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Lathe Duplicator.

S

Samuel Bolton

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Jan 31, 2009
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Hi, I'm New to all this and struggling. I make knitting needles and am contemplating purchasing the Vega duplicator with the small diameter attachment. Is there anyone out there using one of these that would share some knowledge with me. I'm out in the sticks of Montana and don't get out much, (the snow is too deep) Regards S. Bolton
 
Sam
I've (personally) never used one, but I have seen them used and noted that the objects thus done require more cleanup then objects done with a skew and gouge.
I can't say that the cleanup costs more time though.

Where are you? I grew up in Great Falls and went to college at Bozeman

TTFN
Ralph
 
Knitting needles will be hard to make with a duplicator. They tend to chatter and flex because they are long and thin. You would have to use some sort of steady rest with it. The chatter causes the duplicator knife to tear the grain badly which requires lots and lots of sanding.
Knitting needles are actually pretty hard to turn even without a duplicator for the same reason. Most of us use our fingers to steady the piece while turning and this takes lots of practice. I turn conductors baton's which are similar in size and it took me a while to learn to turn them.
 
Check out the latest Woodturning Design, issue #21 Spring 2009. David Reed Smith wrote an excellent article on turning knitting needles. He makes a lot of jigs but because of this you are only turning a short section at a time which makes it much easier. I did my first conductors wand similar to his technique. I extended only a short section at a time and turned that. It works.
 
Movable string steadies are the usually preferred accessories for turning thin pieces such as trembleurs. They should be applicable to knitting needles too. Here's a link: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/robert.bosco/modeleen.htm Sad to say, it appears he's left the building. The menu on the left side should access his trembleur procedures. The pictures should be sufficient without translation.

A parallax jig might be useful for duplicating longitudinal variations in the profile. Here's one, even though it's still on my bucket list: http://www.delorie.com/wood/tips/parallax-jig.html

If you Google ["birdhouse earrings procedure"], you'll find at least two sites, but they both now require registration and log-in to view images. I'm attaching a picture of a custom steady I made to facilitate making them (with belated thanks to Monsieur Bosco).

Joe <Earr/BHER/Steady
 

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String steady's work great for things like Trembleur's but for more or less straight shanks it's far easier to use the short chucking method where you only extend a short piece at a time. No other support is needed.
I have 2 string steady's that I use for long thin goblets. I saw Jimmy Clewes turn them and he keeps turning the speed down each time the goblet started to wobble. I guess I use wood that tends to spring more and I worry about losing the goblet so I use the string steady to stabilize the tip.
 
Hi Samuel, don't waste your money on any duplicator. Since I made my living doing architectural reproduction, aka spindle turning, I bought a duplicator and sold it after trying it twice. As already mentioned, you have to spend more time cleaning up the rough cuts from the duplicator, it's faster and easier to use the skew.

DJ Delore's jig is excellent for spindles but I don't think you'd like it for knitting needles.

As John Lucas said, there is a terrific article in Woodturning Design but if you don't get the magazine, that's not going to help, is it. 🙂 Basically the article shows putting a small square blank that's longer the the finished needle either in a jaw chuck but take the jaws off. I've done this and it works great. Also do a google image search for "home made collet chuck", that should bring up some good pictures and you can easily make your own. These also work great, I made several of various sizes.

One rule, start from the tailstock, making that the thinnest end of the needle, work gradually to the headstock and the fancy end of the needle.

Good luck. I learned how to turn by trial and error 19 yrs. ago (this month!) and although the "trial" is passed, I still make errors. 😀

Ruth
 
Synchronicity

As it happens, "Woodturning Design" arrived at my house today, and has an article on turning knitting needles by David Reed Smith. It's Issue #21, Spring 2009.
 
Lathe duplicator

Hi, First I want to thank everyone that has responded so far. THANKYOU!! I also think I need to clarify my situation somewhat. I have been making needles for three or four years ( I forget exactly) and have literally made thousands. However I keep thinking there has got to be an easier faster (faster is the key word) way of doing this. All along the way I have had bright ideas, none of which helped particularly. Early on I looked at duplicators and after due consideration concluded that they would not work for me. Lately however I was visiting with a local tool guy and he informed me that Vega has an attachment for there duplicator that supposedly holds and supports small diameter work while you are cutting. This sounded like something that might work for me, but efforts on my part to find out how it works etc. have met with failure. The company guy treats me like I'm an irritant, I can find no one that has seen one or is using one. Thus my plea for help in locating someone that has one that I could visit with. Do you suppose the company guy is right? Regards, S. Bolton
 
Hi Samuel,
I don't have the info you are looking for, but I am in a similar situation, also making tools for the fiber arts, such as afgan hooks (knitting needle with a hook cut in.) Also, like you after 1000's of fiber tools, it would sure be nice to find an easier, faster way.
So, if you have any luck in finding it I would enjoy it if you shared.
thanks
Brad
 
When I went to the Louisville slugger plant they had CNC lathe that turned the bats. It had what is refered to in the metal trade as a follower rest. These attach opposite the cutter and travel with the cutter.
I suppose if you had some such attachment to a duplicator it would serve the same purpose. It might be practical for a smooth straight or gently curving spindle but would not work for something that had beads or coves.
I would call Vega and ask. They are good people. I've met them and purchased a few items from them.
If you have turned lots on needles would you share your techniques. Since I've only turned a few long thin things I'm sure I could learn something. My mother knits and this might be a good project to try.
 
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