I have a delta midi lathe and have been using it for over a year now. I can get things done pretty quickly and have done quite a bit of turning, but one consistent problem has been duplication of pieces that is accurate…
I have wanted to build a chess set and a duplicator is necessary.
After much research I went with the Vega duplicator because it looked the most complete and easy to use. Not many knocks against it and most actually seems more than satisfied..
I ordered mine from tools-plus.com and spent $249.00. It arrived yesterday and this morning (10/25/12) I opened the box ready to work!
The vega website said all duplicators come with a DVD… no luck here, but I had the instructions so no big problem…
Until you open the instructions… Hand drawn diagrams.. no not pen and ink or engineering drawings.. HAND DRAWN and not very well..
OK… I can still do this just read the instructions and off you go!
After the usual amount of screwing around I got it put together. I was not impressed with the construction or the welds.. they were a bit sloppy but who cares right? The cover is held on with a screw and an offset washer which is very cheapo….. but not a functioning part.. right? Most of the nuts and adjustments were loose, but hey ya gotta set it up… right? OH.. AND the instructions do not detail how to install the template tracing portion so you have to figure it out for yourself…
Right…. so I get it mounted using the included bolt and plates (the plates barely cover the gap in the lathe bottom so it was difficult to get the plates situated—-remember this for later). This is where things get hairy…. The duplicator NEEDS to be parallel to the lathe stock or else the duplicator does not duplicate it screws up your wood. THERE ARE NO ADJUSTMENTS OR FINE ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS EQUIPMENT.
You have to loosen and tighten the mounting bolts (which get crooked every time you loosen them because of the smaller attachment plates). The instructions suggest you use a piece of scrap to turn and measure the difference from one end to the other and this will be good enough… After you figure this out… WHICH TAkES LOTS OF TIME… you can adjust the cutter for reach to the stock.. The problem here is the set screw for the cutter is some odd size and they do not include a tool. I found an a-wrench that worked but what a PITA.
Ok.. I know I am whining but it really bothered me it was so cheap and no fine adjustments and it took a long time to set up etc etc etc etc…
On to How did it work? It worked OK… Not easy.. but OK.. Then the bolts starting to rattle loose, the thumb screws all vibrated out… The posts loosen up… It would be OK if it didn’t take so long to readjust… Yes I duplicated something.. But I wanted to scream. not fun..
If I had a dedicated lathe to keep this duplicator on that would probably work.. maybe.
I also bought this because it was MADE IN THE USA… It looked like it was made in China but worse…
I will still use it and I might even start to like it and if I do I will adjust my review but I might return it instead.. Not sure…
If your going to make something in the USA.. make it right! damnit
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