woodshaper or router table

[Ben W]

So I was given a Craftsman wood shaper (2HP, Contractor Series, Model 113.239420) without any cutters. I also have an average Craftsman router. My question is whether it is worth it to invest in the wood shaper and buy cutters, or to just sell it and stick with a router/router table. (I don't have a table, but could build/buy one.) I've read that some of these wood shapers are weak (though this 2 hp one seems decent) and they're not worth having compared to a router and table. I'm really only an occasional woodworker, btw.

I do want to upgrade from my current router to the Bosch 2 1/2 hp fixed/plunge combo (Bosch 1617) which should be fine for a table.

At the moment it is just taking up space in my garage.

 

[Alchymist]

The range of cutters and the size of cut you can take with a shaper far exceeds that of a router. Things like stile and rail cuts, 2" and even 3" high trim cutters etc, are available. Some shapers have an interchangeable spindle that allows use of router bits as well as shaper bits. Router for portability, shaper for serious work.
Cutters like this for example:

 

[Milton Shaw]

I had a Sears shaper years ago and it only had a 1/2 shaft and a allen hex hole in the end to hold the spindell when changing cutters. One time it was full of saw dust and I didn't clean it out and broke the end of the spindel off. I ended up filing it down to two flats and used a 3/8 open end to hold the spindel when I changed cutters. You can do a lot more wood crafting with a shaper than a router, such as making crown molding or base cove molding. A router is easier for portable jobs and making dovetail drawers. The router is the cheapest part of the system, by the time you buy all the guides, fixtures, tables, and bits etc.. You have spent three or four times the cost of the router. A good Porter Cable Router is a lot smoother running than the Sears ones I have had. The PC bit chuck is much better, probably 10 times stronger and its not the end of the motor shaft that wears out like on a Sears unit.

 

[Alchymist]

Here's a couple recent projects - the cutting board was routed with a 20 year old Craftsman router, the box was done on a shaper. Board was easy with the router, but the box went much easier on the shaper.

 

[woody 73]

Funny you should ask that question because I was talking to another GJ member about that same question. Turns out that most woodworkers will need the router; but they do not need the shaper.

If you ever found yourself doing a lot of board feet of moulding then a shaper is the way to go, but on the other hand they can take up valuable floor space and with a router and its table you don't need that much space.

 

[theoldwizard1]

A shaper is just a router and table on steroids. Great for larger quantities of molding or thicker (5 or 6 quarter) material. Cutter (bits) are more expensive and probably will have to be ordered.

If you have room in your shop, I would keep it.

 

[Greatbear]

Get a shaper if you want to use bits with a cut profile more than an inch. Most small and medium sized shapers allow you to replace the spindle with a collet that can hold conventional router bits, so your investment in bits does not go to waste. Shaper cutters can cut larger and thicker profiles than any handheld router, but they can be quite pricey.

I have a 1.5HP Grizzly shaper, it's a nice little machine. It's also a lot quieter than a router.

 

[Ben W]

So what could I sell it for?

 

[rsanter]

I used to use a routher table
my dad gave me his shaper and I have never gone back
the precision of adjustment is way better and it can handle 2.5 in bits that the router never could

bob