Viceroy Royal 250 Shaper Introduction

[@andyelliott292]

Funny looking Land Rover

[@robinturner2300]

Andy Elliott yes... But British made😉

[@dejanbrice8774]

Probably more reliable too!

[@samrodian919]

I had exactly the same machine in my workshops at the school I taught in back in the late '70's to '88. It was a brand new unused machine when I started there and i was the only one ever to use it in the ten years I was there. A sweet little machine and i only ever used it on home projects! The students never got anywhere near it! Lol I read up on shaping and taught myself how to use it. We had 4 Denford Viceroy lathes, one with the milling attachment and the shaper and a Tom Senior horizontal mill, no one ever used the mill either!

[@PiefacePete46]

@SAMRODIAN : "I read up on shaping and taught myself how to use it". The significance of that sentence is lost on younger generations: THEN: Repeated trips to the library, frustrating waits for the requested book to arrive, wading through it, outbursts of bad temper when you find that the pages with the tables have been torn out, the "Overdue" notes from the librarian, the accusations when they notice the torn out pages when you return the book... etc. etc. NOW: "Hey Google... show me videos on how to operate a metal shaper". DONE! Yeah... I remember the "Good Old Days"! 😵‍💫

[@johncorden5610]

Hi Geoffrey, I have the exact same machine. When I got it wrote to Viceroy who said all documentation had been lost in various factory moves. It's a very satisfying machine to use.

[@SixtyTen10]

I got my hands on one of these machines about 3 years ago in New Zealand. Couldnt find much info on it. Mine looked in pretty rough shape but was actually very good once I stripped all the rusty grease that the machine was covered in. I completely disassembled the machine and repainted it. I replaced the 3 phase motor with a single phase and struggled with lack or torque and a wavy pattern in the finish until I realized that I was seeing the effects of single phase AC in the cut. I bought a vfd, reinstalled the original motor (after a refurbishment similar to yours) and had no more problems. Im currently making tool holders and a solid clapper box replacement for internal work, similar to what Stefan had. I have been mostly using the machine for squaring up nasty hot rolled steel to then finish on my surface grinder. It saves destroying expensive end mills on hot rolled steel. My main plan for it however is for doing internal bore work. These are great machines and nicely built.

[@zawzawaung6789]

Your videos are a great help to all of us out in the jungle trying to sort out collections of machines of varying vintages from Japan, China, and still UK. Thanks from North Burma.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Aye.. awesome. I spent a few weeks in Myanmar about ten years ago. Friendliest people on the planet 👍👍

[@andrewfraser4347]

U Zaw, glad you’ve got the internet, I didn’t when I worked there. Yes, awesome people Geoffrey.

[@user-ks5ff]

Why are you collecting machines from Japan and China?

[@zawzawaung6789]

@@user-ks5ff We have to work with what we can get, in terms of what can be imported as used stuff. Little Japanese stuff comes in as new, and most of the Chinese stuff is from companies you never heard of. Our most reliable piece of gear is an old Lister 1 cylinder diesel running a new Chinese 10kw dynamo.

[@zawzawaung6789]

@@andrewfraser4347 We put the backbone of the net in ourselves, working with the tower companies, MPT, Telenor, Ooredoo. 25mbps in Putao, Kachin State! Took 2 years of backbreaking work.

[@NoelBarlau]

The internet always needs more metal shaper videos. Great score!

[@superdansilverman]

I see lots of comments from newcomers saying they want more land rover content. I wouldn't blame you for listening to them; ad revenue is no joke. But I'm here for the machine tools and have been since the beginning. Also, very nice work with the motor balancing trick. I've just gone around my house gluing little weights to every rotating device I could find. Now that everything is balanced, the feng shui of the place is much better.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Don't worry Douche. I got you covered. All these land rover noobs. pffffffffft.

[@superdansilverman]

💜💜💜

[@davidtaylor6124]

I don't understand the obsession with shapers, but yours is the first shaper related video I've been able to watch to the end. I nearly said it was boring at the end, but that's a different machine. Was interesting watching you balance the motor, I'd never think to do that!

[@PaulMcGuinness]

Love the smell of a Geoffrey video in the morning. It makes me feel like cutting fluid.

[@davidbrown8365]

I've just nickel plated the capstan winch drive flanges (turned on Myford ML7) for my '56 LR. Using Geoffs vinegar and mobile charger 'how hard can it be' recipe. Now I want a similar small shaper! Btw my next door neighbour was an engineer at the Hoover motor factory.

[@terribleadelaidedrivers8754]

What an excellent Xmas gift - a new Geoffrey Croker vid. Greetings from across the ditch. Keep up the good work. Your restoration videos have calmed me down after many a crap day.

[@9neil]

Geoffrey. . Are you in NZ? I am in Palm. Nth, and have an alba shaper, which is also 20 inch, but a little bigger physically. I looked at a Royal that was for sale on Trademe yesterday, and it's a lovely little unit. Neil

[@dnkjdnkj2679]

Hi Geoff, it has been some time since I saw the shaper being lashed down and on its way to a new home. Welcome news to see that the Viceroy is up and running .

[@growingknowledge]

Nice to see you back on the videos Geoff - Happy Christmas to you and the family !

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas!

[@TheMetalButcher]

Not half bad Geoff. I really enjoy your restorations. I'm glad you saved the 3 phase motor, not much to go wrong other than bearings. I'm a bit more partial to American machines being Murican myself, but that's a nice little shaper you've got there. :)

[@thisquietplace]

Great video as always, love the humor, you and This Old Tony are the funniest people in this genre of entertainment

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Thanks Havard!

[@samrodian919]

He's a lot funnier than tot lol

[@ninjabearhug]

Nice vid! I live round the corner from the works where these were built, they still produce machines there to this day, mainly cnc nowadays though

[@samrodian919]

They made decent 12" lathes their Viceroy series and sold literally thousands to schools and colleges here in the UK and abroad. I had one shaper exactly the same as Geoffrey's and 6 Viceroy lathes under my care at the school I taught at in the 70's and 80's

[@TomMakeHere]

Great video Geoffrey I love the idea of shapers, but I would sit mesmerized by the mechanical ka-chunka-chunka all day

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Yip, that's about how long it takes to get anything done on one of these...

[@ypop417]

That is what I was told in High School machine shop, also told to stay away from it while it ran.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Why does it remind me of Wallace and Gromit?

[@lodgecav490]

Great video as always. Prepare yourself for endless questions like Whats the point of it? Why not get a Mill? etc etc and then there is the classic 'You can make anything with a shaper...except money blah blah blah. Great little machine, enjoy!

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Hahaha, yeah I'm getting that.

[@ApolloSevan]

Love the editing! The one was beautiful!

[@DarraghRogan]

You showed incredible restraint by not making a knob joke until 14 minutes in - bravo!

[@filmbluff99]

Interesting, educational and amusing. Thank you for this and past videos. Happy Christmas to you.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas Phil

[@peirob]

Happy to hear that we will get a new set of videos related to a amazing restauration project. Looking forward to see what this machine will look like :-)

[@henrikhv5084]

The world would be such a poor place to be, without you… Thank you for your videos sir :-) and merry X-mas and happy new year

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas to you

[@WilliamEllison]

I fell asleep watching your video last night and I sincerely apologize. I will re-watch it again today.

[@BajaBill7]

Made just down the road from me, greetings from Leeds!

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Hi BajaBill from Leeds

[@samrodian919]

If you call Leeds to Brighouse just down't road lol

[@BajaBill7]

@@samrodian919 what is it, 10 miles? Hardly the end of the earth. To someone in NZ, that's practically next door!

[@grosbeakmc]

I'd never even heard of a shaper, much less seen one. Interesting machine. Great job making it go!

[@JamieBainbridge]

I don't understand what this machine is or does, but I would love to see you restore it!

[@MrCrankyface]

That balancing was quite a method. Crude but clearly very effective!

[@machiningbasics1729]

Learnt how too use a shaper on that exact type of machine. Denford verceroy was attached too the boxford company. (Founded by Horace denford) makes up most of the machines in British schools.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

I suspect this one came out of a school too.

[@tomsayers4488]

I was just checking the other day to see if I had missed any new videos. Happy to wake up this morning and see another one. And yes, I am one of those nickel plating vinegar folks you mentioned. LOL

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Haha, thanks!

[@jameslezak7882]

What a nice size shaper. I can imagine all sorts of uses for a machine that size. Sure would compliment my lathe and mill! Great video! Thanks!

[@sblack48]

That’s a nice size. Big enough to have some weight and be rigid, but won’t fall through the floor. I have a 7” atlas and it is a bit flimsy.

[@ericcorse]

Sweet little shaper it look to be well cared for.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

I think it's hardly been used. the fact that it's badged metric means it was sold after shapers were already pretty much redundant.

[@lifuranph.d.9440]

Good to see brass shims under the clamp screws, even though they are machined screw head pads. Jolly good!

[@pgs8597]

G’day Geoffrey, looks like the garage got a new toy for Christmas, it’s starting to shape up. Love the working motion of a Shaper. Cheers Peter

[@kelvinbrown8136]

Awesome!! Always a treat seeing one of your videos!! Love your editing!!!

[@Doughboy1941]

Someone has been watching to many Abom79 videos. Regards, Silas

[@paulwomack5866]

Or Stefan Gotteswinter?

[@joshonthetube]

Regarding the mobile base- I recently got a small shaper and i've set it up on footmaster mounts (FOOTMASTER GD-60S-BLK-1/2 on amazon). They're sort of rolling casters that also double as leveling feet. It makes it easy to move the machine occasionally, but not as easy as the mobile base you used.. once you adjust them so it's sitting on the leveling feet, it seems like it should be very stable. I haven't run the shaper yet since i mounted it on them, but I think it will be fine- they seem quite solid, even under the weight of the machine (which i think may be heavier than yours, despite being smaller- it's all cast iron)

[@BettySwollocks13]

We use IPS when balancing propellers- inch per second. The lower the ips the less vibration

[@rolandocrisostomo2003]

Great video!!. The vfd that you are using is not putting out 3ph. Its running the 3ph motor as a DC motor. Thats why you can change the rpm on a vfd.

[@JoaoManFerCardoso]

Pro indeed! Glad to know you're doing well. Merry Christmas Geoffrey!

[@Grahammon]

Great as always, thanks Geoffrey, I was watching the drill press series again and the shaper video popped up.

[@chrisperry7963]

Great (I should say pro!) video, as always, Geoffrey. A fun introduction to an interesting machine.

[@bobuk5722]

Hi Geoffrey. Lovely humour! I've always fancied a shaper, nice to see one being brought back to life. I don't think the 'wobbly' transport matters too much - what you don't wsnt is wobbles between the tool and the work. Subscribed. BobUK.

[@fredschaves]

Saw you had a new video and thought "ok, I shall leave this one for last after I see all the other subscription videos". Fast forward 3 seconds and here I am.

[@jrand2631]

That's a nice little shaper you got there...

[@davidkerr4023]

Your a clever bugger Geoff, love your videos mate.keep them coming.

[@BurtonsAttic]

Nice edit and shaper Geoffrey! That's the perfect home shop sized machine. I was waiting for the smoke to get let out on the motor first run. Those pricks at Hoover!

[@slowgold20]

3:35 imagine hearing that sound echoing through an empty building

[@sugirosie]

Geoffrey, Is the 'clapper box' :-) mechanism working? Hard to see on the vid - but the high speed tool bit should lift up and drag on the work piece on the back-stroke. The 'clap noise' is when the tool drops back into place at beginning of the forward stroke. If it doesn't then the bit might break and blunt.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Yeah, it works fine. I think the cut just isn't deep enough for it to visibly move.

[@aussierestos9105]

Love your vids and humour mate! Good to see something decent from across the ditch 😆 Came across you with your rust removal in different solutions video, basically Watched every video of yours now! Keep it up, it’s excellent viewing!

[@TroyeStonich]

Absolutely awesome... things seem to be "shaping" up in your shop Geoffrey.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Boom...'shaping'. Haha, thanks Troye

[@CGras]

Never heard of those shapers before. Looks like a nice size for the home shop.. But normally the feed should engage on the backstroke of the ram. If I'm not mistaken this can be achieved by reversing the direction of the motor.

[@webtoedman]

No need for that, just move the feed eccentric rod to the other side of the eccentric. It's fairly obvious once you have the machine in front of you.

[@karlkemble9098]

Nice little shaper. Around 16:45 I noticed you are advancing the table on the cutting stroke. You don't have to bathe your parts in cutting oil. Too messy! Just brush on a film. Try kerosene(Do you call that paraffin?) or even mineral spirits(doesn't smell as bad) on ALUMINUM. Don't set your machine on fire! Brush it on very conservatively! Slickest finish IF you've ground your bit properly. + Don't BURN your shop down!

[@scottschoenfeld476]

Not trying to rush you, but we’re very excited for the next vid at my house. Thanks man.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

7:09 : Huh? What's that base??? I want one! I've been after a base like this for ages. 8:54: I'm in complete disbelief. So simple yet effective!

[@brukernavnfettsjit]

That is the same motor I have in my myford ml7. Never could figure out the diagram either. I tired to add a reverse switch, but I reached the limits of my patience:p

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Yeah, it's a trick!

[@MoraneAI]

People are asking what use a machine like this is...they are too slow for professional use nowadays, but for an amateur they will do the sort of work a horizontal mill will do, but without needing expensive hard to sharpen milling cutters. Not vital to have but nice. Usually quite cheap to obtain, funnily the smaller ones tend to be more expensive, but still much cheaper than any comparable mill.

[@edgeeffect]

I'd love a go on a shaper... We had one at school but I never used it... I've only got back in machining since the milling machine was crowned king.

[@gavinsteven2157]

Hoover, Cambuslang. Town of my birth. Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@Figulus]

So when are you going to get round to the Super Seven? I'll be looking forward to that since I've got one sitting in the shed in need of a bit of love, myself.

[@SamEEE12]

This video really shaped up well

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Haha

[@ConwayT91]

wowzers that intro blew out my ear gaskets

[@juanrivero8]

A lovely shaper. Be sure you lube it! It may or not have auto lube. That vise is much too small for real work. And thank you very much for posting this close to Christmas. Very merry Christmas!

[@jameshanoomansing1442]

excellent as usual

[@sheep3854]

Great video as always. Excuse my ignorance, but what would you do with a shaper? I mean obviously you can "face" metal, and cut grooves, but i don't see a lot of point over something like a mill? unless there is a s very specific industry they are used in?

[@sheep3854]

Hmm, I guess splining shafts etc it could be pretty useful?

[@joel231]

Go have a look at abom79 he has a much bigger 22” shaper and does work on it. A lot of people ask why he got one as you can do most stuff on a mill and for him mainly is he loves the old school way of doing things

[@rayg9069]

With an indexing table you could do gear cutting, very handy as he owns a Land Rover, they always chew up bits. :-)

[@sugirosie]

In my past life as a toolmaker we used the shaper to rough out the material and then we'd finish off accurately on the mill.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Totally superseded by vertical milling machines. Buuut - I think I payed $400nzd for the shaper. An OK second hand vertical mill costs $5K+ 😁

[@janvanruth3485]

place the filling in piece behind the tool, sticking out as much as possible it will help the stability of the tool

[@gvachlas]

And of course we want a full 15 episode restoration project.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Victor the Viceroy! Made in Scotland motor; Of course it runs!! When's the resto coming?

[@jbll36]

Hello Geoffrey. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy the day. Ray L

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas Ray!

[@mictaylor9531]

Brilliant 😂👍🏻 Happy Christmas Greg! Best regards Mic Wales UK

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas!

[@soodonym]

Thanks for the early Christmas present... Will it help with the Landrover?

[@GeoffreyCroker]

It'll stop it going through the back wall of the garage if the brakes fail...

[@soodonym]

@@GeoffreyCroker The immovable object Vs the unstoppable force... Have a good Christmas.

[@NathanNostaw]

Nice video, love the fail at the end. Keep up the great content.

[@CraigLYoung]

Merry Christmas Geoffrey!

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas Craig!

[@12trudger60]

Thanks Geoffrey!

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Thanks Trudger!

[@arturoheras3707]

Land Rover!!! Land Rover!!!!

[@Madmuttonbird]

Can i ask where u got that awesome trolley to sit the shaper on ?

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Carbatech. I think they are in ausie as well

[@daviemaclean61]

Had to use one of those at engineering college in the early 80s. It was the one machine I disliked using. It will still be interesting watching you do an autopsy on it though! ;-)

[@nitramretep]

Love these videos! Thanks.

[@coles201]

What is it for/used to make? A cheaper alternative to a milling machine?

[@PiefacePete46]

What happened to the Viceroy Geoffrey, was it a "Keeper"?

[@udowillkomm1173]

Cute little machine. Does it like oil or better milk, until it´s a bit larger :-)

[@jimspeed1388]

This Old Tony said you can make anything on a shaper. Any thing but a profit. But that's not the point here, looking forward to seeing what it can produce for you nice work as always.

[@shannons1886]

When would a machine like this be used in place of an end mill?

[@GeoffreyCroker]

When they cost a tenth as much to purchase... otherwise never.

[@wetdedstuocm]

I liked the intro. and the shaper is in good condition, the motor leaves me wanting it should not have to be balanced, however that worked.. Peace

[@samrodian919]

Yes but it was made by Hoover after all lol

[@squelchedotter]

I saw the thumbnail of this video and subscribed without even watching a video

[@cissa95]

WeNeedMoreFarads you should check out the drill press restoration, if you are into that kinda stuff

[@xDrDeath78x]

Quality as ever mate

[@machineshopatthebottomofth3213]

Looks very similiar to the Elliott 10m that is ubiquitous in the UK (even one in my shed!)

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Yeah, I think they stem from the same family. They seem to share the same mechanism and layout.

[@dragon4r4]

I want one! Loved the video

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Get one... They go for scrap money.

[@tslater1989]

Are you still alive? Been waiting here for more of the rover for a while. Hope all is well.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

I'm still alive. Videos coming.

[@JamesWhitmarsh]

@@GeoffreyCroker yaaaaaaas I mean, nice one, glad to hear it.

[@DavidPlass]

Don't forget the 9V, AAA and coffee 6:44

[@das250250]

Love these machines , well done , was it expensive ?

[@Rustinox]

I just love small shapers.

[@robertsnephew870]

Not quite enough gripper on the zipper😜.. hopefully this vid buys you some Rover parts. Cheers, Merry Christmas,ed.

[@johnpysk]

We need videos!

[@billcodey1430]

Electroplate with vinegar. Priceless. How goes restore of the Land Rover?

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Rapid progression. Nah, I've been totally swamped with work for a month. Back on it now.

[@billcodey1430]

@@GeoffreyCroker Yay!

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Good old machines, now superseded. However, a good engineer could remove a lot of metal on one of these, chips flying everywhere. I last used one as an apprentice in my college days (1976-1980!). They were pretty much out of date then as I have never seen one in use, or even idle, in any of the machine shops I've worked in. God help you if the college lecturer saw you riding on top of one :)

[@montyzumazoom1337]

That is the smallest shaper I have ever seen though....

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Thanks Monty. There's a whole range of painfully tine shapers below this. I think Craftsman (the american brand) made a popular six inch shaper... which just sounds painful.

[@azog23]

So the maximum stroke is 254mm? So that'll be 10 inches. Looks as though the only thing that's metric about it is the sticker.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Whaaaaaaaat?!

[@webtoedman]

@@GeoffreyCroker Just the same as mine, except mine's calibrated in inches.

[@speedbuggy16v]

its soooo cute and cuddly.......... I wish I could find one that size locally

[@sid1977]

Cool update! Pretty neat mini shaper. How much does it weigh?

[@GeoffreyCroker]

200kg..? I have no idea, but I can't lift it.