Hi,
I have to make several identical turned table legs. In order to have all of them look the same, I see two choices to be successful:
1) The legacy ornamental mill which allows for a huge amount of variety of turning types with a router. I see many advantages to this tool, with a much greater future than the lathe duplicator. But I’m not sure if it will be as good quality as a lathe duplicator.
or
2) The vega lathe duplicator which is specifically and only designed to copy a template or turning on a lathe. It has no ornamental capability. It does have the ability to turn many identical items over and over, but it appears that the legacy can too.
So, I am asking for help. The pricing on the two is within ~$100 of each other, so that is not a real issue. What I am looking for is some idea of what experience any of you might have with these two tools.
Thanks,
– lee –
Replies
What I did (because I wanted both but failed to justify both) was buy the Vega duplicator. It works well and I'm pleased with it.. but you are correct you can't do the spiral /rope etc. turnings with it.. You need the ability to use a router to achieve those..
Sears has for a couple of hundred bucks (actually it was on sale for $149.00) one that while it's not as nice it works..
Lee,
If you're feeling adventurous, and would like to have a duplicator for (almost) free, you can construct the shop-built lathe duplicator that I designed. (See enclosed graphic.) It is easy to build, and will give you exact copies every time. It's built with a (approx. sized to fit each lathe dim.) 20" x 36" piece of 3/4" Birch Plywood, a 1/4" piece of hardwood (for the template), some scrap hardwood pieces, two band clamps*, some bolts, nuts, and washers, and one 1.5" x 3/16" piece of steel rod.
The jig can be used with either the appropriate gouge, or with a router motor (preferred) with the correct bit installed
The quick low down on this jig, is that a template is created using the 1/4" hardwood. This is then screwed to the 3/4" Birch plywood, and mounted with nuts/bolts (or clamps) to the lathe rails below and/or slightly behind the wood stock. A sled, which has been made from scrap hardwood, and is actually more of a tool rest, slides along the plywood deck using a piece of steel rod to index along the template.
If this is something you may be interested in pursuing, reply to this post (with specific questions if you have them), and I'll give you all of the details.
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
Hello All
I guess Im on the other side of the fence (so to speak) I bought the Legacy.
Its a great machine! Not only dose it do coppy lathe work and spirals but it also mortises and tappers round or square, Ive made rosettes and cut wood threads for repair parts for a old wood vice. This machine dose a lot . its also plains wood flat like a plainer,(as a matter of the fact) Ive just finished milling some walnut burl ,flat and there was no tareout!
THIS IS A GREAT MACHINE! You should look into it,before you buy the copy lathe.
But that is just my opinion
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