Homemade Dupilicator
 

I built a duplicator similar to the one the that I saw on this forum. I have a few questions on cutters and using it properly. First off I have limited lathe experience I've turned 25-30 plugs by hand mostly pencils and have done ok with it.

I built the duplicator with the cutting edge slightly below center. One of my machinist buddies made me a cutting tool out of 3/8" high speed tooling stock with a rounded edge and a pointed edge both with positive cutting edges (which he said was better for cutting wood???) he asked what type of edge I wanted positive, neutral, or negative? Which of these edges would be better for cutting wood? Is the pointed or the rounded edge better for turning plugs? From the ones I've seen in picture on this sight most guys seem to be using pointed cutters.

I tried the duplicator and it seemed to leave a very rough finish alot rougher than I've been getting with the hand chisels and the cutters didn't seem to cut as well which I'm sure is due to operator era. Right know my lathe is turning at 1175 rpm. The other speed options are 767, 1950, & 2885. Should I be turning at a higher rpm?

I tried to post pictures but I think my pic files are to large and I can't figure out how to re size them

Thanks, Mark

The rough surface is just the nature of a duplicator, think about it, with a handheld chisel, the blade is flat along the wood smoothing it much better, with a point, it's just not going to be so smooth. A little sandpaper usually cleans that right up anyway, as long as you are not going so fast with the duplicator and make deep chips and tears in the wood.

Mark - Email me the pics I will resize them and post for you if you want

Pics from Mojo7..

dahtah?

Thanks Andy.
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Anytime Mark

tool steel...once it looses it's birr on the cutting edge it's dull..you need to regrind it making sure not to take off the birr on the top edge that the grinder leaves...that birr is like a razor and it'll cut wood very well instead of chipping the wood off......you'll see a big difference in how it cuts...I always kept 3 or 4 cutters at hand to change out when one gets dull...then I'd take some time and regrind them all when I ran out of sharp ones.....tool steel bars are only like 2.00 each..their cheap and I'd grind both ends while I was resharping them....

I thought you were using the pointed end

grapenuts has some good advice there for ya
when I used toolsteel, I had to sharpen it often, but I liked the way it cut,
now I use an insert from proffesor m and it's carbide lasts quite a while.

I had one of the machinist I work with talk me out of the carbide tip he said it wasn't designed for cutting wood he said I'd be better off with the tool steel. I do have a carbide tip available to me that I think I'll try.

I added handles and some weight to the block and cranked the lathe up to 2885 rpm. The handles made a big difference in comfort of use.

After rounding over the square edges with a router I started with a rounded cutting tool to get the basic shape then switched to the pointed bit for the finish cut then sanded as recommended. I'm very happy with the finished plug. I still need to get used to using it but I'm happy with the progress.

Anymore advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Mark

mark thats a sweet set up there , bud ,, i see many a plug comming out of that shop ! nice work man ,,, for me i enjoy cutting every plug by hand ,, ive even started some hand carved ,,, but nice work!

Mr mojo any time you want to stop over I can show you my set up and offer you some advise. I'm close by
Paul
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Paul I would really appreciate that. Anytime you have time is good for me I'll pm you my number. Just let me know what works for you.
Thanks Mark

This is an offer you want to be sure to take advantage of. Paul will get you going AND he can grind that tool to best suit your needs.
Ask him about an indexable carbide tool holder and insert.

Paul thank you again for your help. Awesome shop and set up I've never seen so many plugs in one place. I can only hope to be half the builder you are someday. I'll drop some lobsters off to you soon. Thanks, Mark

my pleasure. Nice meeting you.


There are several guys on here with more than I have.:uhuh: