Shaper vs. Big Router

Dan Gonzales

Member
Messages
511
Location
Whittier, CA, USA
Hello all,

I have a question that I hope you can answer or at least provide your opinions and experience.

Without taking space usage in consideration, when comparing a 1.5 or 2 HP shaper (Jet, Delta...) with a cast iron top to a 3 HP under table router (Porter Cable, Makita, Triton...) are you really comparing apples to apples?

Assuming you are using equal quality cutters will one discern a finish difference between one or the other?

The reason I am asking is that I am seeing a few used shapers with multiple knife sets for sale in my area and they are a lot cheaper than a router and lift combo.

Cheers,
 
A shaper is nothing more than a big belt driven router mounted to a table.It has one job and does it well:thumb:
Really a router is a hand held tool that over the years has become an under table tool as well, it makes it a more versatile tool. You can get a lot of money tied up trying to make the perfect router and table set up. So it will work almost as good as a shaper.
It is on the same line as mounting your skil saw to a table to have a table saw but that idea never took off.:rofl:
The big thing is space you can't store a shaper on the shelf under the bench. You can do that with a good router and router table.
If you have the room for a shaper get one. If you have limited space in your shop go with the router table. One last thing is a router on a table will not take years of panel raising or railing making. So if your moving towards being a production shop with these tasks than the shaper is the way to go.
 
the only thing i can add to chucks reply is that i wish i had got a shaper before spending the dollars on a table setup..the cutters for a shaper are more pricey but they last alot longer as a rule. and i would say a 1.5 or 2 hp shaper will work circles around that 3 hp router in a table. i now have both and use the table alot and as soon as i can warrant the exrta bucks for the insert style cutters for the shaper i will be ready to play better, one other note if you headed towards building cabinets for a job, your gonna want two machines of some kind to run the cope cuts on the rails and another setup for the stile cut..changing back and forth isnt cost effective..
 
yes there`s a big difference in both life of the unit and quality of the cut.
safety on a shaper can be greatly enhanced with a feeder and the cut quality will increase too.
just for fun try running a router at full load amperage for 2 hours.......a shaper can take that load for years:eek:
 
your gonna want two machines of some kind to run the cope cuts on the rails and another setup for the stile cut..changing back and forth isnt cost effective..

Or if space is a problem you can try and find a shaper like we had in the shop I worked in in Baltimore. The cope and stick cutters were on the same spindle and with the flick of a switch you could switch back and forth between them.
 
A shaper is also MUCH quieter than a router... AND generally more dangerous. The cutters leave a much finer surface than router bits do, but they also cost a LOT more.

That said... I do own a small shaper, as well as four router tables. Each has its place & jobs to do.
 
http://www.freud-tools.com/freuddoorlip1.html $65.99 router bit

Item Number Overall Diameter (C) Cut Depth (H) Carbide Height (h) Minor Height (R) Large Radius (A) Angle Shank Diameter Overall Length
99-001 2" 29/64" 1-1/4" 11/16" 3/8" 7° 1/2" 2-3/4"

http://www.freud-tools.com/freudecdoorl.html $69.99 shaper cutter

Item Number Overall Diameter (d) Cut Depth (H) Carbide Height (h) Minor Height (R) Large Radius (A) Anble Bore Diameter
EC-001 2-7/8" 29/64" 1-1/4" 43/64" 23/64" 7° 3/4"
2 bit the approximate same size to do the same job:thumb:
 
http://www.freud-tools.com/freuddoorlip1.html $65.99 router bit

Item Number Overall Diameter (C) Cut Depth (H) Carbide Height (h) Minor Height (R) Large Radius (A) Angle Shank Diameter Overall Length
99-001 2" 29/64" 1-1/4" 11/16" 3/8" 7° 1/2" 2-3/4"

http://www.freud-tools.com/freudecdoorl.html $69.99 shaper cutter

Item Number Overall Diameter (d) Cut Depth (H) Carbide Height (h) Minor Height (R) Large Radius (A) Anble Bore Diameter
EC-001 2-7/8" 29/64" 1-1/4" 43/64" 23/64" 7° 3/4"
2 bit the approximate same size to do the same job:thumb:

and one big differnce is the shaper bit has 3 flutes which makes a better finish on the cut..
 
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