Richard Link
11-08-2009, 11:07 PM
I have had the good fortune of acquiring a european saw/shaper combo with a sliding table. In the past, I've primarily used cabinet saw approaches with a stacked dado set to cut grooves and box joints. Given that I now have a shaper (at least its on the way), I'm intrigued by the option of using stacked cutters to cut box joints for drawer construction, as well as using the shaper to cut drawer bottom grooves. I will have a power feeder, in case that is relevant to the discussion.
For the purposes of making a stack of cutters and rub collars to, say, cut 1/4 inch box joints or 1/2 inch box joints, do knowledgeable folks have a recommendation for type and brand of shaper cutters? I have a 1 1/4" spindle and am not looking for spectacularly expensive industrial cutters as I doubt I will run enough material through this setup to really justify the expense of insert tooling. Also, there seem to be "grooving" and "straight" cutters, and I'm frankly confused as to the difference.
To make 1/4 inch box joints, I would assume that I simply stack 1/4" straight cutters and 1/4" thick rub collars up to the the height to accomodate the drawer. Same would be true for 1/2" box joints. If I only buy 1/4" cutters and rub collars, can't I just stack em two at a time to make 1/2" grooves? I am anticipating gang clamping the drawer sides to the sliding table and simply sliding it through. For simple grooving (i.e. drawer bottoms), I can mount my power feeder sideways to pass the drawer side over the 1/4 inch cutter. This seems like a very fast way to make multiple drawers.
To my uninitiated eye, investing in a bunch of these straight cutters seems like a versatile option as I can stack them and perhaps use them for tenoning, as well. Does any manufacturer sell these things in set form?
At any rate, am I off base here? Should I just invest in a dado set bored for my saw and go back to doing this the old way?
Pardon my ignorance about some of these shaper issues. I'm excited to start exploring these options but don't really have a great source for detailed advice other than the forum.
Rick
For the purposes of making a stack of cutters and rub collars to, say, cut 1/4 inch box joints or 1/2 inch box joints, do knowledgeable folks have a recommendation for type and brand of shaper cutters? I have a 1 1/4" spindle and am not looking for spectacularly expensive industrial cutters as I doubt I will run enough material through this setup to really justify the expense of insert tooling. Also, there seem to be "grooving" and "straight" cutters, and I'm frankly confused as to the difference.
To make 1/4 inch box joints, I would assume that I simply stack 1/4" straight cutters and 1/4" thick rub collars up to the the height to accomodate the drawer. Same would be true for 1/2" box joints. If I only buy 1/4" cutters and rub collars, can't I just stack em two at a time to make 1/2" grooves? I am anticipating gang clamping the drawer sides to the sliding table and simply sliding it through. For simple grooving (i.e. drawer bottoms), I can mount my power feeder sideways to pass the drawer side over the 1/4 inch cutter. This seems like a very fast way to make multiple drawers.
To my uninitiated eye, investing in a bunch of these straight cutters seems like a versatile option as I can stack them and perhaps use them for tenoning, as well. Does any manufacturer sell these things in set form?
At any rate, am I off base here? Should I just invest in a dado set bored for my saw and go back to doing this the old way?
Pardon my ignorance about some of these shaper issues. I'm excited to start exploring these options but don't really have a great source for detailed advice other than the forum.
Rick