We are in the custom home, renovation business. We have a call for custom mouldings for custom casework, built-ins, bars, entertainment centers, etc. We are going to buy a low production moulder and or shaper, Powermatic, Williams & Hussey, Wilkey, etc. I’m looking for recommendations as to the proper equipment choices and production suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The Paslode cordless siding and fencing nailer drives fasteners reliably without the hassle of hoses or compressors.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
W&H will work well, its much safer then a shaper. W&H is fairly mobile compared to a shaper if you need to take it on site.
If you were to opt for a shaper, get a power feeder to help reduce burn marks and chatter marks.
Yeah, a power feeder allows you to climb cut safely, too.
In my opinion, where a shaper really shines is reproducing a specific part - like the arm of an Adirondak chair. A "low production" shaper for making mouldings? I think you might be better off with a couple variable speed plunge routers in tables. Router bits are getting awfully affordable and common anymore. Now a high quality, reversible, professional millwork grade shaper might be a different story, but unless you're talkin' serious tooling, I think you could get along just fine with a couple routers and a W+H moulding machine.
Like most tools, I guess it depends on what you are planning to do with it.
Brinkmann for president in '04
you might want to post also at knots forum
I love my WH molder. You can't beat it in a low production unit. I've used it all day long (with ear protection) without overworking it. Once did some 7" wide cove that was a challenge but we made several passes to scoop it out.
Once you learn the tool, it does fine work.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Russ,
Another benefit to the W&H is that you can buy (or make) an attachment to make curved casings etc for arch top windows and the like. There are also a lot of stock knives available from a number of sources that are made for the W & H. For low production/short runs it is hard to beat and is relatively safe to operate. Good luck.
Mark