Help with lathe duplicator

Re: Help with lathe duplicator

Paul Waddle

>I have limited experience with lathe duplicators so pls keep this in mind as I give you my ideas. First of all, you didn't state how large or long your spindles will be. 200!,I believe I would get a vega porfessional model if they are large-say for a stair case. Maple will be a good wood as it is sturdy and turns well. I would ask Delta if you intend to buy the Rockler duplicator to verify it fits-I believe it will. It has been my experience that duplicators are excellent for roughing out turnings,final sanding and using lathe tools to really point up patterson is needed If I were you,I prceed in the following fashon: buy a vega duplicator with the idea of selling it for approximately half price when finished-this would be an expense;secondly you will will have confidence that your tooling will be up to the task-no I do not work for vega. Paul W

Re: Help with lathe duplicator

Ruth Niles

>Mike,

My advice is to skip the duplicator. Believe it or not, after say maybe 4 spindles you will be able to turn them faster than with the duplicator. I've done several runs of 150 or more porch spindles, mostly Victorian styles.

Yes, the duplicators will shape the spindles exactly, however, you will still have to disengage or disassemble the duplicator, finish turn the entire spindle then sand. It's really adding an extra step.

I use a story stick to mark 12, 24 or all 200 blanks and set calipers for the fattest to thinest diameters. When I did my first big job, 36 spindles, the first took me 45 min., the next few 20 min. and after 8, I was doing them in 8 to 10 min. each and they were enough alike that you had to place them touching to see the minute variation. Trust me; have I ever lied to you? : )

Ruth

Re: Help with lathe duplicator

Mike Ellington From the Arch City

>Thanks for your Idea I will take it under consideration. The length of them will be 20" and the thickest turn will be one inch.

Re: Help with lathe duplicator

Mike Ellington From the Arch City

>Ruth,

Have you ever lied to me? I can't say since this is the first time you have answered any of my post. I've use a story stick before and its cheaper then a lathe duplicator. Its all about time with me and the faster I do this the better I'll be (free). Thanks for your advice or Lie, only time will tell.

Mike

Start with 10 end with 10

Biggest diameter 1" ? You'll need more than a dup

Peter Teubel

>Last year I had a spindle job for 8 stair ballausters (among other items)...3/4" at one end, 1" at the other...36" long. Exactly ONE small cove, the rest a simple taper. Did it by hand, of course, with a center steady. Took WAY too long. A few weeks later, the same guy asks me for 65 more! No way I was going to do THAT by hand again. A friend had a Vega dup so I purchased the slender turning attachment for it (traveling steady). Once we got the stock ripped to exact specs and got the dup aligned (very fussy), we could turn them out (sanded, too) is about 7 minutes each.

I 2nd Ruth's advice -no lie

Sam Simpson

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