Southbend shaper

Joe said:
Bob, thanks for your reply. Originally I thought I was going to sell it, and I thought I'd ask 400 for. The more I think about it, the more I think I'd like to keep it. It really is a cool little machine. I'm going to start by cleaning it, then we'll see. Thanks again. I would really appreciate any advice you can offer, I also welcome any info or advice any one else may offer.
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Look in the downloads section, I think this link will work: http://www.hobby-machinist.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=20 It's South Bend's "How to Run a Shaper" book. It'll give you lots of good information on working with your machine.

-Ron
 
Here is a little job i did yesterday with my SB shaper. Sure i could of used a hack saw or even a whiz wheel on the grinder but i chose my little shaper. Its a key for my neighbors firebox alarm...Bob

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I have yet to use my shaper, but I did clean it and run it for a while. Just for fun, I may throw some stock in and give it a whirl. Thanks, Joe.
 
I just got one from my father-in-law. A weekend of cleaning and cutting off two of the oil lines, and it runs! It will casually take a 0.02" cut at 0.010" per stroke. I agree, the finish with a round nose tool and 0.004" feed is spectacular!

Some words of advice:
The oil control screws ONLY affect the two oil lines to the ram
All four oil lines MUST flow oil!
You can cycle the oil pump with a long screwdriver
If you set the unit for zero stroke and remove the nut that connects the lever to the ram, you can slide the ram far enough to expose ALL the oil outlets; makes troubleshooting easier
If you don't get oil from a port and the others work, snake a wire down the tube to break up whatever clog is hiding in there.
Do not drive the ram gib out; there is a little brass tube that runs through it to keep oil from sneaking out behind the gib.
It doesn't work...
To get the ram off you must pull the shaft that the lever arm pivots on. There is supposed to be a setscrew in the bottom (down in the oil) that holds the arm onto the shaft. Once that is out, the shaft will slide out

I hope you have fun with yours!
 
I'm probably a bit late with this post, but the value of shapers, large and small tends to depend on where you live. They tend to be cheaper in the northeast, midwest and the rust belt, since they are more plentiful there. West coast they tend to be higher. I just bought an Atlas 7" her in California for 500, but that's the exception, not the rule. They generaly run around 1000 for ones that size here, and less back east. It looks like a pretty nice machine enjoy.
 
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