I know the subject has been hashed out quite a bit with several, "i have a new shaper, what cutters should i buy?" threads, but I have more specific questions concerning euroblocks. From all the threads ive read, that seems like the way to go for me and many hobbyists; However, what i dont know from reading those threads is what heads to buy and from what manufacturers. They all LOOK to be the same exact design, but some people say the CMT heads are garbage, or dont buy aluminum etc. It looks like woodweb and sawmill had positive things to say about Whitehill.
I have a used Felder KF700 saw/shaper that i bought in october. For the interim, ive been using the high speed router spindle. I also have a 1.25" spindle for it. It has a 4.8hp motor and the ability to tilt back to 45°. So far i dont have a feeder, but im combing the used market and might have a 3 wheel grizzly nearby. If that falls through, i think ill just spend $1000-1200 on a new 3 wheel from grizzly, powermatic, or comatic dc30.
Originally, i was going to buy these steel insert heads
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/d...449825267.html
But, reading more about insert tooling, it seems like HSS will give me more than enough edge life for my purposes, and the craigslist heads are expensive for new profiles. Looks like $100+ per head for new carbide inserts. Im also unsure about the flexibility of profiles with those heads. Perhaps this is still a good option for handling all my frame and panel needs?
This seems like a pretty standard euroblock to pick up
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catal...?cid=2&c2id=20
But should i get it in steel or alloy? Also, the diameter and height vary quite a bit, not sure which is best. Assuming this will be my cope/stick head, should i get two? Can you use these heads as effective rebate heads, or should i get this combo head
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catal...?cid=2&c2id=60
Finally, what panel raiser is preferred? I see whitehill offers two different diameters.
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catal...?cid=2&c2id=35
Im not going to buy this all at once, but i would like to start using the shaper as a shaper instead of a glorified router table. i think right off the bat, i want one of the euroblock heads to do rebates, chamfers, and profiles. I also want a byrd head for template work. 80% of my router table work was templating. I was thinking the 3" diameter 4" tall byrd head with matching rub bearing would do nicely. From there i will let the project dictate what to buy, but i see myself doing an exterior entrance door for my parents and standard cabinet door stuff for vanities in the next year or so.