Raised panel doors: router vs shaper or by hand?


I need to make about 6 raised panel doors for a set of cabinets my wife made. I am just a hobbyist but I have a few choices.
1. Order them to my specs from an outside company. 2. Use a router. I think I need a faster router though, mine is 1/4" and fairly slow (craftsman special), as well as a router table. 3. Purchase a shaper. I think this would be safest, but expensive and I wouldn't use it much. 4. Make them by hand. Takes longer and would not be very oranate ( I was thinking of raised arch design).
Any advice?
Snoopy.
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snoopy snipped-for-privacy@excite.com wrote:

You can make them on a table saw.
JP
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wrote:

Not with an arch though.
To elaborate, to make a concave edge to the panel on a TS you clamp a straight edge at an angle to and passing over the blade and then make a series of passes starting with the blade below the table. By moving the straight edge forward/back and changing the angle you can get different profiles. You don't want to do this with your best blade as it will wear the blade on one side.
-Leuf
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Leuf wrote:

You're right. I overlooked that part.
JP
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snoopy snipped-for-privacy@excite.com wrote:

You DO NOT NEED A SHAPER to make raised panels! Either use a router table, or simple ones can be made on the TS.
Dave
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snoopy snipped-for-privacy@excite.com wrote:

If these 6 are going to be the first and last batch you make, go with number 1. You can't do arches on a TS. If you really want to build them yourself, you could probably do it with a coping saw, and some combo of planes and chisels plus scrapers and sandpaper. If you want to spend some money, the price difference between a good router/router table and a shaper is probably a push.     truth is stranger than beauty,     jo4hn
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Thanks for the help. I think I'll abandon the arches.
I found a website that talks about doing them by hand ( http://www.shavings.net/RAISED_PANELS.HTM ), but I thought the cross grain might be a problem. Any suggestion for taking on the crossgrain, other than really sharp tools :-)?
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A perfectly serviceable router table can be built for less than $25.00. That's if all material is bought new (less router of course). I haven't seen to many shapers in that price range.
wrote:> the price difference between a good router/router

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CW wrote:

I've seen one built from scrap, clamps, and a couple of sawhorses. Add in a HF router and voila. If that will suffice for your project, go for it.
Otherwise, Grizzly has a small shaper for $100 and a more usable 3/4 horse for $265. YMMV.     mahalo,     jo4hn
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It will suffice for any project.
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