Replies

1. 
   Bear | May 22, 2005 12:00am | #1

   I have some experience with duplicators. I have a Mini Max T124 copy lathe and a Record lathe with a Vaga duplicator that goes on it. First, no lathe duplicator can make exact copies of very sharp details, i.e. shoulders, sharp corners, etc. So when I make a template I now know to leave these spots out and when I am finished I go back to hand finish them. Quality of the finish depends on wood spec., sharpness of tool, and lack of vibration in the turning.

   Fairly medium sanding is going to be required. Are these machines worth it? That's up to you and what you make. I'm a stair builder and use them to copy balusters for restoration work. I would not think of trying to produce baluster that are available to save money. I also build chairs and find copy attachments very useful to make chair parts that look alike.

   Of course the purist will yell foul, that using copy lathes is not being creative, but that's up to you.

   Bear

   Edited 5/21/2005 5:01 pm ET by Bear

   Edited 5/21/2005 5:08 pm ET by Bear

   
   

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   Edited 5/21/2005 5:08 pm ET by Bear

   
1. 
   chills1994 | May 22, 2005 08:35pm | #2

   Thanks for your pics, Bear!

   Just curious, what woods do you find give the best finish/least sanding when using the duplicator?

    

    

1. 
   Bear | May 22, 2005 11:36pm | #3

   Oak is horrible!! I like cherry and maple. Mahogany probably works the best.
   I dont have any pictures of raw turning, but here is one of my chairs.Bear

   
2. 
   frenchy | May 23, 2005 05:34am | #4

   Chills,

    I have that duplicator because I need to crank out a whole bunch of spindales.  I tried it and it's rough at best... I kept resharpening the cutter thinking I somehow had something wrong..  If you go really slowly it's not too bad but if you want to do something as fast as you can do the first one  you wind up with all kinds of tear-out. 

     In addition it seems that the wood winds up extremely dusty rather than the perfect little coils of shavings we all strive for..

3. 
   frenchy | May 23, 2005 05:38am | #5

   I like working with black walnut.  carving the original the piece comes out looking almost waxy if you do it correctly.   No sanding is required.. however duplicates in Black walnut definately need heavy sanding and even some repair at times..

    definately not a faster way to do things.

4. 
   Berky | May 24, 2005 02:49pm | #6

   I just finished this bed in soft maple, using a Mini Max T124 copy lathe I recently purchased used. The finish is fuzzy and I touch up details with various lathe chisels and then sand. What I like about the mini max over the vega duplicator I have also, is the heavy duty support bearing to eliminate flexing in long spindles as you turn. Of course you can get an add on spindle support and you can always turn by hand, just takes longer and the posts will have differences in them. I like the copy lathe as it lets me get the project done without a lot of work, as I'm not that good on the lathe. The posts all come out exactly the same. I used the Vega copier to make newels and ballusters for our house 2 yrs ago. I had a small import spindle support that was hard to keep the bearings in contact with the oak balluster. A heavier support would have made making the ballusters a lot easier with the Vega.

   
1. 
   chills1994 | May 30, 2005 06:03am | #7

   hello again everyone,

   thanks for all the pics and info.

   the chair and the bed both look awesome.

   i would agree that some type of steady rest that followed along with the cutter of the duplicator would be best,  it'll keep spindle whip down.

   thanks again.

    

   chills