machine shop input please

[Ralph Volkert]

Hi all!

I have the chance to pick up an old model 7B Atlas shaper at an auction tomorrow for a good price. I believe it has a 7"stroke.

The research I did and videos I saw show this to be a cool piece of bench top machining equipment. Similar to a horizontal milling machine but not quite. But before I actually try and get this equipment

Does anyone know how useful this would really be in fabricating parts for a carrier? Any one know what it should be worth.

Thanks

[maple_leaf_eh]

No sense bidding on it if the condition and serviceability cannot be assured. Power, floor space, floor strength, etc are second questions.

I cannot speak to using such a machine for carrier parts, but I speak to buying things at auction and being disappointed after the fact.

[Ralph Volkert]

This is not a floor model behemoth of a machine, it is a bench size unit. I hope to be able to give it a good once over at the auction site tomorrow. (I know the auctioneer!)

But flooring and transporting is not an issue!

[chris vickery]

Ralph, having some machine shop background and experience, all I can say is that a shaper is akin to whittling sticks with a pen knife instead of using a lathe....
Keep you eyes open for a milling machine instead.