This is a low-TAM post meant for people who were Googling the same thing I was a few days ago, trying to figure out how to change the bit on a woodworking machine. If that is not you, you can stop reading now :)

All the guides I could find for changing shaper bits had to do with full-spindle transfers. But I was using the shaper as a routing table and couldn’t figure out how to get the bit assembly to screw on appropriately.

Once you have the collet in the nut, and the bit in the collet, put it on the threaded base on the table and turn it a couple times. It will thread but you won’t be able to fully tighten it because the base itself will rotate.

What you need to do is go into the cabinet underneath and find the handle shown here, which is hidden way up top:

Pull that handle straight out and rotate it 90 degrees, and then let it go back in. If you’ve done it right, this will lock the rotation of the spindle and you’ll be able to fully tighten the nut onto the threaded base.

Then go back in, reverse the quarter turn, and you’re good to go!

Again, here’s the handle you’re looking for:

Happy woodworking!

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