Duplicator help
 

I just set up my new duplicator and have a question. What speed on the lathe does anybody recommend when turning from a square? Any other tips would be appreciated. Thanks

I have a small cutting bit on my duplicator so before I even go there I round my stock out with a gouge on a slower speed..Then I throw the stock on the duplicator already round so I can run that at my highest speed 3450...I don't experiece any tear out at the high speed but I would never go from square at that speed... Be Safe...

Be a MAN 4000 rpm go baby go....course it helps I can :D

New motor be here next week.....6800rpm sssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaa :D

Bryan, which duplicator you got and what kind of wood?

My fiance got me the vega mini.

I am mostly going to turn maple (needles pencils) and a little ayc ( surfsters if I can ever turn something decent)

I met the product manager of Robert Sorby Tools at a Woodcraft demo days back in Sept. He was doing demos on a lathe. I showed him what I was turning and he recommended the highest speed my lathe could go, from square to a finished blank.
Bigger diameter ( bowls etc. ) slower speed.
Smaller diameter, faster speed.
Of course, scary sharp tools are a must.

Bernzy

Yep Vega mini will do 1/2" stock removal, spin that baby up and wear some glasses/shield to protect yourself. Until you get used to the machine etc go slow. Get the carbide cutter too. BIG $$$ but worth it. I can turn about 800 plugs before I need to change the bit.

BERNSEY- Do you use an oil stone or grinder to sharpen your tools? THANKS! :)

I use 2 different water lubed diamond whetstones. 1 coarse and 1 fine.
Then for final polishing I use an 800/4000 Japanese waterstone.
After the initial sharpening, I use the fine diamond whetstone and the Japanese waterstone to maintain the edge and polish.
Check out: www.dmtsharp.com

Bernzy

BERNZY
I have some good english sheffield tools from the 50's that were my Grandfathers, that were kept sharp on his grinder and oil stone. I'm wondering if the Diamond wet at $50 will make that much difference vs the $7 oil stone. He sharpened lawnmowers for a living and knew what he was doing.I wouldn't try the grinder.
Do ya think it's worth the $ difference for the diamond?
Thanks for your help. :)

I'm sure the oilstone would work, but I saw the DMT demo at a wood workers show and was impressed by the quickness a razor sharp edge was formed.
I also thought that $50 was waaaay too much, so I shopped around and found some at Harbor Freight for around $12.
They are color coded and seem to work as well as the DMT's.


Bernzy

As always BERNZY thanks for your help! I'll start shopping around,starting with Harbor Freight. Appreciate it. :)