Chapter 21 Processes Used to Separate Wood Materials 315
12″ (30 cm) wide. A push stick or push block should
be used when removing material from the face sur-
faces of small- to medium-sized workpieces. When
the stock is large and heavy, it may be safer to push it
through without a push stick.
Shaping
The shaper is a useful and versatile machine for
producing the intricate shapes required for molding
or window framing. Shaping produces a straight
line or design pattern along the length of the stock.
Elaborate crown molding and exterior molding is
often made by joining together several different
pieces of molding.
There are various types of shapers. The most
common of these is the single-spindle shaper, which
has a vertical spindle (shaft) that projects through
an opening in a horizontal metal worktable. See
Figure 21-8. The shaper cutters are mounted on the
spindle. Cutters have many different shapes, ranging
from straight to elaborate designs with curves and
angles. Here is how the process of shaping works:
If you are shaping material where the edge to be
grooved is a straight line, the fence is used to gage the
depth of the cut that will be made into the edge of the
stock by the rotating cutter. After the fence has been set,
the stock is placed on the table and pressed against the
adjustable fence. The workpiece is then pushed care-
fully into the rotating shaper cutters. A push block or
push stick should be used, whenever possible.
Stock must always be fed against the rotation
of the cutters in a shaper. The height of the cut is
controlled by a handwheel that raises the height of
the vertical shaft. The depth of cut is regulated by
adjusting the position of the fence. The shaper cutter
rotates at high speed (5000 rpm to 10,000 rpm).
Figure 21-9 shows a shaper cutter attached to the
spindle, and its relationship to the workpiece.
Not all pieces are easy to shape. If the workpiece
has been bandsawed into a curve or irregular shape,
the fence cannot be used. Instead, the workpiece is
pushed against the top and bottom collars, while the
knives work to remove the desired amount of stock.
A third method of guiding the stock against
the cutter is to use a shaped pattern or template. The
stock is attached to the pattern, which is placed on
the shaper table. The edge of the pattern rests against
a collar that is above the cutter on the spindle. (Refer
again to Figure 21-8.) The guiding edge of the pat-
tern regulates the cut. One of the advantages of
this method is that the entire edge of the part can
be shaped, since no stock has to be left uncut to run
against the collar. Another advantage is that the edge
of the stock can be rough, since it is not in contact
with the collar.
As in the case of the jointer, stock being pro-
cessed on the shaper should be held and positioned
Figure 21-8. The single vertical spindle of this shaper carries
a cutter that produces a desired edge-shape on stock. The
worker in this photo is using the shaper to finish the edge of
a door facing. The two diagonal bars in front of the fence are
anti-kickback devices. (Delta International Machinery Corp.)
Anti-kickback
devices
Figure 21-9. The shaper cutter is secured on the
spindle with a nut and lock washer, as shown. The cutter
configuration will produce a matching shape on the edge
of the workpiece, as shown. When shaping the edge of an
irregular workpiece, a template is often used. It rides against
the collar to maintain the proper depth of cut.
Cutter
Collar
Spindle
Lock washer
Nut Workpiece
Table
12″ (30 cm) wide. A push stick or push block should
be used when removing material from the face sur-
faces of small- to medium-sized workpieces. When
the stock is large and heavy, it may be safer to push it
through without a push stick.
Shaping
The shaper is a useful and versatile machine for
producing the intricate shapes required for molding
or window framing. Shaping produces a straight
line or design pattern along the length of the stock.
Elaborate crown molding and exterior molding is
often made by joining together several different
pieces of molding.
There are various types of shapers. The most
common of these is the single-spindle shaper, which
has a vertical spindle (shaft) that projects through
an opening in a horizontal metal worktable. See
Figure 21-8. The shaper cutters are mounted on the
spindle. Cutters have many different shapes, ranging
from straight to elaborate designs with curves and
angles. Here is how the process of shaping works:
If you are shaping material where the edge to be
grooved is a straight line, the fence is used to gage the
depth of the cut that will be made into the edge of the
stock by the rotating cutter. After the fence has been set,
the stock is placed on the table and pressed against the
adjustable fence. The workpiece is then pushed care-
fully into the rotating shaper cutters. A push block or
push stick should be used, whenever possible.
Stock must always be fed against the rotation
of the cutters in a shaper. The height of the cut is
controlled by a handwheel that raises the height of
the vertical shaft. The depth of cut is regulated by
adjusting the position of the fence. The shaper cutter
rotates at high speed (5000 rpm to 10,000 rpm).
Figure 21-9 shows a shaper cutter attached to the
spindle, and its relationship to the workpiece.
Not all pieces are easy to shape. If the workpiece
has been bandsawed into a curve or irregular shape,
the fence cannot be used. Instead, the workpiece is
pushed against the top and bottom collars, while the
knives work to remove the desired amount of stock.
A third method of guiding the stock against
the cutter is to use a shaped pattern or template. The
stock is attached to the pattern, which is placed on
the shaper table. The edge of the pattern rests against
a collar that is above the cutter on the spindle. (Refer
again to Figure 21-8.) The guiding edge of the pat-
tern regulates the cut. One of the advantages of
this method is that the entire edge of the part can
be shaped, since no stock has to be left uncut to run
against the collar. Another advantage is that the edge
of the stock can be rough, since it is not in contact
with the collar.
As in the case of the jointer, stock being pro-
cessed on the shaper should be held and positioned
Figure 21-8. The single vertical spindle of this shaper carries
a cutter that produces a desired edge-shape on stock. The
worker in this photo is using the shaper to finish the edge of
a door facing. The two diagonal bars in front of the fence are
anti-kickback devices. (Delta International Machinery Corp.)
Anti-kickback
devices
Figure 21-9. The shaper cutter is secured on the
spindle with a nut and lock washer, as shown. The cutter
configuration will produce a matching shape on the edge
of the workpiece, as shown. When shaping the edge of an
irregular workpiece, a template is often used. It rides against
the collar to maintain the proper depth of cut.
Cutter
Collar
Spindle
Lock washer
Nut Workpiece
Table