Seems like summer has arrived early in south central Pennsylvania- it is almost too nice to work in the shop!

Last week my thoughts were to be able to show you a completed, operational lathe duplicator but the best laid plans of mice and men. The duplicator works but there are some necessary refinements and additions to make it functional.

Hope these pictures give you some ideas-

The tool bit holder and follower portion of the duplicator. It is setting on the template holder table.This is the same tool bit holder used for making my rolling pins. No, my lathe isn't pink! 

This view shows the follower and a plywood template fastened to the table/holder.

Looking down from above. The hex head bold locks the tool bit into the holder.

The point ground bit creates more detail than the rounded bit used for making rolling pins.

The "pattern follower". The leading edge needed to be reground into a sharper wedge in order to create the correct pattern details. This is a piece of flat steel heated, twisted, drilled and bolted onto the tool bit holder depth adjustment bolt.

The plywood template is held to the duplicator table with 3 hanger bolts, washers and nuts

 Even with the tool tip and follower modifications, the results are disappointing.

The ¼†x ¼†tool bit, although very sharp, works like a scraper rather than a cutter. This caused unacceptable vibrations in the spindle that usually do not occur- to that extent- when turning with a spindle gouge. These vibrations really altered the dimensions of the final turning. A Steady Rest should reduce/eliminate these vibrations. Now it is matter of designing something will fit onto the duplicator base. A trip to Goodwill netted a pair of roller blades for $7- a total of 8 good wheels. When time permits, and some more engineering I should be able to come up with a workable Steady Rest. Right now that is on hold until my brother-in-law’s lectern get finished.

On to the “Wisdom†section- sometime back, I posted a link to a monthly newsletter. If you have not had the opportunity to do so, I urge you to sign up- it is free. Woodturning On Line  has a wealth of information every month. Sometimes there are unexpected surprises. This month has an article on making chuck add-on jaws for a bowl turning. In that article, there is a link to making a carbide-turning tool . But wait! It gets better! In the turning tool article, there is a link to the site of  Cap’n Eddie . If you don’t check any other links, go to Cap’n Eddie’s site and click on “Sharing Informationâ€. There is some really neat stuff there.

Thanks for reading! Please post pictures of what you are turning!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Wow Lew, I love the duplicator idea. I will be watching and waiting to see how it works out. I almost bought one, but you have not turned on my light bulb. This look like a very interesting project.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com