Page 5 of 36 FirstFirst 1234567891015 ... LastLast
Results 61 to 75 of 529
  1. #61
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Fife Scotland
    Posts
    24

    Default Welcome laddie

    Hi Ray,
    It sounds good in any language...thanks.

    Does your support group also cater for all our "sheila's"...and what they have to put up with constantly?

    I remember my wife coming out with a "brew" for me and my mate one day, when we were wrestling with the later 14M...trying to get it off the trailer and man-handled into the shed...sweat lashing off us everywhere...(it was our one warm day that year!)...

    She took one look at us...trying to shoe-horn, yet another big oily lump into the shed...shook her head...and walked away mumbling something about...
    "I wish he had taken up knitting or sommat"!

    Anyway...we all have our cross to bear...mine is, that I am a "shaper-nut"!

    By the way Ray...I like your Varnamo Shaper...very nice!
    The "swedes" make damn fine machine tools...

    Back when I was still in the Toolroom (before I retired)...we had a Thule 24 inch Shaper (made in Malmo, Sweden)...That was a "beast"!
    You just couldn't stop this thing!

    Both myself, and the other Toolmaker...used to try and see if we could "stop it" (we were much younger, and daft back then!)...
    However, neither one of us could wind enough feed on...on the backstroke...to get it to "flinch" while making a cut...
    It was just bigger and bigger "bullits"...pinging off the job, bouncing off the wall...and then falling, sizzling onto the floor...

    Ohhhh...Happy days!

    Regards,
    Neebs

  2. #62
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Neebs View Post
    PS Stuart...J & S 540's used to be very expensive...even the old ones...
    However, with the ongoing closure of small engineering 'shops they are becoming more "affordable"...so I wish you well in your endeavours to find one.
    The only one I have seen in good condition here (with the electric head movement) started in auction at $6500 I dont know if it sold.

    I don't have the tooling or a work piece large enough to push my shaper. 5/16 is the largest I have . But then for what I use it for thats enough.

    Stuart

  3. #63
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Fife Scotland
    Posts
    24

    Default Power is relative

    Hi Stuart,
    I wasn't advocating that we abuse (push) our Shapers, not by any manner of means...

    However, to clarify matters...it must be said that, in my opinion:
    ...size for size, the humble shaper is probably the most powerful single machine you are likely to own.
    It's sole purpose in life is to push that tool forward...irrespective of what is in the way!

    It follows then, that the larger machines are extremely powerful for their size...and if I recall, the motor on the Thule 24 inch Shaper was around 10hp...

    That is a serious amount of "grunt" to have at your disposal...and to be quite frank, to be able to watch one of the bigger Shapers "hog off" metal, when required...is a jaw-dropping experience!...if you can dodge the "bullits" pinging off the tool-tip!

    Like I said...as you get "hooked"...you need a bigger "fix"!

    Regards,
    Neebs...the Shaperholic

  4. #64
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Neebs View Post
    I wasn't advocating that we abuse (push) our Shapers, not by any manner of means...
    Hi Neebs,
    Not at all, I just meant that (I'd think) my shaper would handle anything I could throw it with a 5/16 cutter.

    Stuart

  5. #65
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Ballarat
    Age
    65
    Posts
    3,103

    Default

    Hi Neebs,
    I have been trying real hard to not reply in accordance with the guidelines set out in Shaper Therapy but I can resist no longer. Outstanding collection of shapers!
    I weakened on the weekend (and I was doing so well), I needed a small bit of steel to hold some drawings flat on the bench. Now normally you would just pick up a piece and place it in the appropriate position on the paper. Not me. I took this small piece of 25mm square black bar over to the shaper and cut a male dovetail in it. Now it looks like an engineered paperweight. I kid you not!! I am so proud of it that it now lives inside the house on the office desk. It seemed silly making it for just one bit of paper. As you can see and as RayG pointed out there is a serious problem (although I am yet to be convinced) and help should be made available.
    Some people collect stamps but where is the fun in that.
    More pics please, more pics, I need them now

    Phil

  6. #66
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dural NSW
    Age
    82
    Posts
    1,203

    Default Non Slip Dovetail

    Phil
    I can see a benefit in that paper weight, because the dovetail allows a good grip.
    It appears to be an accurate 60 degree,
    Well done
    regards
    from the Shaper support group Dural NSW
    Bruce

  7. #67
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Abratool View Post
    Phil
    I can see a benefit in that paper weight, because the dovetail allows a good grip.
    It appears to be an accurate 60 degree,
    Well done
    regards
    from the Shaper support group Dural NSW
    Bruce
    OHWS...

  8. #68
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Fife Scotland
    Posts
    24

    Default Dovetail paperweights et al

    Hi Phil,
    Glad you like my Shapers...thanks for that!

    Phil...A very nice dovetail...but of course, as a "Shaper-Nut", I would expect absolutely nothing less...when producing dovetails on a Shaper...no fuss, no drama, no broken tools, no bad language...just a beautifully made component time and time again...
    ...and all done with a little bit of HSS that only cost a couple of quid!

    Unlike those poor souls...with only a milling machine to produce dovetails...
    £50 for the dovetail milling cutter, another £50 for the Vallium you need to take before you switch the Mill on...and then another £50 for the paper hankies...for all the tears when your Dovetail milling cutter snapped with no warning!...bummer!
    You Milling "chappies"...have a nice day now!

    Think I'll stick to my Shapers!...for the "tricky" jobs!

    I have attached a couple of photos of a set of "dovetail paperweights"...I made for a mate of mine...just a month or two back...

    Oh sorry...It was actually supposed to be a QCTP with eight toolholders...18 dovetails in total...all done on the shaper...

    However, as he hasn't got around to fitting it to his Emco Maximat Lathe yet... technically...they are still paperweights!...and in one of the pics you can see how many dovetails were needed to hold the paper down!

    Regards,
    Neebs
    Last edited by Neebs; 6th Mar 2012 at 12:36 PM. Reason: oops spelling error

  9. #69
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hello Neebs,

    Any chance of some close up shots of the method of dial indicator attachment?

    I imagine the Elliot has graduated collars on the horizontal and vertical table feed screws. Those of us down here who own little Douglas's don't and in my case, cutting a dovetail on the mill is easier.

    BT

  10. #70
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Neebs View Post
    ...18 dovetails in total...all done on the shaper...
    Nice!
    Could you have (or did you?) do several of the toolholders at once, stacked in the vice?

    Jordan

  11. #71
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nadroj View Post
    Nice!
    Could you have (or did you?) do several of the toolholders at once, stacked in the vice?

    Jordan
    Thats what I was thinking, even tack welding them together, then machining the sides with the tacks off last to clean them off. I don't think I would have the patient to do them all one by one.

    Still a nice job you did on those for you mate. He would have to be happy with them.

    Dave

  12. #72
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer View Post
    Hi Neebs,
    I have been trying real hard to not reply in accordance with the guidelines set out in Shaper Therapy but I can resist no longer. Outstanding collection of shapers!
    I weakened on the weekend (and I was doing so well), I needed a small bit of steel to hold some drawings flat on the bench. Now normally you would just pick up a piece and place it in the appropriate position on the paper. Not me. I took this small piece of 25mm square black bar over to the shaper and cut a male dovetail in it. Now it looks like an engineered paperweight. I kid you not!! I am so proud of it that it now lives inside the house on the office desk. It seemed silly making it for just one bit of paper. As you can see and as RayG pointed out there is a serious problem (although I am yet to be convinced) and help should be made available.
    Some people collect stamps but where is the fun in that.
    More pics please, more pics, I need them now

    Phil

    Hi Phil,
    Looks good, is that your first dovetail? If it is, it looks like you did well.
    I had to think what shaper you had, then when I looked I remembered your comment and mod about the table support and it flexing. I think that is because you have the short base model, because I haven't heard anyone else complaining and I don't find I get any flex to really talk about. I am not sure when or why they brought out the short base, but I don't think it was a good decision. I am wondering if these where the first type of bases, is yours a plain bearing model?

    You shaper came up well, I was looking on you tube the other day to find out where a washer went and spotted yours running. I wasn't able to spot where the washer went on any of them, but thankfully Jordan and Pipeclay helped me out of where the brake washer and spacer washer went on the clutch shaft.I pulled it down before Christmas and had forgotten where they went. I did take pictures of the assembly before I dismantled it, but my memory card disappeared on new years along with a lot of other pictures, after putting it away safe in my wallet.

    My Douglas is down getting mods, it only started out with a clean after mounting a grinder to it to do some surface grinding, then I thought I would paint it, now I an doing some major modifications to it. I will do a thread on it when I am finished, I just want to test it all out first, so then others could copy it easily.

    Dave

  13. #73
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Australia east coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Neebs View Post
    Unlike those poor souls...with only a milling machine to produce dovetails...
    £50 for the dovetail milling cutter, another £50 for the Vallium you need to take before you switch the Mill on...and then another £50 for the paper hankies...for all the tears when your Dovetail milling cutter snapped with no warning!...bummer!
    You Milling "chappies"...have a nice day now!
    Au contraire, I don't weep, I build a tool for the job.....

    Cutter pictured is a Cat 40 taper shank machined by myself, 5 teeth made of HSS stick-welded in position using E4111 rods (with a hell of a lot of pre-heat) and ground on a T&C grinder. Note that I didn't go overboard WRT the finish of anything that isn't a cutting edge. Cost, peanuts. Robustness, high. Speed of cut, considerably higher than on a shaper. Length of cut, *much* greater than on most shapers. Who has a shaper with over 30" of travel? Some, but not many, I'll bet.

    Horses for courses.

    That's a Swedish Prema 20" shaper that the cutter is resting on so it's not like I'm not a member of the club, just that it's not necessarily the best tool for every job.

    PDW

  14. #74
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Fife Scotland
    Posts
    24

    Default

    Hi Guys,
    I will try and answer your queries/comments in order...

    Anorak Bob: Yes the Elliott's have graduated dials (very handy!)...see pics.

    ...Nothing fancy with the DTI attachment...I usually just use either a Magnetic Stand or my Baty Clamp...see pics attached...so, as yet, never needed to make a dedicated holder for the DTI for use on the Shapers...
    Having said that...you have quite a bit o' room...on the mid range machines to clamp/put "stuff"...luxury!

    Note: I tend to "use" the DTI's as a "zero" datum...as my memory isn't as good as it was...and as a result... it is too easy to "loose the plot (or position)"...when "distracted" (and with five grand-kids...you get distracted...a lot!)
    At least if I have set a "zero datum"...I have somewhere to go back to!...when they have all dissapeared.

    Nadroj and Dave J: Glad you like the QCTP...I could have "stacked" them...but I didn't...
    There were very quick to do individually...(to my zero datum)...so, for me, that was the easier and quicker way to to it...(no patience required)

    We all have "differing" ways of working...what is fast and easy for me...may well be slow and difficult for you...Which is why, when machining...yes I accept that there is often no "right" way!...it all depends on the individual and the equipment at his disposal.
    As PDW said in another post "horses for courses".

    PDW: Impressive "dovetail cutter"...serious bit o' kit!...respect dude! ...and I like your Shaper!

    Regards,
    Neebs
    Last edited by Neebs; 6th Mar 2012 at 11:14 PM. Reason: I forgot summat!

  15. #75
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Thank you Neebs.

    Something that facilitates finding the starting point with an element of accuracy is a good thing.

    Bob.

Page 5 of 36 FirstFirst 1234567891015 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. shaper
    By jonroe in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 27th Sep 2011, 12:02 AM
  2. Shaper
    By Anorak Bob in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 43
    Last Post: 19th Mar 2011, 10:18 PM
  3. TOS shaper
    By Bryan in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 91
    Last Post: 16th Mar 2011, 05:58 PM
  4. or VIC: Shaper
    By Bryan in forum METALWORK - Machinery, Equipment, MARKET
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11th Dec 2010, 08:06 PM
  5. Shaper vid
    By .RC. in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 1st Oct 2008, 11:03 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •