With the proliferation of table-mounted routers in the woodshop, most woodworkers have never experienced the power and precision that a stationary shaper has to offer. In addition to a quiet, vibration-free cut, the shaper allows you to surpass the capabilities of the router by offering wider, deeper cuts, production runs, and custom moldings.

In this book, author Lonnie Bird demonstrates how versatile and extremely productive the shaper can be. Youll see that the shaper, with its vast assortment of cutterheads, fences and jigs, can handle a wide variety of woodworking applications.

Regardless of your level of woodworking, the shaper can increase the quality and efficiency of your work, and it can broaden the scope of your woodworking.

More than just a primer on shaper techniques, this book gives shop-proven examples of how the shaper can be put to use. With an emphasis on safety, this book is a step-by-step guide that will teach you all about the shaper: from basic setups to cutting curved molding profiles to designing shaper jigs that will expand your woodworking potential.

Introduction

1 Introduction to the Shaper

2 Shaper Cutterheads

3 Shaper Safety

4 Basic Shaper Technique

5 Shaping Curved Stock

6 Making Moldings

7 Grinding Custom Knives

8 Frame-and-Panel Joinery

9 Sash-Door Joinery

10 The Power Feeder

11 Shop-Made Jigs for the Shaper

Appendix

Glossary

Sources

Index

The shaper is one of the most productive, yet least understood of an woodworking machines. Many woodworkers I've talked to think that the shaper is dangerous or that they can perform the same functions with their table-mounted router. While these statements have some merit, they are not entirely true.

The purpose of this book is to show the vast possibilities of this overlooked machine. More than just a treatise on shaper techniques, this book also gives practical examples of how the shaper can be put to use.

It's my sincere desire that the techniques in this book will help you discover for yourself the full potential of the shaper and expand your woodworking skills.

Customer Reviews from Amazon

The Shaper Book
This is an excellent guide to shapers and their evolution to and from routers. It provides woodworkers with instructions on the choice, use and mis use of shapers.
Everyone contemplating the purchase of shapers or routers should read this book first.

The Shaper Book is an excellent book. It should be called Shaper 101 because it is a basic course in shaping. If you are trying to decide between a shaper or a router table, this book is for you. This machine is more versatile than a router and it will also accept a router bit attachment, but remember both machines have their place.

This book will help you decide what to look for in a shaper before you buy.

Excellent guide to the use of large shapers. Safety is stressed.
Obviously an old "Pro" because of all the tricks demonstrated to improve project outcome. Would recommend this book for the library of all serious woodworkers.

I recently bought a shaper and quickly realized that a large panel cutter spinning at 7,000 rpms could put one's body parts in harm's way. The overall theme of this book is "safety first". After introducing the reader to basic shaper operation and cutter setup, the author successfully discusses the construction and use of various jigs that are used to enhance the safe operation of any shaper. As I read through the book, it became obvious that I wanted to build several of the jigs listed in the various chapters. As with any reference book, the true test comes in it's ability to provide useful information. This book will continue to provide me with tips and techniques each time I use my shaper. I highly recommend this book.

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