Photo Index - Delta / Rockwell - 4-footed HD Shaper

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta / Rockwell
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

True Manufacturer:
Delta / Rockwell, Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Shaper, Wood
Machine Size:
Submitted By:	Tom Moore

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	4-footed HD Shaper
Date of Manufacturer:	1948
Serial Number:	69-260
Last Updated	6/18/2012 10:08:11 PM

Comments:

Since there is already a four-footed, 1948 shaper available for viewing, I normally would not have uploaded this pic. It is a duplicate example. However, there is a different aspect to this machine.

This shaper (SN: 69-260) sees daily use in a moulding shop in New Bern, North Carolina, and has done so since it was purchased used when the company began, circa 1985. In the picture, notice the metal electrical switch box hanging off the wooden ON-OFF switch box. This second switch reverses the rotation of the (3 phase) motor. This is something new to me; I had not previously seen a FWD-REV switch on a router. Craig, who had installed the switch, explained that there are times when, to make a necessary pass, one must perform a "climb-cut", where the stock is fed into the spinning tool in the same direction as the spindle rotation. (Normally, the stock is fed into the tool against the spindle rotation.) Since this approach almost ensures the tool will grab the stock and launch it across the shop embedding itself into the wall, chest, or whatever is in it's way, Craig simply reverses the motor rotation to make this unconventional cut a bit "safer."

"What about shape or angle of the cutting tool?" I asked. "Shaper tools are designed to cut only one direction." Craig replied that, sure it doesn't work with all tools, but many of them are OK. Craig was having lunch at the time and my interest in this subject was not shared by him - he was concentrating on his sandwich - so I stopped my inquiry at that point.

This information is passed on the the readers as just that - information. Most of you will regard this as foolish. Personally, I would not attempt this maneuver, and I am not recommending you do it, either. Let it serve as another example of a professional making something "look" easy. Sort of like Evel Knievel....

(Added 1/29/2004)
For more info. on this *backward* method of work, see message #41221, from Bob Vaughn, posted on the Yahoo OldWoodWorkingMachines group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldwwmachines/message/41221
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldwwmachines/

Edit: The machine specs were updated on 6/18/2012 to add the serial number. The original date of this photo entry was 1/31/2004. Admin/DG

Photo 1:

Comments: 1948 Shaper with Reverse Switch
Source: Precision Moulding, New Bern, NC

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