A spindle moulder is a stationary woodworking machine in which a spindle spins at moderately high speeds. Specially shaped bits are mounted on the spindle. As the work piece is fed into the machine, the bit cuts a profile into it.
On some spindle moulders, router bits can also be used using a special mounting adapter. The machine normally features a vertical fence, against which the work piece is guided to control the horizontal depth of cut.
Spindle moulders do essentially the same job as the router table, with the main difference being that a wood shaper is a stationary machine designed for larger volume work while a router is a hand tool for lighter duty work.
With a spindle moulder many woodworking tasks are made easier. The technology that exists today to both hobbyists and industrial woodworkers is amazing. You can achieve so much and let your creative juices flow with the right tools. It will save you time so you can get so much done faster. If you are working professionally then top quality woodworking machinery is essential, because it means you will get jobs done faster and properly and therefore have more money.
A spindle moulder is not a cheap purchase so you need to think about what your needs are and if you indeed need it and are able to afford it. Visit the many sites on the internet and see what is available. This will give you a good idea of the features available and how much they cost. After doing your homework you are able to make a better judgement.
Other woodworking Machinery
Spindle moulders are not the only woodworking machinery that are available to you, there are lots more and we will go over some of the below.
Band Saw - A band saw is an essential tool in any woodworking shop. Band saws can do resawing, scroll work and joinery. Before you go out and buy the first band saw that you come across it is a good idea to know exactly what your needs are. Some bandsaws are intended for small hobbyist shops while others are aimed at industrial level woodworkers. Knowing what your uses is going to be will help you choose the width of the blades. Scroll work needs narrower blades, whereas resawing needs wider blades. If you are going to be doing a lot of resawing then it might be better to get a band resaw. The type of work you will be doing will also affect the throat capacity. If you want bigger cuts and larger pieces then you want bigger throat capacity.
CNC Router Machines - A CNC router is a versatile machine that will allow you to accomplish many types of jobs and it is a wonderful addition to any shop to broaden and increase business. You can work with many different types of materials and therefore take different projects and make more money. CNC routers make use of CAD software and are very sophisticated.
Planer Thicknesser - If you have ever used a hand planer then you will know how tedious it can be. With a planer thicknesser you can get the job done so much faster and with consistent quality. Buying a machine like this will save you money in the long run because you will save money on the type of wood you use. With a thicknesser planer you don't have to always buy very expensive wood, you can get amazing results from the roughest wood.