11-13-2015, 11:13 PM
Hi again Greg, as you suggested I'm posting in the thread now.
I live just outside of Vancouver and like you I found a few old posts or KIJJI/Craigslist adds for the smaller version of this shaper. If you Google Peerless shaper you usually end up with most results for "Peerless" of USA power hacksaw fame. There was someone else in Vancouver with the same 16/18 Peerless shaper but I have lost contact with them so there are at least 3 in existence. It would be great if somewhere out there there is some sales literature or ads about these shapers.
I have only used my 16/18 a little and still need to attach some small things like the wipers and some minor repairs. Apart from replacing the worn out acme thread on the compound/head slide and requiring some new lubrication mine was basically in working condition. So far, I've only partially taken apart the table, head slide and not much else.
- The cross feed is definitely a coarse feed and like yours the vertical power feed only works in the down direction. I've toyed with the idea of using a finer ratchet mechanism with a longer lever arm or a pneumatic cylinder under the table to lighten it. The crank handle I have has been repaired or replaced and it looks like it is shorter than it should be. I can't imagine having to crank the table back up with much weight on it.
- The ram on mine will creep in neutral when cold which appears to be due to the oil viscosity.
- In high gear I do get a little gear noise from the transmission.
I was told by the previous owner that mine was made during WW II and subsequently that is why the transmission speed plate on mine is plastic. Your brass plate looks a lot cooler. I haven't really looked yet but did you ever come across a serial number? The appearance of the top part of the compound head slide on mine looks like it was machined out of a large chunk of steel and not cast. Maybe it was a shop made replacement due to a crash or maybe if it was made during the war that is all they had on hand. I will try to post pictures of the vice and shaper in the next week or so. The vice is definitely a big, heavy sucker.
Again, thanks for the post about your shaper and you did a great job on the restoration.
Dave
I live just outside of Vancouver and like you I found a few old posts or KIJJI/Craigslist adds for the smaller version of this shaper. If you Google Peerless shaper you usually end up with most results for "Peerless" of USA power hacksaw fame. There was someone else in Vancouver with the same 16/18 Peerless shaper but I have lost contact with them so there are at least 3 in existence. It would be great if somewhere out there there is some sales literature or ads about these shapers.
I have only used my 16/18 a little and still need to attach some small things like the wipers and some minor repairs. Apart from replacing the worn out acme thread on the compound/head slide and requiring some new lubrication mine was basically in working condition. So far, I've only partially taken apart the table, head slide and not much else.
- The cross feed is definitely a coarse feed and like yours the vertical power feed only works in the down direction. I've toyed with the idea of using a finer ratchet mechanism with a longer lever arm or a pneumatic cylinder under the table to lighten it. The crank handle I have has been repaired or replaced and it looks like it is shorter than it should be. I can't imagine having to crank the table back up with much weight on it.
- The ram on mine will creep in neutral when cold which appears to be due to the oil viscosity.
- In high gear I do get a little gear noise from the transmission.
I was told by the previous owner that mine was made during WW II and subsequently that is why the transmission speed plate on mine is plastic. Your brass plate looks a lot cooler. I haven't really looked yet but did you ever come across a serial number? The appearance of the top part of the compound head slide on mine looks like it was machined out of a large chunk of steel and not cast. Maybe it was a shop made replacement due to a crash or maybe if it was made during the war that is all they had on hand. I will try to post pictures of the vice and shaper in the next week or so. The vice is definitely a big, heavy sucker.
Again, thanks for the post about your shaper and you did a great job on the restoration.
Dave