Atlas Shaper

[IOWOLF]

I will know more tomorrow but I MAY have a line on an Atlas 7" for about $400.
I have a S/B and don't need the Atlas might anyone here want it.

[Alistair Hosie]

Wolfie I have a boxford I believe they are somehwat similar to yours ( southbend)and as you know they are pretty nice little shapers. John stevenson sold a larger shaper,I can't remember the name think it was an elliot or such like a few years ago it was a beauty on wheels . I would have gone for it as it was in such good shape but it was maybe a bit too big for me so I bought the boxford good luck Alistair

[IOWOLF]

Well it is in OK shape some broken pieces,like the oil tray and missing a guard,No vice or tooling.But I saw it run.And it isn't pretty but is functional.

[Ragarsed Raglan]

Hey Wolfie!

That's a nice shaper, I rescued mine from a farm and rebuilt it. The ways were pretty well 'shot', the rats had knawed the wiring, and it was a sad colour of rust!

After recutting all the ways, making a new table lift screw and nut, and a table traverse screw and nut, plus a new sliding eccentric block for the ram drive it will now plane a piece of steel 4" x 3" flat and parallel to 0.0005" at any point when measured under a tenths dial gauge comparator stand. To do this the table 'jack' support at the front needs to be accurately set (not too much, not too little!). Previous to the rebuild the same piece of steel was showing a front to back 'banana' run out of around 0.015" (as if the ram was lifting and then dropping), the side to side was better at about 0.002" but still not as the maker intended.

Nice machines - I'd recommend one to any of the BB out there.

RR
"Dikhendaki Memaki"

[IOWOLF]

Thank you for that,I am not sure if I will buy it as he has a Dixon Zero turn mower for as it happens the same price. Need the mower more,and don't have the cash on have for both.
Say la Vee

[Al Messer]

You mentioned the absence of a vise. A member of the Yahoo Shaper List made some patterns and had some castings made back last year for the Atlas Shaper Vises. Actually, I have owned both and I find that the Atlas is more "user friendly" than the South Bend.

[IOWOLF]

You mentioned the absence of a vise. A member of the Yahoo Shaper List made some patterns and had some castings made back last year for the Atlas Shaper Vises. Actually, I have owned both and I find that the Atlas is more "user friendly" than the South Bend.

In your opinion ,Why is the Atlas more user friendly?

[Al Messer]

I feel that the Atlas is more "user friendly" because all the adjustments can be made from the operator's station. You do not have to open the door and climb inside to set the length of the stroke, the position of the stroke can be set precisely with the crank handle, not by guess, the ram can be jogged by using the clutch/brake, and I found it no trouble at all to "go 'round" with the oil can before each session, so the self oiling feature does not appear to be all that important, the Atlas vise is clearly marked in degrees and does not have to be almost completely removed from the bed to change its position, just loosen a couple of bolts and turn to where you want it. 'Nuff said?

[Russ H]

I feel that the Atlas is more "user friendly" because all the adjustments can be made from the operator's station. You do not have to open the door and climb inside to set the length of the stroke, the position of the stroke can be set precisely with the crank handle, not by guess, the ram can be jogged by using the clutch/brake, and I found it no trouble at all to "go 'round" with the oil can before each session, so the self oiling feature does not appear to be all that important, the Atlas vise is clearly marked in degrees and does not have to be almost completely removed from the bed to change its position, just loosen a couple of bolts and turn to where you want it. 'Nuff said?

Al, how about a brief run down on how the clutch/brake is set up?
I have an Ammco, the only cluth is the on/off switch. Not very comfortable running it!

Thanks
Russ H

[IOWOLF]

"NUFF SAID" I suppose so.