Questions about a South Bend 7" Shaper.

[Shade]

I have seen a few pictures of the one I might bepurchasing,
it looks like everything is there, but what are thethings I
should be looking at to make sure it is worth purchasing.I
offered $250 the guy seem interested in selling at thatprice.
I wll be seeing it Saturday.

Any and all advise and comments are welcome, I am not
new to machining but a shaper is new to me.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[stevecmo]

Ron,

It's a steal at $250 even if it's missing a couple small things. Snap it up!

Here's where you can read up on them and good pictures that you might want to print and take with you when you look at it.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/southbendshaper/

Steve

 

[AR1911]

Just make sure the original vise is included

 

[Uncle Buck]

Just make sure the original vise is included

I would not consider it a dealbreaker without the vise, but the point is VERY valid. To get an original or one of the quality anywhere near the original that came for the machine is guaranteed to cost a lot either used, or new. Used I would not be surprised to see one fetch well north of $100 and possibly almost $200! The closest thing you will find to what the machine originally came with would likely be a 4&1/2" Palmgren Lowboy which is a low profile swivel based vise that will cost you about $250 these days, and it is close, but not as nice as having an original SB to go with the machine so yes, do everything you can to get the original vise with the machine even if you have to pay another $100 to do that.


Also, if you can get the original indexing head tool cutter holder do everything you can to get that too as every single shaper accessory you don't get with the machine is assured to cost you huge money later. Accessories such as a log reach inside cutter holder, index centers, or rotary table cost as much or more than the bare machine these days and every one you can take home with the machine ensure a machine that will hold a high value. Just the basic indexed head cutter holder alone (which is a basic for the machine but very nice to have all the same) is costly when found alone, but a huge enhancment to the machine when bought along with it.


In summation, the price is good regardless of what comes with it but you could easily have another $250-350 in it by the time you round up a vise and an indexed head tool cutter holder so get as much as you can with the machine even if you pay more to get those accessories. I hope that helps you.

 

[barn]

We will be waiting to hear all about it come next week.
Good luck
barn

 

[AR1911]

We will be waiting to hear all about it come next week.
Good luck
barn

By the way, someone PM'd me a while back offering to trade a SB shaper vise for a bigger one I have.
I passed, but it may still be available.

(I'll be getting emails about this for the next 5 years)

 

[ScrapMetal]

Ron,

Here's a copy of South Bend's "How to Run a Metal Working Shaper" (Just click on the title for download.) It's roughly 27M, I scanned it and am hosting it on my server so I can guarantee it is "clean". It's got a lot of useful information on using and caring for a shaper, especially the SB one.

Hope that helps,

-Ron

 

[atwatterkent]

Shade,
The original 3 drawer base cabinet is very desirable too. Open up the side and start it. There is an automatic oiler at the bottom of the sump which holds about a quart of oil. If the pump is working, an 1/8"dia tube near the top center should be squirting or at least dripping oil onto the center pivot mechanism. Check the auto table feed mech too. Parts are hard to come by.
$250 is a great price. Easily worth twice that in decent shape.
BTW, the SB dividing centers that was mentioned looks like the unit mounted in the milling vise on my SB 10K. It's worth about $250 all by itself.
The pics also show the original vise for comparison
Had an SB shaper but sold it.
Good luck Sat. Weighs about 200 lbs.
Bob

 

[prmindartmouth]

I had a SB shaper too and never used it much.......too much fun playing with my 10k and a "new to me" Atlas MFC mill at the time, so I sold it to a friend. When you check the oil pump and if it is not working, I can send you a fairly lengthy doc that discusses steps to fix it. I had run across it somewhere in a posting and saved the text. Good luck.

prmindartmouth

 

[atwatterkent]

Try adjusting the valve screws on the valve block accessed from the small round hole on the left side of the machine. The pressure can be balanced between the four pipes. If I remember right, there is also an adjustment on the pump itself.