Bester Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Have you guys tried a duplicator with your lathe? I have a 12 inch benchtop(Craftsman) lathe and was wondering what would be the best one to get for making cranks if they work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP MYERS Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 If you run a search in the threads, the archives will have plenty of info on the duplicators for sure..Seen plenty of posts on the subject in the past.. I use a 36" Vega duplicator, works great, and they do have a smaller version for 12" lathes too.. I dont make cranks tho, I turn Pikie bodies out the wazoo with mine & all are quite exact duplicates of eachother.. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mullaney Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 I use the Vega dup as well - great little machine!!! Here's a tip - if you know a machinist, get him/her to make you a carbide tip cutter. It last a heck of alot longer then the HSS that comes with it. Cheers, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP MYERS Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 I got lucky when I bought my Vega 36" dupl., It was a display model to begin with at WoodCraft in Pittsburgh,Pa.. The store had no plan to restock the large dupl & it was marked down from $738 to $570.. They were also having a one day half off sale too so I got for like $285.. They threw in the optional Diamond "V" cutter kit too.. I was surprised how easily the Vega mounted to my old Sears/Roebuck 1949 lathe!..They definitely speed up the lure turning process when you're making multiple blanks.. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Bester. sounds like you're making timber lures and i'm stuffed as to know what a craftsman lathe is. The craftsman is the bloke in charge of the tools after all. I'm still not quite in touch with the lingo you fellas use but i'd imagine a crank to be round in shape like what us aussies would call a popper. I'm a fitter and turner by trade in case you think i'm leading you down the garden path. I make all my form tools from hss and machine ally with it so i can't see you needing carbide unless the timber you use is harder than steel! cheers birdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mullaney Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 birdy - I am turing square stock to round. the hss cutter dulls alot quicker than the carbide. I would gather the you get 5x the life out of carbide vs. HSS believe me, the guy who made them is a machinist and a frugal man - he would not have made them if they where not of value Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Brian like i said i'm a fitter and turner as well, I don't claim to be the worlds greatest machinist nor did i claim that you would get 5X the life out of HSS V's tungsten. There's an upside and a downside to everything when you put something up against another and the carbide tool is the go for ripping down and tough turning. For all the lumber sculpters out there that may be wondering which tooling to use. *tungsten carbide is harder and will last longer than hss. *tungsten carbide has to be silver souldered onto the tool first, cooled slowly (otherwise it can crack) then ground to shape. *Tungsten carbide is a lot harder to grind to shape than hss *tungsten carbide is more expensive than hss cheers birdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastendlu Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 I make and have made the toolholders for the vega and other duplicators and Birdy i use indexable carbide inserts no need to sharpen last a couple off hundred plugs and replace with another just a turn of the screw no sodering or resharpening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Eastenlu no worries i know what you're on about indexable inserts are cemented carbide inserts which is different to tungsten carbide, The way brian's post read sounded like you had to make the cutting tool though rather than just index, or is brian refering to the toolholder that he got made? why not just buy one? I've got a heap of different form tools ground up from tool steel to make a particular shape instead of using a duplicating attachment, i just plunge in with the right shape form tool and the profile is done providing the tool has been ground to the right shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mullaney Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hey Lou! See you on SOL all the time nice work! Birdy - Why not buy one?? I got one made by a guy for half the price they sell them at Penn St. industries - otherwise I would have bought one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel Pulse Posted October 19, 2007 Report Share Posted October 19, 2007 I am the machinist. I used to frequent this site a few years ago but after the meltdown i hardly get back here too often. Thanks Striperondafly:yay: for your endorsement. Pm me if you need info. Paul Nice web site Brian Lu is my idol:yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
