Router Vs Shaper Raised Panel Doors

You can run a 5 diameter cutter on a shaper.

Router vs shaper raised panel doors.

Shaper cutters can also cut much wider profiles such as those in raised panels and crown moldings. That s not to say that you can t have a shaper in your garage though. Most shapers have optional router collets so you can use your existing bits. Reverse if you ever had issues with your wood splitting out because of grain direction a shaper has made your work easier by being able to run in reverse.

The extra money will be well worth it. If you plan to make raised panel doors large. The biggest panel raiser you can run on a router is 3 1 2 diameter. Larger shaper cutters and oversize router bits like panel raisers require slower speeds while small router bits need higher speeds to do the job.

Routers are not set up with this function. Ian kirby a good quality shaper is preferable to a good quality router. If you look at a 1 1 2 hp motor on a router then look at the 1 1 2 hp motor on my powermatic shaper the shaper motor is about 4 times as big. The shaper is more sturdy and should have a better fence and will likely have more power and speed and flexibility.

If you are going to be building a number of 5 piece doors with cope and stick joints the shaper is really the only way to go. Raised panels 2 1 4hp or 3 1 4hp if your planning on making many doors at all save yourself the headaches and buy a good quality shaper. The cutting speed you want is dependent on the diameter of the cutter or bit. I will say it s much more intimidating raising a curved raised panel on a shaper than a router table but don t attempt to learn yourself have someone knowledgeable show you.

The difference is the size of the profile on the panel. Overall a shaper can be safer because of the power feeder. Yes a 1 5 hp shaper is better suited for the tasks you mentioned. What that means is it has more torque.

Router tables are typically for home shops whereas shapers are used industrial. I would not recommend full profile with a router bit. When making large doors the smaller profile provided by a router bit sometimes doesn t look to scale on the project.