Router Table vs Shaper?

[Steven Hess]

Ok, newb here. It seems to me that a router table set up is basically the same thing as a shaper. Yes? No? Can you tell me the differences and advantage of each?
Thank you.
Steve

[Todd Crawford]

Cutters for the shapers are much more expensive.

[Jamie Buxton]

The simple answer is size. Routers get up to 3 hp. Shapers start there and go up. Shapers can handle bigger cutters -- like 6" diameter and up. That means you can do things like raising panels with 1 3/4" reveal, and backcutting it in the same pass. You can do things with a shaper like adding a power feeder, for consistent feed rates and for safety.

Basically, router tables are pickup trucks, and shapers are full-size trucks. Similar functions, but different capacity.

[Jerome Hanby]

Routers have universal motors where Shapers have "real" motors. I think I'd take a 1.5 HP Shaper ofer a 3HP router all else being equal. Of course with the router table, you can walk in lots of places and buy bits. At the price buying several profiles to try isn't as painful as buying shaper knives (although they can be more versatile).

Since it's so easy to just add a wing to your table saw for a router table, if you have to choose between them, go Shaper and cobble together a router table wing when you need one.

[Chip Lindley]

Steven, welcome to SMC! Any short answer here will only generate more questions. The two are not nearly the same. Similar but very different. Here is some good reading for starters:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=141142&highlight=router+shaper (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=141142&highlight=router+shaper)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=134401&highlight=router+shaper (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=134401&highlight=router+shaper)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127707&highlight=router+shaper (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127707&highlight=router+shaper)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127169&highlight=router+shaper (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=127169&highlight=router+shaper)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=14339 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=14339)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=26912 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=26912)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=54594 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=54594)


A search of this forum will yield myriad posts on just this subject. Do a search for "router shaper". If you care to search and read, you will understand everything there is to know about the differences and strong points of each. Then, if you have any specific questions not answered in your reading, feel free to ask here! Enjoy your enlightenment!

[Rod Sheridan]

Shapers also can have tilting spindles and sliding tables.

They're in my opinion far more useful than a router table which is why I'm on my second shaper, never owned a router table.

Shapers can also climb cut with a power feeder for difficult grain situations.

Shapers are also great at cutting tenons, both cheeks at once of a precise size,if set up with two cutters.

Many shapers can also run router bits, which those of us with shapers have done very sucessfully. Of course you get much better performance out of shaper cutters than router bits due to optimum cutter geometry.

An insert head, running HSS knives is a great setup for solid wood profiles, knives are in the $20 to $30 range.

Regards, Rod.

P.S.

A quick search on this forum of
router VS shaper" will yield hundreds of responses.

[Ray Newman]

Pat Warner summed it all up

"Router or Shaper?"

http://www.patwarner.com/router_or_shaper.html

[Philip Rodriquez]

First, I have a 3HP shaper and 4 routers. IMHO, a router table is far more useful for a noob and most pro’s do just fine without a shaper.

Shapers are big production machines that can run all-day – under a heavy load.
Shaper cutters are big and expensive. $1000 will get you 5 or 10 cutters.
Building a collection of shaper cutters can cost thousands!
Shaper speeds are 8k to 10k vs 15k to 22k router speeds. The speed difference is to accommodate the size difference in the cutters.
While many shapers can run router bits, they do not spin the small bit fast enough to get a good cut.
Extreme safety is a must! This is why many people add power feeders to their shapers.

A single router and most bits can be used in a table or by hand.
Router bit collections can be built quickly. $1000 could get you 50 or more cutters.

In the end, shapers are production machines. If you build kitchens or make moldings for a living, you should get one. A router wouldn’t last a week if it ran 8 hours a day. If you only run it for a few hours a week, you are better off with a router.

[Stephen Cherry]

Cutters for the shapers are much more expensive.


This is the common misconception.

You can buy lots in insert cutters for shapers for less than 20 dollars, even amazon has them for about 15 dollars. You need either a 40mm or corrugated head. Here is an example:

http://www.amazon.com/CMT-690-011-Profile-Knives-Insert/dp/B000P4LLUO/ref=sr_1_431?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1290449893&sr=1-431

You can also have knives ground to whatever profile you want- and it's not too expensive.

Grizzly has lots of carbide shaper cutters, not too expensive:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/C2075

Plus there is a market for used, and reconditioned shaper tooling:

http://www.oellasawandtool.com/products/shaper-cutter-dedicated-insert-head-base-%7B47%7D-panel-1%252d1%7B47%7D4%22.html

And yes, if you are running miles of rails and stiles, or lots and lots of raised panels- you can even buy the big dollar cutters that will hold up in a production.

[Jay Rasmussen]

Steven
I had the same question a few years ago. You are right, same basic principle. Basic is the key word. I spent several months trying to decide if I should build a new heavy duty router table or bite the bullet and get a shaper. I ended up going the shaper rout and have very happy with my decision. No question shaper cutters are more expensive but they can perform with amazing results. I have also found that I use many of my router bits on the shaper with the Collet adapter that came with my machine. I like the big cast iron table and weight of the machine.
Good luck with your purchase
Jay

[Cary Falk]

I recently upgraded from a router table to a shaper. I love the large cast iron table and the micro adjust fence. I have a router bit adapter so I can run router bits. I have found several shapper cutters from Infinity that were actually cheeper then the same router bit. I am happy I made the switch. I was looking to upgrade my router table and thought for just a little more I could have a shaper.

[Peter Quinn]

I agree that router tables and shapers are complimentary, similar but not interchangeable. It's handy to have both. You can do some things on the router table that would be difficult, more dangerous or impossible on the shaper. But when it comes to traditional edge shaping operations, the shaper wins hands down IMO on all accounts except cost. So the question is how much work are you trying to get done and what will you spend to do it. Some of the router tables I've seen assembled start to move to a price point that would IMO be better served with a shaper purchase. But tooling will always be more expensive for the shaper, so remember to factor that into your logic.

I think of it like this; A router table is like a small pick up truck. It can move rocks if you need it too. A shaper is like a tri axle dump truck. It can move a lot more rocks more quickly, but it's much tougher to park in the driveway and less convenient for quick trips around town.