atlas metal shaper history and overview

[@richardross7219]

Many gas stations from the 1920s thru the 1960s had metal lathes, shapers, and drill presses for repairing or making parts. The Atlas tools were just big enough to do the jobs without the cost of Southbend. Good video. I hope to restore my 7 some day. Good Luck, Rick

[@herbholmberg4474]

Agreed, I have been in several old stations like that myself.

[@edwardroberts5660]

We had a small SB9 in dad's motorcycle shop it is what made me interested in machining. It was used mainly to make bushings and bronze bearings

[@pweimer47]

Great video. I have an Atlas Shaper to be restored here shortly. Thank you for sharing.

[@edwardroberts5660]

Nice video I was thrilled to finally get one. I learned to run a shaper in high school machine tech classes.

[@herbholmberg4474]

I lucked out around 1985 I took a night machine shop class at a community college. Fortunately, the instructor was an old school machinist and he made everyone make a simple project on an older shaper just so students could have that experience.

[@billshiff2060]

Also , Shapers can take the heaviest cuts of any machine tool. Shapers can give the smoothest finish of any machine tool.

[@herbholmberg4474]

At one point in the 1940's or 1950's Sears actually sold the Atlas mill, lathe, and metal shaper plus related attachments for a few years at least.

[@restoration-projects]

Thank you for the information. Do you have any old advertisements pictures for those. I want to put together a history video and add clips of old advertisements.

[@herbholmberg4474]

@restoration-projects Unfortunately no, I don't have any documentation that would help you.

[@dennislarsson1723]

I have two Atlas shapers and an 18 inch Varnamo shaper. Shapers can do a lot of different work if you know how to set them up. My all time favorite was in High school machine shop. They had a 36 inch Rockford hydraulic machine. What a waste in a high school setting. At one shop I was running a 24 inch Cincinnati taking a half inch deep cut with .020 feed in 6150 tool steel. The chips were awesome.

[@restoration-projects]

I wish i had room to keep it, such a cool machine. Unfortunately my shop is limited in space so I let this one go to a new home.

[@gexas38]

I was curious now that u have used it for a while how the performance and quality compare to a South Bend or Rhodes, etc. I am looking at an atlas right now but can wait for another brand. I need to make a planetary gear set so internal teeth. Thanks for any intel.

[@herbholmberg4474]

@gexas38 If your work fits the limitations of a 7" shaper I would buy an Atlas if it came available first. None of them show up every day, and the Atlas is a robust machine for its size.

[@Rustinox]

Shapers can move material way faster than milling machines, If you operate them in the way they're supposed to be operated. Shapers are replaced by milling machines because they are more versatile.

[@herbholmberg4474]

You are right about that. Set up right shapers are capable of taking incredibly heavy cuts per stroke!

[@byouman5981]

Probably a silly question but does it run off 110 or 220?

[@restoration-projects]

Yes it set up for 110

[@herbholmberg4474]

One thing that should be mentioned. A shaper is much more economical to use for the guy that has more time than money due to the fact that the machine can perform many functions with one simple lathe cutter tool. Of course, additional tooling does increase the versatility of the machine but like most other machines, unless you are gifted enough to make your own tooling, which many do, additional tooling adds up quickly. With a set of index centers you could make gears. A rotary table adds further versatility. Boring bars will allow you to make internal cuts on pipe or other inside holes.

[@boldford]

A shaper excels at internal keyways too.

[@ryanpreddy4519]

Are you going to be selling it?

[@restoration-projects]

I already sold it

[@aquilifergroup]

That’s cool. Thanks

[@restoration-projects]

thanks!

[@herbholmberg4474]

They are a fun machine to have and run but should be used with caution. Used incorrectly or carelessly a shaper can be very dangerous and do a great deal of harm. I was fortunate to learn how to run one in a trade school shop class. I own an Atlas identical to the one shown and an 8" Shape Rite, a considerably heavier machine. They say you can make about anything you want on a shaper except money! The one thing you can do on a shaper that you cannot do on a mill is cut an internal keyway.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

Ans they say that you cannot make money with a shaper...lol

[@herbholmberg4474]

Actually, the saying is " You can make anything except money on a shaper".

[@Biokemist-o3k]

@@herbholmberg4474 Well I am sure you could make the plates to make money in that case.

[@herbholmberg4474]

@johnkoury1116 It was intended a light-hearted joke, not literally.