Duplicators

[jimbob91577]

I'm looking into purchasing a duplicator for my lathe. I've read some articles and reviews on the Vega - but would like to get further opinions on them from folks who have actually used them before.

I am looking to make mini baseball bats, and I have one that I'm planning on using as a template. They are about 16" long, about 1-1/4" in maximum diameter, and about 1/2" minimum diameter.

One question I have is, what is a reasonable amount of time I should expect to spend, making a single copy of said baseball bat? Most of the articles I've read say 1/8" is the maximum amount of "cut" that you want to take while operating a duplicator - is this a true statement or should I consider taking lighter cuts?

Any help/advice on this topic will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[MichaelMouse]

I'd go a bit less than 1/8, though the Vega is one of the more rigid duplicators out there. Thus the price. Not a terifically important thing, really, if you use your roughing tools to get a preliminary shape, then the duplicator to refine. Remember that downhill is still preferable to up even with a duplicator! Saves a bit of sanding.

Of course, if the bats will not be displayed side by side, uniformity would not be a big deal anyway.

 

[jimbob91577]

You're absolutely correct...

...except that my laser engraver gets all sorts of upset when he's doing 20 bats at a time and they are all of varying degrees of thick.

Thank you for the input - i hadn't even considered rough turning them before using the duplicator.