Shopsmith Forums

This is my dumb question of the day. (And the Infernal Revenue Service $$ are in da bank.)
Either- a) the lathe dupicater, or b) the speed reducer. I would like both, but can't afford that. In favor of the duplicater; Granddaughter needs a bat... and I can make chess sets for my kids plus a few $$ at church fairs on projects like fish lures.
In favor of the speed reducer; turning larger bowls and lots of micro projects needing forstner bits for various craft projects.
So what say you. Help!

Wayne
Milwaukee
All the snow will be gone by June... July at the latest!

I have the speed reducer and it help with the big pieces or out of round ones. Even if they are wet (green) they may throw the balance off even thought they look round. The reducer really slows it down so you can that big stuff without chasing your SS out the door.

The duplicator I don't know much about. Seems a lot of money for duplicating a few items, something you can do with a caliper. I see a use if you are planning a lot of duplicating.

[quote="smredleg"]This is my dumb question of the day. (And the Infernal Revenue Service $$ are in da bank.)
Either- a) the lathe dupicater, or b) the speed reducer. I would like both, but can't afford that. In favor of the duplicater]
The answer to your dilemma is simple: YES

Oh, I guess that there is no easy answer after all:mad: . Well, it really depends on what you plan on doing the most of, right away. Are you going to turn large bowls, or are you going to make chess pieces and bats? Only you can answer that question.

smredleg wrote:This is my dumb question of the day. (And the Infernal Revenue Service $$ are in da bank.)
Either- a) the lathe duplicator, or b) the speed reducer.

Let me try to confuse you more:D

first buy her a bat, unless you are making a lot of identical bats or spindles the lathe duplicator is a luxury. I have the speed reducer and use it frequently to turn bowls out of logs from the firewood pile. If you are doing any serious lathe work conceder the Universal Tool Rest (Banjo), and a couple of live center extenders (they are very cheap). If you want to sell stuff for profit at craft shows you can't beat the Ring Master for speed and low cost material.

Hi Wayne! I just Love to make recommendations on how to spen other people's money!

To me - it is hands down, no contest, no brainer to go with the speed reducer. If you need to duplicate turnings, you can use a template, or make your own duplicator of "lathe dancers".

charlese wrote:Hi Wayne! I just Love to make recommendations on how to spend other people's money!
.

That's why we all are considering running for Congress.
But we can't because we know the opposite of Progress!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've used the speed reducer when attending the TAs here in Milwaukee. Thinking about it, I've got more uses for it than the duplicator.

Wayne
The snow man cometh yet again tonite.
Milwaukee

I know very little about the rules of regulation baseball but I was asked to turn down a bat once. I had an awful time putting it on my SS lathe it was about 1/2 inch longer than widest space between centers. I finally managed to get it on the lathe but it was a real game. I think I spent over hour trying to mount it and about 2 minutes turning it down and sanding it smooth.

It may have worked if I had clamping type drive jaws and couple of mid point stablizers and not used the tail center, but even then it would be an experience.

So if you thinking of making a bat and your grand daughter plays in a league you better find out if there is a length specification before you let that effect you decision. It might be easier to just buy a bat.
Ed

OK Chuck, I'll bite. What's a "Lathe Dancer"?

What's a lathe dancer? If you Google it you are liable to find many types of dancers- some which you really don't want on your computer.

I read about this in Popular Woodworking - Volume #153 (Feb. 2006) page 30. If you are really interested in getting the article complete with design drawings, you might try contacting the Magazine or writing to the author, Eric A. Hedberg (a writer and woodworker in St. Paul, MN.)

The lathe dancer jig follows about the same frame configuration as SS's duplicator, but is made from wood. The magazine's index says, "This modern interpretation of an old-school turning jig helps you to make a perfect set of spindles every time. By Eric A. Hedberg"

Here's what it looks like: Picture two horizontal pieces clamped to the Support rails of the Mark V. Then there are two adjustable uprights attached to these, to the rear of the lathe. (one near the headstock and the other near the tail stock) From each of the uprights, there extends a support. The supports extend forward over the lathe axis. A threaded rod is placed into depressions in the top of the supports, a bit to the rear of the lathe axis. Blocks of wood are threaded onto the metal rod. These blocks are about 3/8" thick and 1 1/4" long and 3/4" high. The rod (above) passes through the block at about 1/4" X 1/4" from the top and the back side. (this makes the block front heavy so the front will rotate downward) Through the front of the block there is a vertical hole drilled to accommodate the dancer rod. A small bolt is put through the front of the block. Its purpose is to hole the dancer rod securely. The dancer rod itself can be made from brass, wood plastic or bamboo.

The dancer rod is set up to fall through the turning when the turning reaches the wanted diameter. The Author has a nifty way to set up the dancers to fit any profile. You can have as many dancers on the jig as you want.

I don't have one, but it's on my to do list - presently low priority as I don't have a project that requires a lot of lathe duplication.