Duplicator?

[Austin]

Please excuse this dumb newbie question but I have no idea.

I want to make a jig of sorts, or buy one, that will help me to duplicate turnings. Say I make a table leg and I want to make four more exactly (or as close as can be) the same. Is there something I can make, or buy?

I have a Jet 1442 lathe.

Thank you

Austin

 

[hcbph]

Depending on the length you have and unit you get, a Vega should be able to do it for you.

 

[Jake Debski]

Austin,

Anything less than a Vega is a waste of money. The lower cost duplicators will wind up gathering dust in some forgotten corner of your shop. (DAMHIK)

You would be much further ahead turning the legs you need freehand. As long as the basic dimensions are close no one will notice the variations. The leg spacing will make any comparison difficult at best. 😀

 

[Ken Grunke]

I agree with Jake. Pro spindle turners don't try to get multiple spindles exactly alike, they just have to look the same.
There are visual and mechanical aids to make turning multiples easier--
One, is a story stick. This has the linear dimensions marked on it, to transfer over onto the workpiece. You can write the diameters at each of the different points, and even draw the profile on the stick and mount it on a platform behind the workpiece.
Two, a range of calipers set for the various diameters along the piece. Either factory-made ones if you are lucky to have a few, or shop-made from wood, sheet metal, or plastic. Just two short, thin 3/4" wide strips glued to a stick at the required distance apart is what I prefer--you can put them all on one stick in a row.
Another aid is the sliding finger duplicating jig. A row of thin fingers pivoting behind the spindle, each one set to drop when you reach the right diameter at various points on the turning. Not sure if these are sold anywhere, but they can be shop-made. Each finger should pivot without any sideways play on a common shaft behind the workpiece. The fingers can be stiff wire or thin sheet metal, and adjustable for length beyond the pivot.

 

[hockenbery]

Another vote with Ken and Jake.

The most important thing is to get the beads and vees at the same height.
On a table people won't notice if one bead is a 1/4 inch more in diameter than the corresponding bead on the next table leg. They will sure notice if it is 1/4 higher.
The story stick should let you mark every detail at the same height.

Also use the same sample piece for all of the legs. that way each will vary a little bit from the the same sample.

Multiples are great things to build skills on. Unfortunately trying to 4 that match before you have experience at multiples is hard. But doing a dozen will get you there and your last 4 will be pretty darn close and probably take about as much time as your first one.

Try to do the runs of multiple in one turning session.
Turn legs from scrap wood as a learning experience (don't sand them). Keep turning them until you are happy with a set of 4. Then turn your legs from the furniture wood.

Another trick is to make 3 tables make 14 legs and you'll find 3 sets of 4 you like.


-Al

 

[Austin]

Thank you gentlemen, that advice makes good sense.

 

[Andy Hoyt]

Two more reasons to forgo using a mechanical duplicator:

You won't be a newbie anymore because you'll get a good dose of experience.

And once you do that, you'll want a bigger lathe and that one might not accomodate the duplicator you bought for the smaller one. 😎