Decisions, Decisions

[puffernutter]

I have had an Alba Shaper for about 15 years. It gets occasional use, works perfectly and if I'm honest it's only recently been used a few times to put key ways in wheels/axles to set the quartering and prevent them from moving on the axle.

I've now been offered a very nice Atlas Model MFC horizontal mill at a price I'd be stupid to refuse and it also has movement on three axes and heap of accessories.

I have a vertical mill already, so I can do some/most milling operations.

I have to do one in/one out in the workshop now as space is so tight. So as the shaper is used the least, that's the logical choice.

I suppose if I need to put key ways in wheels, then I can either loctite the wheel on the shaft and then drill between the wheel axle and pin, or use a broach.

I think I've convinced myself that horizontal mill is probably more useful than a shaper - but what do others think?

PN

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Extend the workshop.
Put the shaper on wheels maybe lol.

If your gonna get more use from the HM it's a no brainer.

 

[brightspark]

Extend the workshop.
Put the shaper on wheels maybe lol.
.

that will be fun to watch in use

 

[merryman]

I have done very little milling and only used a shaper once, but the shaper will do things the milling machines won't, and the vertical mill will do things the horizontal won't, so just what is the advantage of the horizontal mill, and what are you going to use it for?

 

[ukracer]

I have done very little milling and only used a shaper once, but the shaper will do things the milling machines won't, and the vertical mill will do things the horizontal won't, so just what is the advantage of the horizontal mill, and what are you going to use it for?

I had a shaper and sold it...i found it limited in use slow and had no DRO.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

that will be fun to watch in use

If you don't wind the legs back down...

Nice shaper size hole in the wall.

 

[Fazerruss]

that will be fun to watch in use

Not a shaper but same principles apply....