Shaper blades are available for table saws in a variety of shapes and styles. These blades allow the user to cut decorative profiles in wood, producing everything from screen-door molding to cabinet-door edges. The shaper holder has three slots to hold different blades (figure A), including a Roman ogee blade, a dado cutter and a round-over blade or other type of shaper. The blade fits into a slot on the holder and is secured in place by tightening its hex nut with a small Allen wrench (figure B). The holder and blades replace the table-saw blade (figure C). Shaper blades can be used to carve intricate grooves in wood, such as the grooves in wall molding. Here's how it's done: Materials:
Shaper blades
Shaper holder
Allen wrench
Zero-clearance throat plate
Drill
Screws
Strip of wood the same dimensions as the table saw's fence
Wood for molding
Push-stick
Optional: outfeed table
- Insert the shaper blades into the shaper holder. Use an Allen wrench to securely tighten their hex nuts.
- Mount the shaper holder onto the table saw arbor according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace the table saw's existing throat plate with the zero-clearance throat plate. Slowly raise the shaper blades to cut their own custom throat.
- Screw the strip of wood to the table-saw fence, starting the screws from the side of the fence opposite the blades (figure D).
- Adjust the fence to the appropriate distance from the shaper blades. Adjust the cutter-blade height to cut the appropriate profile in the molding.
- Slowly run the molding through the rotating shaper blades, using a push stick and an outfeed table, if necessary (figure E).
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