broaches. Fortunately my seven inch South Bend shaper was still cheaper than a full set of broaches. Keyways are no problem to me. Stubby M2 cutter bits are cheap.
If you know how to use a shaper, it is the most universal machine for straight line machining. If you can't make it with a lathe and shaper; you got real problems.
A long gone compadre' once waxed about tools that were not utilized fully. He was a full papered machinist that forgot more than I will ever know. He switched to industrial HVAC because he wanted more money and a better job. Paul kept his home machine shop fully tooled up and he acted like he was someday going to be the last ditch machine shop for mankind. He got his papers at Walworth valve, and worked there, until the place closed. Just about every machine he had carried a brass Walworth asset tag. Even his hand tools were Walworth brand.
Paul had two standard lines. The first was," I may not use this stuff much, but it makes me feel like John C. Holmes when I can get the job done". His second saying was,"Eat up boy. The dogs will have a good funeral feast, when you go."
He passed away in his sleep as he napped on the old couch, that sat behind his Bridgeport. His daughter, a design Engineer, and sons, both doctors; keep his garage machine shop alive. They all use the shop to perform little tasks and show their kids what grandpa did. His widow does not even mind the universal shaper that crowds the driver's side front fender of her car. There is a cloth tarp on that shaper and, the last time I looked, there is no dust on the tarp.
