Roger, this qualifies as a suicide set up. Don't do it again please! Joe's pictures and advice show the way it should be done. I also second JR, Peter and Michael's comments. It is really important to get some training and then you will be able to do some good work. The shaper is a delight to use if used correctly. As you found out, incorrect use causes catastrophe before you know it. I have had 3 colleagues lose significant parts of their hands through incorrect shaper use in the days before serious safety regulations were enforced. The first one I ever used had the switch hear the floor. When I asked why, the foreman said "So you can duck below the plane of the knives if they come out when you start it up...!" It was a place to always wear brown trousers, if you get my drift. I really, really appreciate the advances in industrial safety. Cheers
Every construction obeys the laws of physics. Whether we like or understand the result is of no interest to the universe.