Routertable or shaper?

[Gary roofner]

Here is my problem here is shaper on craigslist http://binghamton.craigslist.org/tls/3160131880.html. I lost my router in flood last year. I am thinking this would be cheaper since I don't have a router anyway ? Please help this looks like a good deal. Help !!!!!!!!!!

[Hugh Clare]

I'd buy it just to have something. If you find you need a router table, it could come later on.

[John Schaben]

IMO, this is  a better deal

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-amp-2-hp-fixed-plunge-base-router...

 

You can throw a table together for little or nothing and I don't think that thing will help much on jobs that want a hand held router. Shapers are a good investment for a production shop, they are built for running moldings and the like all day long but, at least the one I had, was difficult to set up compared to a router table. Also, the cutters tend to be very pricey.

[Jay Boutwell]

Hi Gary, Both Hugh and John have good points.  In my opinion I guess it would depend on your circumstances.  If I was in this position I would have to question several things.  First on the list would be the cost of the repair as a swith can be very expenisve as it is a 120 or 220 volt switch and also also is the "on-off" switch independent of the forward and reverse.  I would also question the motor as maybe having some problems.

The cost of shaper bits are very expensive and costly to maintain, so is there any inventory of bits in this cost or does it come as just the machine.  

I would also consider where or not I really need a shaper for my work and this would depend on, as John points out, a large amount of moldings.

This however, could also be a great investment of which you could fix up and resell for more money that you invested.  Perhaps a step in gaining the money you need for a quality router table.

I base my opinions on the fact that I once owned a large delta shaper with several hundred  dollars invested many different profile bits.

It worked well however as large and better routers entered the market I began to lean towards the router table finding it far less costly in maintainance.  I found it quicker and safer to use the router table method and soon saw the shaper sitting in a corner gathering dust.  I sold it and todate I have not found a need for it.

In my work I build many doors using large 3 inch dia bits with back cutters and run these in a 3 1/4 hp routers mounted in a router tables.  I cut raised panels and cut these in hard woods that include not only the Oaks but hickory, and hard rock maple, which is the hardest of the common cabinet wood in demand today.  I cut this with out any problem and the results are smooth without wood burns.  As you can see in some of the posted photos I have posted, some of these doors are over 4 feet tall and some of my cabinet jobs require upward of 40 to 50 doors all have to be  built in a uniformed profile.

I have cut these same cabinet doors on the shaper however perfer the router table as it is not only faster and offers more control of the cut but it is done so in a safer manner.  Again this is my opinion but again the bottom line is how much will it cost and what is the work intended for the shaper.

   

[Gary roofner]

You answered my question and I am a little surprised at the answers. I would have thought that the shaper would have been a more heave duty router. I did not know. I can count on you guys to give me good advice. The guy has not had much response to his ad. I plan on getting a new router and building a new router table unless someone happens to have an incra table and fence cheap. I am making progress on my new shop only a 12 x 10 shed put up two 4 ft flouresent light fictures nice and bright.

[Ken Darga]

Gary,

Personally, I chose a router---2-1/4 to 2-1/2hp hp model, with fixed and plunge base.

You'll get more use out of a router---it's much more useful.

I had a shaper, many years ago. It got very little use, compared to my routers.

As noted above, by others, a shaper is useful for a large shop.

Cutters are expensive.

BTW---for a $150 used shaper, may need some service, and it'll be expensive.

You can make a temporary router table from sheet stock---

make a cut-out, install a router base or plate---

with a simple ''L" shaped fence, held in place with ''C" clamps.