I will be setting up and using a delta stationary shaper for the first time soon. It will have a power stock feeder as well. The thought of the damage this machine can inflict on me and my coworkers is quite real and scary. Where can I go short of a vocational school to learn more than just the basics. There are far too many questions to ask than I can get to here. Let’s see how far you folks can get with me here. I am not a newbie to tools I have been building for 40 years but this machine receives a great deal of respect from me and my fingers and hands and wrists and eyes etc. thank you all!
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I did a youtube search and came up with this one showing a shaper in action. Doesn't look all that scary, but then I don't know what you'll be cutting on yours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWbNUMQVLZI
You'll probably find a lot more answers over at Knots.
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages
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Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
That guy on youtube should have had one of these on his shaper.http://www.machines4wood.com/mall/productpage.cfm/scottandsargeant/AIBOWMOULD150/81095Would have been a lot safer and dust free.
L 395 or $770 us is kind of pricey, but I guess if they do a lot of that stuff would be worth it. --------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
Was browsing around and found one more like what you describe. Still doesn't look that scary. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVSquC3SrsE&NR=1
--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
If you use your shaper with the power feeder it is a vary safe machine. With the power feeder in place you cannot get your hands in a position to get hurt. I've got a 1 hp feeder on mine & with proper waxing, anti-kickback cutters, there is little chance of bodily damage. That being said- if it doesn't feel safe do it a different way.
telephone..
When I bought mine like most things I do I started out very gingerly. I now realize that in some of my tentative early attempts I was more at risk than later "production" work..
To me the scariest machine in the shop is the band saw. Followed closely by the table saw..
Ok the table saw scares me more than the band saw but according to my doctor he sees more hand injuries from the band saw than from the table saw..
never forget the first shaper i bought !!!got so excited hooked it all up put a raised panel blade on it started it up SHUT IT OFF !! SOUNDED LIKE AN AIRPLANE !!
You can only make a shaper so safe. Wait till the first piece of steel flies out of the collar... If it doesn't hit you feel lucky and remember there is another on its way.
When I had a 70 person shop one day we were making stair rail rosettes. I was standing about 20' away waiting for an opportunity to talk with the operator without sneaking up and scareing him.... well he got to the end grain on one and it flew apart, and I didn't have time to duck... hit me in the right eye like a bullet. And no I wasn't wearing glasses but I always did from that point on.
FWIW our operators alway set a piece of 1 1/2" maple butcher block up between their soft under belly and the rotating steel.
Edited 6/15/2008 8:11 pm ET by sledgehammer
I've done a lot of hand work on big shapers and have all 10 still. They deserve the resect you're giving it. First & foremost be sure to have all the guards in place and in place securely; check them each time before use. With the machine off do a practice run with your piece and see if your fingers can get in anywhere. You know what to do if they can get in.
Use a fence even when using a cutter with a bearing guide. The fence will be an easy way to slowly feed the board to the cutter in a controlled manner. If the cutter doesn't have a bearing set the fences as close to the cutter as you can.
When you run your material by hand have your hands in fists with the flesh of your hand by your pinky on the board with your weight as straight down on the piece as possible. I use fists so that even if there was no board in place and I slipped there's still no way for the cutter to meet the flesh due to properly adjusted guards.
Be sure the cutters are sharp and the bearings good.
Wax the table.
Wear ear & eye protection not only for pro but to reduce distractions.
Use the feeder when you can. But often the time involved in the set up is not worth the labor when you can run it by hand safely.
Only scare I ever had from a shaper was 20+ years ago. I was running a short panel for RP doors. It was about 4" tall (the length of the grain) and only about 10" across the grain. Midway through a cut on the long side the board split along the grain into 2 smaller pieces, one under each fist. As I then tried to move them individual piece they each wanted to rotate. Fortunately a sharp coworker saw what was going on and shut down the machine for me.
John
Thanks for a all that good and thorough safety insight. I think that is what OP was looking for, but the rest of us couldn't quite spell it all out. In my case, because I've never used a shaper. But if and when I ever so, I'll will definitely heed your advice. --------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
Keep thinking that it scary and could do some damage.. .then go ahead and use it. I have had mine for 9 years and each time I crank it up I think of how much damage it could do. still have all of my fingers.