Bradley/Polygon Hand Powered Shaper

[DselParticipant @dsel]

[DselParticipant @dsel]

I have acquired a Bradley Hand Powered Shaper unfortunately the handle and linkage is missing.

I'm hoping some one with have a Bradley or the almost identical Polygon shaper and will be able to help me out with some dimensions to make replacements.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/bradley/

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I'm afraid I can't help you with any measurements – but it should be possible to experiment with some simple wooden substitutes to figure out a usable system. As a suggestion, I wouldn't make the "pull" handle overly long. I've made a shorter handle for my No2 Adept – as for most of my work, I found myself holding the original handle half-way down and the longer handle also increased the work envelope required.

It looks an interesting small machine, although I must admit, I didn't really understand the utility of the swivelling head at first (as my first thought was that it would reduce the useable table area) but thinking about it, it might be better than a rotary vice in some circumstances, although certainly not all. Definitely needs a different approach to setting some shaper jobs though…and of course, whilst my machines don't have swivelling heads, you can always fit a rotary vice to yours.

Anyway – good luck with your new machine.

Regards,

IanT

 

Edited By IanT on 15/07/2017 11:54:55

[DselParticipant @dsel]

Thanks IanT.

I'm not sure yet what benefits the swivel head will have nor the purpose of the vee blocks. They swivel and are height adjustable. Not thing I can think of other than putting flats along a round bar.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

The v blocks are to hold a shaft, then swivel the head 90 degrees and cut a keyway or splines. CF the Drummond hand shaper has a hole through the head to enable this. If you think about it keyways and spline are very much something you would want a mill for nowadays as it is difficult in a lathe so as a hand shaper was the poor man's mill it is desirable to provide this facility. You might also use them for putting flats on a shaft, again a good selling point.

For the handle you can scale it off the pictures and the job. The original handle is likely to be cast like the Polygon but you might want to look at the Drummond which has a screw in extension to a cast part to make it smaller when out of use. Also check out the album of 'Nobby' on here who has mounted his hand shaper at 45 degrees to the bench which improves some aspects of operation.

[DselParticipant @dsel]

Still looking for dimensions.

I have tried scaling from photos but as all photos have perspective I can't get consistent results.

[BobbyDParticipant @bobbyd]

Hi Dsel

I have a Bradley Hand Shaper (Well! I am fairly sure its a Bradley but there is no name on it)

I have measured the handle on mine so I hope this helps you.

The link piece holes are at 3.875" centers

The handle has the option of 2 holes to fix to the ram – so from the linkage hole the first option is at 5.375" and the second is at 7.375"

The overall length of the handle is 31"

If you need more just shout

Best Regards

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Welcome to the forum Bobby, nice first post

I have a pdf measuring gizmo

All measurements are in Mzonks, so are relative to the proper earth based measurements

View in fullscreen to make it easier

Edited By Ady1 on 05/08/2017 00:48:49

[BobbyDParticipant @bobbyd]

Thanks for the welcome, I am new to all this so if I do something wrong don't be shy just let me know.

I have added a few pis of my shaper hopefully it might help Dsel in his quest

[DselParticipant @dsel]

Thanks BobbyD. Can you tell me how thick the handle is in section where the pivots pass through and the oval and the oval part in the length of the handle. Also how long is the slot at the end of the handle. I'll try to forge one as close as possible to the original.

Yours looks to be in great condition from those photos. I did notice it seems to have some form of upgrade to the Advance mechanism.

[DselParticipant @dsel]

I'm assuming the pivot pin joining the handle and linkage screws into the linkage?

[BobbyDParticipant @bobbyd]

Hi Dsel

The section is 1" thick at the pivot points and 1.5" wide. The internal size of slot at the operating end of the handle is 3" X 0.75" at its widest. Externally its 1.75" wide and 0.82" thick. I guess it would have been cast in a sand mould and hand fettled so not an accurate finished size. (Obviously the pivot sections are machined)

Yes, the pivot pin for the handle does screw in to the linkage.

I have added a few more pic of the auto feed mechanism as a couple of members were interested.

If you need more info or measurements just ask

Hope this helps

[Author]

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