They are one solid hunk of iron for sure! --- the school that I got this from used it to mash luni cans!---they had an attachment on it to drop cans in and mash them!--- shop kids and teacher had NO idea what a shaper was for or how to use it so the school put it up for sale along with a keyway cutter and a horizontal mill, then quit offering shop class. ---- SAD world! lol!

"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."