ShopNotes Podcast E198: It's a Fun Thing to Watch Sometimes

On this week's episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, John, and Dillon, answer some listener questions, respond to some comments, and discuss some upcoming project designs.
Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond - Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products to meet their demands. Check them out here: www.titebond.com/
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[@jeffbaker8808]

I have to agree that given the choice between Panto Router and Shaper Origin, I would choose the Domino and Shaper Origin. I have used a Domino and it is legendary as you know for making fast, strong joints with easier demands on preparing the stock. (Mind you, it's really easy to make a hole where you didn't want one.) Having been inspired by the CNC BaseCamp, I've powered up the dormant little CNC machine in the wood studio at which I am a member. The possibilities open up even more immensely with the power of CAD/CAM mixed together with a router, aka Shaper Origin. Workflow and design thinking change from "what jig do I need for this" to "what do I want this to be" and as Dylan notes, you can bring the tool to the work piece. Not everyone has room for a 4' x 8' CNC table. I think your idea of rolling work table combined with a Shaper, (or even a router and guides), makes for a super series of articles. Thanks for all of the inspiring stories, humour, (even if at the expense of the devoted ShopSmith users), philosophy and information. My favourite podcast and team!

[@garypolak1653]

There was a This Old House episode where Norm used a clients Shopsmith to do all the woodworking for the show.

[@WalterRiggs]

I’d get the Shaper Origin over the panto. All I’ve ever seen done on the Panto is mortise and tendons, and I have a table saw, hand saws, drills, and chisels for that. Whereas the Shaper Origin is a portable CNC. Tough to do CNC stuff with anything else.

[@pengel200]

I own a Shaper Origin and a Domino. I use the heck out of both ot them. Between them I can either batch out production parts (Domino) or set up and execute special joinery for a one-off project (Shaper). I did a deep dive on the Panto Router with Ramon Valdez at AWFS in Vegas last year, and determined that it would be redundant for me, and I probably wouldn't use it, or invest the time to master it's array of use cases. If I was running a production shop, I'd go Panto Router over Shaper for joinery. But I'd probably also have a Shaper around for templates, inlays, weird shapes, etc. Caveat...I'm an advanced user of SketchUp and a pretty good user of Fusion 360, so using the Shaper is a breeze for me. If I was making the same choice for my non-production shop but DIDN'T have 3D modeling skills, I'd probably go for the Panto Router.

[@TG_Akins]

As cool as both the Panto-router and the Shaper are, i think they do different enough things that its hard to compare their usefulness in someones shop unless that person does the things that those tools are best suited for. As a hobbyiest without any experience with the tools, the Panto-router looks to be geared toward accuracy and reproducing results in a manufacturing sense. The Shaper can achieve repeatability, but its also excellent at prototyping and doing something once that won't need to be produced efficiently over and over. For me, doing one-offs mostly, the Shaper is the tool i more likely to pick up at this point.

[@jimcarroll1005]

How would Logan compare the panto router and the shaper origin with the Leigh FMT Pro

[@ericerf6837]

Woodcraft magazine just returned my renewal subscription check. Discontinued and now partnered with Acitve Interest Media….whatever that really means. Every month I write a woodworking email and send to random people. I would like to know if AIM would care to acquire me too.