What is the difference between a shaper and a molder?

Answer 1

First of all, the molder is a table saw attachment that mounts to the horizontal spindle beneath the worktable. A heavy steel disc holds three 1-inch wide matching cutting knives and this disc rotates at about 3500 RPM ("R" on the speed dial).

Using the molder is easy. Simply set up the Mark V in the horizontal position with the lower saw guard in place. Mount the Molder Head (with the desired knife profile installed) on the 5/8" Molder Arbor. Then install this assembly on the headstock quill. Lower the table over the molder head.

Next, place a special Molder Table Insert (Mark V 510, Mark V 500) in the tabletop and mount the rip fence to the table. The rip fence here guides the stock as it passes over the rotating molder knives. To mold the surface of stock, use a Push Block, to keep the stock flat against the table and your hands safely out of the way.

When molding the edge of stock, a simple wooden fixture is attached to the fence so the knives will not hit the rip fence.

The molder is best suited for adding decorative touches to straight work such as custom room trim and picture frames.

The shaper, unlike the molder, requires the Mark V to be set up in the vertical position. With the machine in the vertical position, the worktable is perpendicular to a 1-inch wide profiled three-lip shaper cutter mounted to an arbor. Unlike the molder, the stock is passed by the spinning cutter - not over it - and the stock is guided by the use of either a shaper fence or a rub collar with a starter pin.

The Shaper is best suited for forming decorative edges on straight and curved edges.