I just got donated a shaper which was probably put together in the late 1800s, and was destined for the scrap yard, till I spoke up. It's been sitting in a shed since I was in high school, sitting out in the open since the shed blew down six years ago in a hurricane, but within hours of it being delivered to my shop, every moving part was free, and the worst damage I can find is a broken tooth on the bull gear, which is easily repaired, and with the gear about two feet in diameter, ought to be an easy repair. It has a twelve inch stroke, a box table which is removeable, and a T slot face with the box off, so odd pieces can be shaped off flat. It has a "Y" yoke connecting the operating lever to the ram, so a shaft can be put on the table, and a slot shaped down the entire length of it, with the shaft poking through the body of the shaper and out the back end. It looks to be a cosmetic rebuild more than anything else, and will add greatly to my shop.
Here's a side view with the clapper box removed and the box table removed, showing the general size and shape of the machine
looking over the table at the end of the ram, this was not cleaned, but is this clean after just removing the clapper box and down feed.
a look at the side rail, must be old because it's got square ways, and not dovetails
the clapper box and down feed, the clapper is free but tight, the down feed surface rusted, but little or no pitting, should clean up fine.
you've got to have a box to put the parts in, so you can wonder where they go a month from now.
I can't wait to have it down to stripping the old paint, and starting to re-assemble, I'm looking forward to putting it to use.
mad jack
