Router Table or Shaper?

[Malinois Dad]

As of last week, my wife and I have officially sold of all but one department of our mechanical contracting business. This means I am officially 75% retired and have much more time available to spend in the workshop.

I'm actively shopping for some new/upgraded shop equipment. One of the items on my list is a new router table to replace my cheap Skil benchtop unit. I was ready to pull the trigger on a new router table package from Woodpeckers until I started browsing Facebook Marketplace and saw that I could buy a used shaper for close to the same price, or possibly less.

My question to all of you with much more woodworking experience than I; is there a downside to buying/using a shaper in lieu of a router table package?

 

[rmhinden]

I would think that a shaper is more suited to production, so it depends a lot on what you intend to use it for.

Don't forget to also compare the availability and cost of shaper cutters vs. router bits.

Bob

 

[Malinois Dad]

One of the shapers on Marketplace is a Powermatic that comes with 1/4" and 1/2" router bit collets so in my mind I could then use my current stock of router bits.

Production is a possibility. I have a couple local remodeling contractors that have asked me about making custom doors and cabinets for their projects.

 

[Packard]

By the time you equip a router table with a lift and other accessories it will cost more that the lower priced shapers (Grizzly, for example).

Dust collection is better with a proper shaper and many come with automatic feeds.

If I were starting over, I would definitely go the shaper route. Many allow you to use your router bits too.

 

[tjbnwi]

Two of my shapers (1 PM & 1 Harvey) came with router collet systems. The runout is really bad on both of them. I have not spent anytime on the why as I have a CMS if I need a router table.

With the 1-1/4 spindles in the machines the runout is negligible.

All 3 of my shapers have power feeds on them.

Tom

 

[jeffinsgf]

One of the shapers on Marketplace is a Powermatic that comes with 1/4" and 1/2" router bit collets so in my mind I could then use my current stock of router bits.

Production is a possibility. I have a couple local remodeling contractors that have asked me about making custom doors and cabinets for their projects.

Custom cabinetry? Shaper all day. The difference between machining door parts on a shaper and on a router table is night and day.

That said, don't overlook the option of a smaller router table for those things a router table does well. Specifically, take a look at the StabilMax RT Plus at Woodpeckers. If I had to give up one or the other, the big router table would go before the StabilMax.

1960s-ish Delta Heavy Duty Shaper and a StabilMax RT is my rec.

 

[Malinois Dad]

Thanks for the responses everyone. It sounds like a shaper may be in my future. Interestingly. I found a guy on FB Marketplace selling a supposedly brand new Woodpeckers router table kit, all but the lift and motor, for a good price. I may buy that just because.

It looks to me like the fence on a shaper bolts into threaded holes on the cast iron top? Would that preclude using an aftermarket fence (preferably Woodpeckers SF Pro Universal) on a shaper? Or might I be way overthinking things?

 

[luvmytoolz]

The more solid and heavy the machine the better for so many aspects. I'd be +1 for a shaper over a router table as well for this reason, but one that takes collets instead of the arbor type cutterheads to dramatically keep the cutter cost down.

I currently have a router table on wheels with a large heavy cast iron top that I can move around as needed, but if I had the room for a stationery shaper with collets I'd jump at it.

 

[tjbnwi]

The shaper fences do bolt directly to the table. All of mine have split fences that have micro adjust.

Tom