SHOP FOX W1764 1/8 HP Mini Power Feeder

Set up on a Shop Fox shaper used to Vee- groove aluminum composite panels on a production basis. Set up was straightforward and the mount is very stiff. So far it works perfectly. The only drawback is that occasionally the aluminum chips get embedded in the rollers and cause scratches in the face metal (very bad!!). This is no fault of the feeder, but it's kind of a pain, because re-setting it by eye is difficult due to the mount design. I plan to make a jig so we can re-set it to the same position every time. All in all, highly recommended for lighter materials; I think it may become overwhelmed with heavy stock.

There are mixed reviews about mini or baby power feeders, so I thought I'd share my experience. First, this is not a flimsy or shoddy unit. On the contrary, It is surprisingly solid and powerful. I installed one on my 1 1/2 hp shaper and cannot imagine the need for a bigger power feeder. This size power feeder seems appropriate for average hobbyist on a smaller shaper. A few observations:The slow speed is slow enough to make a smooth cut using router bits in my shaper. This is difficult and tedious to do by hand, but allows me to use cheaper cutters.The wheels are made of a fairly soft rubber compound. I haven't been able to make them slip.The motor is universal rather than induction. That is how it can be so powerful for it's weight and size. That is also how it can be variable speed at a lower price. That being said, it is pretty quiet since it isn't rotating very fast.The entire unit fits perfectly on my Jet 1 1/2 hp shaper. I mounted the base in the upper right corner. It comes with a template to drill the holes. The right corner is better than the left corner, as it allows the extension arm to be much shorter.The adjustment mechanism is awkward. The power head is attached to the extension arm with a huge knuckle joint. Because the extension arm pivots from it's base, the power head's angle relative to the stock is constantly changing as the arm pivots. Imagine a carpenter's level pivoted on up on one end. To further compound the difficulty, the wheels are offset from the motor, so the power head naturally wants to lean away from the wheels when the knuckle joint is loosened.Fortunately, there is an easy solution. I made up a hardwood stick to fit under the aluminum shroud opposite the wheels. I made it to fill the space between the shroud and the shaper table, so the power head can settle evenly when loosened. Viola, instant set up. My stick is 18" x 2"(unimportant) x a fat 1/4"(important). When I need to adjust height, etc, I loosen the knuckle joint, loosen the extension arm pivot, place my spacer stick under the shroud and let everything settle flat onto the work. Tighten everything and I'm good to go.Another annoyance is that the levers for controlling the pivot arm interfere with the shaper fence handles. This is a minor annoyance, since they can be slid out of the way and perhaps unique to the design of my Jet shaper.All in all, I'm pleasantly surprised by this feeder. I would not have guessed that it would be this nice for it's size and price.

Very easy to assemble and to set up. I bolted it to a piece of 3/4" thick plywood with the bolts recessed. I was then able to clamp it to my table saw top or my router table. Works like a champ!!! It does just what I need it to do. It's not really heavy duty but it does not need to be. Why did i not buy this 20 years ago. Big safety thing too with repetitive work and it also allows wood to be run through with equal pressure in both directions which results in a nice clean cut.

im used for monts and the whel not roning

This unit does not have the power to run 3/4”poplar stock without taking multiple passes. Even then, the 1/8 hp motor struggles and the relatively light hold down weight can lead to the stock wobbling and jumping. I have ruined more hardwood stock than I have successfully milled. Sooo…I have instead primarily used it to route 3/4” MDF for small trim projects. While the MDF requires an absurd amount of sanding and priming to achieve smoothness, I have been able to use it in some locations (mirror frames, window casings, etc.). I was completely deluding myself when I thought this setup would replace my shaper from years back. The warranty is legitimate (the pivot knuckle broke on mine, and they replaced the entire unit).

Absolutely love this machine. I'm a business owner and this has changed the time it takes to mill a large quantity. High highly recommend!!!My hands and shoulders are no longer sore. No more push sticks.Love the dust collection port too. Be very careful when opening the access hole. I used a drill bit and slowly remove the opening, then smoothed over with rasp, you could also use a dremel, but to get the tool set up and use it, it was just as fast doing a few holes and smoothing it.Tip: when using it for the first time. 1. Make sure machine is secured 2. Make sure all knobs are tight, not overtight 3. Raise the saw blade and manually spin it to make sure it doesn't hit the feeder 4. Use a scrap piece to set the downward pressure 5. Use a narrow scrap piece and run it through the machine, DON'T have the saw on, this is just to make sure the feeder grips the piece and moves it along. 6. Feeder goes forward and back, make sure it's feeding the right way 7. Turn on the feeder, and saw 8. Insert a scrap piece to test the cut. If everything looks good, you're ready to begin cutting. If not, begin back at step 1. Safe milling everyone.It's worth every penny. Don't forget to to get the Square trade warranty too (Peace of mind)

The machine is simply under powered . Tried to run some 8ft. Boards and the power feeder stalled during the operation after about 3 feet of the board had been cut. Very disappointed especially for the cost of the machine.