Vertical shaper/slotter on ebay

I've been watching a 6" vertical slotter on ebay for a few weeks. It was listed at $900 by a machinery dealer in Detroit, but didn't sell and was relisted a few times. They eventually lowered the price to $800. The auction ended earlier today and it seemed some people got into a bidding war. The winner got it for $1325 !

I had never heard of the "Douglas" brand before. Were they comparable to Pratt and Whitney?

I think I'll get an angle plate to mount a rotary table on my horizontal shaper while I wait for a nice 6" Pratt and Whitney to come along in my area, at the right price.

It just seems odd that a bidder thats been a ebay member since 2004 with only 1 feedback for thier purchase of a Belly Dance Costume would suddenly develope a burning desire to own a shaper/slotter and run the price up in the last few minutes of bidding.

Best Regards Tom.

Not sure I understanding the bidding on this item.... paying attention to the dates and especially the TIMES.... doesn't make sense to me. Ken.

It's gotta be a shill. suzzannes' only other purchase was a belly dance costume. What do you suppose a belly dancer would do with a big oily machine with a ram that has a vertical stroke of 6" ? Substitute for a metronome? Pig

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On Fri, 03 Feb 2006 12:33:08 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Tom Wait" quickly quoth:

Maybe she made enough doing belly dancinf to buy it for her husband, who also has a stroke of 6".

--------------------------------------------------- I drive way too fast to worry about my cholesterol. ---------------------------------------------------

Refreshing Graphic Design

What exactly would this machine do that cannot be done in a 'horizontal' shaper?

Ivan Vegvary

Not a machinist but: Perhaps it's just easier to lie items to be slotted on their sides rather than trying to set them up on edge vertically? On the other hand if removing metal from a flat surface is the intended use perhaps a horizontal shaper would better fill the need?

dennis in nca

Key phrase is "cannot be done." Answer: Very little. However, for many operations involving internal operations such as key ways, the vertical shaper is much more convenient, and in the machining business, time is money.

Also, because it is an attachment, it is one less full machine to buy. Because it makes use of the slides on the mill, it was less expensive than a full shaper, even a small one.

It is also much more "adjustable," for example compound angles, than the "normal" horizontal shaper.

Uncle George

That's true, in that probably a horizontal shaper could do the same work, but less conveniently. Most such vertical slotters also have what amounts to a large rotary table built-in, thus making it easier to cut splines, gear teeth, etc.

Dan Mitchell ============

The machine in question was a 'real' slotter, not the BP attachment. Otherwise, what you say is true. The only other issue is the rotary table that is an integral part of most slotters.

Dan Mitchell ============

Not that it helps much, but *most* state high schools in NSW (Australia) were supplied with their own Douglas shaper (horizontal - 6?") many years ago. Some of us still use them! :-)

*Could* be the same "Douglas".

-- Jeff R. (loves antiques)