Magic Molder for the TS

David…you have to b careful with TS molder head..dangerous….i have one of the older delta molder heads, its thicker than the ones u can buy now..i use it to cut flutes in pilasters….i think CMT make one but its $$$$$...craftsman makes on to…not good …at least from what i heard…

-- IF YOUR NOT MAKING DUST...YOU ARE COLLECTING IT! SOUTH CAROLINA.

We have a Magic Moulder in a commercial shop. It’s carbide tipped cutters are pricey and they make a shaper head that uses the same insert cutters. Not something you can sharpen yourself. LRH who made the head originally went out of business so somebody picked the head to remanufacture. Not recommended for the low budget hobbyist. http://woodtechtooling.com/

http://corobcutters.com/index.php Corob Cutters picked up the production of the Delta/Craftsman moulding heads. I have several of the old three knife Craftsman and Delta heads. My favorite is the older Single Knife Craftsman head which can still be found at flea markets, etc. The reason this head is so good is a single knife costs $6 and I understand cutter geometry from my moulder knife grinding days and I can make a custom cutter in about 15 minutes. The Single Cutter head is my go to cutter. The head is balanced for the single knife so you can’t just run one knive in the three head cutter.

The machine is the small part of the equation. The operator is the major part of doing good safe work. Accidents are blamed on the lack of skill on the operator for the most parts or carelessness from rushing or being tired or not focused on the task at hand.

The Delta and Craftsman heads are slightly different but I don’t see either as lesser quality. I’m perfectly comfortable running these heads but I’m used to big production machines so this are like toys to me. Toys that can kill and maim but if used properly are no more dangerous than a standard blade on a table saw.

-- Few folks really know how to maximize the potential of their tools!

Steve, Rick – Thanks for the advice, I get the impression they are not the safest tools to use, that said, I operate my TS (3HP) without a guard, not to be recommended I know but I’m guessing more downward pressure directly over the molder is required?? With the normal blade the operator stands behind and to the side when feeding into a blade and kick back aside and therefore little less at rick from the cutter.

I may have to reconsider such a purchase on your advice, it was just that a friend of mine has one of the craftsman three pronged versions which he used to make beaded wall panelling – maybe I’ll just stick with the shaper.

Thanks fellahs.

David

-- No one plans to fail, they just, just fail to plan

David I use Molder heads only on the spindle molder and with that

I use a power feed. I’ve done freehand on the S/M but I find the

finish better with the added pressure of the power feed.

If your shaper can take the molder heads with a nice steady feed it should

also give a good finish you are also well out of the firing line. :)

Jamie

-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Thanks Jamie, I’m beginning to think the molder for a TS has a limited use so I may just stick with my SM.

Thanks.

David

-- No one plans to fail, they just, just fail to plan

These are great cutters . We used them to make some of our stock moldings in our product shops. I do not consider them a hobby shop cutter. For what they cost, you can buy a lot router bits for your router table or small shaper.

Tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

I have used molding cutters from Sears on my TS but they are very scary. I guess any of them are, with all that metal going around at that speed. Especially with the noise they make.