Delta SH100 Router/Shaper

Jack Fearnley wrote:

> ... Here was a machine with a decent table, fence, router and lift
> all in one convenient package at an unbeatable price! So I bought it and
> am quite staisfied so far ...
> The only specification that gives me some concern is the rotation speed
> which is about half the speed of my beautiful new Bosch router. I also
> think I should build a decent fence for it.
>
> What do you all think of this approach to a router table?

Well, since you already bought it and are at least resonably pleased,
seems a little late for asking to me... :)

But...I also have one which I got primarily as a cheap second shaper for
light-duty work for when the regular shaper is set up for something else
and I'm not yet ready to change that set up. I've also used it some as
a router table.

My thoughts are it is generally ok for what it is...it isn't rugged
enough spindle locking mechanism to do heavy-duty work and the speed is
a limitation for some fine small-diameter router bits, particularly in
difficult woods. But, the rotation limit for most shaper cutters is the
limitation for the motor speed. A nice touch would have been a
dual-speed motor, but I suspect it wasn't done for both cost and
possible safety issues--it would probably have needed designing in an
interlock w/ the shaper spindle as well which would have added even more
to cost.

I have a second fence from a light-duty Delta 1/2" spindle shaper which
I use instead of the POS that comes w/ the SH100. The extended
fibreboard table is about useless as it warps excessively over time so I
replaced it w/ a shop-built one.

All in all, you'll be able to do quite a bit w/ it as it is, but you'll
undoubtedly also want a "real" router table for the other router
eventually....but, personally, I don't believe there's a need for any of
the really high-priced commercial ones unless you're into production
work or simply have the resources to commit.