Originally Posted by
Patrick Kane
Where are you guys finding used feeders inexpensively!??! I want a spare for my PM72, and id even like to give a feeder a go on my 20" jointer. For the life of me, i cant find a used single phase feeder within 3-4 hours. My only opportunities are 1/2 hp units attached to the ubiquitous 3hp shaper, and the guy never wants to split up the package.
I kinda pulled $3,000 out of the air. Yes, i routinely see 3hp delta shapers with a 1/4-1/2 hp feeder for sale in the $1500-1800 range. So add in a couple hundred for some tooling and you are up and running for $2,000. My opinion--right or wrong--is to not go the 3hp taiwan import shaper. Im sure they are fine, but if you are going to have one machine and you are comfortable buying used already, then i would go right to something 5hp. At that weight class you get a high quality machine with a tilting spindle(i dont think the 3hp imports tilt), and you might even get lucky with getting a sliding table like Jared.
Patrick
$3000.00 is not a bad number. I don't think the whole country is as "used tool rich" as the area Jared is in. Those are some amazing deals!! The OP is in Hawaii, which is probably going to be very restrictive for used tool availability.
My initial outlay was a maybe a little high, but I bought my shaper, Delta 43-375, from Todd Davidson here on the forum. It came with everything though, except the power feeder. For $1200.00 I literally could start making cabinets, and interior doors, the moment I got it home, with no other investment required. Mount the cutters, turn it on and start feeding material. Each deal will be different.
Jared
What are you doing with all of those power feeders and shapers? That Bridgewood was quite the machine in it's day!
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