Shopfox 2 HP shaper??

[Mark Buchanan]

I am needing to add a couple of small shapers to my shop. I tried a 1 1/2 hp jet and did not care for it. I am looking at this Shopfox http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-W1674-HP-Shaper/dp/B000J0WYEQ and would like some feed back from anyone that has one.

Thanks
Mark

[Dave Lehnert]

Just FYI- ShopFox is Grizzly tools with an upgrade, sold at retail stores.
Grizzly has the shaper on sale right now for just under $500.
1/2 hp less than the ShopFox.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/1-1-2-HP-Shaper-Polar-Bear-Series/G1035P

http://cdn5.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg288/g/g1035p.jpg

[Van Huskey]

I think the best deal right now is the Grizzly 3hp shaper $989 shipped on sale, I would get it before the SF if you can swing the money.

[Peter Quinn]

I"m curious to know what you didn't"t like about the Jet shaper you tried? On paper the jet and shop fox don"t seem significantly different to me other than the price.

[Mark Buchanan]

I"m curious to know what you didn't"t like about the Jet shaper you tried? On paper the jet and shop fox don"t seem significantly different to me other than the price.

The Jet had a very small table with little room in front of the miter slot with no provisions to add a table. I see that the Grizzly has that ability. Also has a spindle lock that you have to access through the cabinet that is a PIA. However the most annoying thing is the height adjustment. It does not have a standard hand wheel with a handle and is very hard to make fine adjustments.

Mark

[Peter Quinn]

I guess your right! There are big differences. Funny thing is I have an old small Craftsman shaper that has a very similar height adjustment mechanism with a lever arrangement. Not sure who thought that was a good idea? Accounting department I suspect. Fence adjustment is no joy either. I set it up to cope 3/4" cabinet doors and NEVER change the height. Once set it spins the cutters just fine, but getting there is no fun.


At nearly $1k new, that is far more than I paid for my used 3HP delta, and more than I paid for my 5HP minimax shaper! I'd easily say that either of those two shapers will outwork the JET mini shaper or the shop fox 2HP and suffer none of its disadvantages. Have you checked the used market locally? It took me a while but I found good deals on used shapers locally. By a while I mean 18 months for the delta and 4 years for the 5HP minimax, but hey, I'm not a rich man, so time is cheap!

[Mark Buchanan]

Peter I don't have the luxury of time. I have a large job to start in a couple of weeks. I have a 3 hp Delta but need 2 to set up for rails and styles. I have looked on CL but not much close by. I actually would prefer the smaller size anyway because of where I plan to set them up.