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Looking to purchase a new shaper

10K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  Gshepherd 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've been looking at the Grizzly G1035 & G1035P 1 1/2 hp shaper for my small shop. I intend to use it for making numerous itms for my new home so I don't plan on making my living with it. Does anyone own one of these machines or have an educated opinion on that machine(s). They are both basically the same machine with the exception of color and a small price difference. I am open to suggestions on other shapers in the same price and power range. Thanks
 
#3 ·
I've spent a few dedicated hours doing just that. The Jet 1 1/2 hp has some great reviews and shares many of the same attributes as the Grizzly although it cost another $425.00 and that is money I'd rather spend on cutter heads etc. I've spoken to two Jet dealer salesman and neither one of them had an opinion on the Grizzly. I have a Grizzly table saw and it has always been a great machine. I have also looked at several online auctions with mostly larger machines but was not seeing anything worth biting on without a closer on-site inspection. I guess I'll check Craig's List every day for the next few weeks, and hope I get lucky.
 
#4 ·
Brian, you asked for an educated opinion so I ll give you one: 1 1/2 hp may be enough for your intended use, but will bog quite easily. If budget is a non-issue I would recomend a min. of 3hp in the shaper not only for the additional power but for the table surface area. The 1 1/2 hp machines I have used, owned and seen have all had the shortcoming of small table surface area. You can compensate for this by fabricating a layover surface with 3/4 ply. and make it as large as you like. However, you will then loose a little bit of under nut spindle capacity, which is not much on the 1 1/2 hp machines to begin with.
Its sorta like this, spend almost twice the money and get five times the capability. Good luck on your decission. JB
 
#5 ·
I have the G1035 Grizzly shaper and it's a fine machine but I don't use it very much. I built a big router table with lift and 3 1/4hp router that gets most of the use now. My main reason for building the router table was that I preferred a larger table surface for stability when making raised panel doors etc. Grizzly does offer an add on table extension though. It all depends on your needs and preferences but the machine itself is a good machine.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I also have the G1035 with the cast Iron extention table. I bought it off craigslist last December and I used it on couple of projects. I really do like it much better then my Bosch router table. The larger workspace with the extention table is Fantasic. I bought the router bit adaptor and used it to make raised panels for my sons bed and I was really pleased with the results. I have never used a cutter knives with it yet, but hope to very soon. If I was starting all over I would have bought the shaper over the router table. I hope this helped!
 
#7 ·
I have two G1035s and love them both. I fitted one with a Grizzly sliding table and it makes coping cuts a breeze. The other has a power feeder available to it.
I've purchased the different sized spindles and router chucks, so I can hold just about every cutter in my shop. I even machined a 3" plate to hold the Craftsman style molding cutters. Makes for almost endless possibilities.
DanK
 
#8 ·
Bottom line, if your going to step up to a shaper then get a shaper…. 3hp or more…, If not then stick with the router…... If you get a shaper then also get a power feeder….. Getting a 1 1/2 hp shaper is like buying a Ferrari with a 4 cyl engine. Your on the right track but just not quite there yet…...

I have a 3hp Delta and a 7hp Powermatic…. I use the Delta the most just because I can use router bits or change the spindle which is about a 3 min task and use 3/4 dia cutters.. A lot of options… Both have power feeders. In your case a VS 3 1/4 hp router table set up would do just fine…
 
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