Put a DTI on the head and run the table from side to side, if it is tilted then the dti will show. Same to check front to back put a parallel on teh table and run the ram in and out ad make sure the dti does not move

As for setting up the work I'd use parallels in the vice rather than a level

Andrew – My workshop floor is dead level and the shaper was just slid in. I have never bothered checking with a spirit level – not a lot of point I s'pose.

Rik

With a digital angle gauge/inclinometer Andrew – you can zero it to the table and reference from that – so I think it's less essential to have the machine level these days. I have a Wixey that apparently is good to 0.1 degrees – probably still not as good as my sensitive engineers level but quite good enough for 'casual' use I think. It's most useful for setting work in the vice quickly for angled cuts. I just stick it to a steel ruler, place the ruler (on edge) on the table, zero the gauge and even thin work can be set up quickly using the rule to get between the vice jaws (you don't want unnecessary work material above the jaws if you can avoid it)…

But generally I just 'indicate' the work with reference to the ram. For small (especially thin) work on the hand shaper, I'll sometimes surface a 'work-table' (a grand name for a simple square of brass or aluminium held in the vice) before super-gluing the work piece to it – just too be sure the work is held flat & true. It's quick and easy to do for small work pieces and solves many working holding problems. A rotary vice (normal for the shaper) is then very handy – as you can true the work to the ram – because it can be tricky to 'stick' it on straight…

Just some thoughts – enjoy your shaper!

Regards,

IanT

Yes, certainly true of lathes Neil – but (as Andrew states) the reason given for levelling shapers was nothing to do with machine distortion but the ability to set work up easily. The shaper is used to create plane surfaces and where large work pieces had to be attached to the table, the clamping and jacking work involved could be complex. The ability to use a level to adjust heavy/large work being clamped & supported would have been very useful.

Most of my work is just held in the shapers vice (referencing from the bottom of the vice) but not all set-ups are that simple and I'm not machining really large surfaces as would often have been the case in days of old….

(My Grandad used to say "I remember when that only cost a Farthing!" – but I haven't had to explain 'old money' to my grandchildren thus far…fortunately)

Regards,

IanT

Edited By IanT on 04/08/2017 08:34:57