The wood shaper is a power tool commonly used in the home workshop. It uses a vertical spindle and cutting knives to cut stock into different shapes.
While a shaper has been traditionally considered a dangerous machine, modern tools and safety techniques make them safe and practical. They are a valuable addition to any home shop.
Worktable
A wood shaper is a powerful, versatile power tool that can be used to cut ornamental edges on straight stock as well as to shape edges of curved ones. It also is an excellent choice for molding and trim work, including window frames, door construction, decorative moldings in the home, and many other projects that call for shaping wood.
Shapers vary in size and are typically rated for use with motors from less than one horsepower for benchtop models to two, three, or even five horsepower for industrial purposes. They have motor-driven shafts, or spindles, that protrude vertically through the worktable’s surface on top of which sit cutter blades.
A shaper’s sliding table and reversible motor give it flexibility. It can do template work without worrying about cutting against the grain and it can flip some of its cutters to accommodate larger profiles than a router can. This makes it an excellent choice for woodworking projects that call for heavy cuts or large runs of moldings.
Fence
A wood shaper, also called a spindle moulder in the UK, is an industrial-grade machine for machining profiles. It can mill crown molding, cut rails and stiles for doors, create raised door panels, and shape tongues and grooves for floorboards.
Its built-in spindle rotates large-diameter cutters that shape and cut large stock and blanks. Its worktable provides ample space to support the work and its fence positions the work for accurate profiling.
The shaper has a reputation for being dangerous, but it can be used safely with proper set-up and careful use. Its safety features include a plastic guard that suspends in front of the spinning cutter, ring guards that cover the top of the spindle, and hold-downs and pushers to keep your hands away from the cutters and the spinning blades.
Cutter Heads
Cutter heads are the brains behind your wood working machine and make or break their performance. These gizmos range from the simplest single blade to the most complex multi-bladed, multi-speed machines with spindles or tables that tilt to accommodate specialized cuts such as sliding tablesaws, jointers, and planers.
Shaper cutters may be made of aluminum, steel or even plastic. The best are designed to withstand heavy use to reduce the need for future replacements. A good quality cutter will last a lifetime. It might be worth mentioning that the most expensive model is also the most capable of performing its functions. Having said that, there are a number of inexpensive and low-priced models on the market as well. The most important part of choosing a good shaper is knowing what you need. The right machine for the job will pay off in many ways, from improved productivity to a more enjoyable and safer workspace. For example, a multi-head shaper with the proper layout can cut lumber up to 40% faster than a single head machine.
Spindle
A spindle on a wood shaper drives cutter heads to mill profiles in the stock being fed into it. The spindle can be raised and lowered relative to the shaper’s table, and may rotate between 3,000 and 10,000 rpm.
Shapers can be used to make a wide variety of decorative cuts, including moldings, grooves, flutes, beads, and the like. These tools cut on straight and curved stock in either direction, producing clean finished cuts.
A primary safety feature of a shaper is a guard mounted above the cutter, protecting hands and garments from being drawn into its blades. Jigs, fixtures such as hold-downs, and accessories that include featherboards also help prevent injury.