[madmangil]

Does anyone have one of these machines? I have seen ads for machines that duplicate a single object at a time and ads for others that are up to 8 spindles. I am not looking to buy one I am just curious as to how well they work and how fast they actually are.
For example, if a bear carver can chainsaw out a 15" bear and detail it with some other tools in a total of 4 hours, how long would it take to make the second one on a duplicater? How long would it take to get it detailed the same as the original? How long would it take to make 8 of them on an 8 spindle machine? Do you end up spending an immense amount of time getting the correct size logs so that something isn't missing from one of the duplicates?

[dutchmanmk3]

This is an old question, but I hear it a lot. We have several duplicators, and as tooling goes they are slow to pay off. A duplicator really saves very little time.

The single greatest advantage is the better machines are capable of very precise copies.

Gang Carvers (Those that have multiple cutting heads) do save some time, but depending on the type of linkage, and syncronization tend to produce whats known as Replicated Degeneration. This is the mechanical degradation based on a copy of a copy, but excessive slop in the linkage can also produce very bad results.

The other problem with gang carvers is that in order to cut multiple items from one tracing you tend to need greater pressure bearing on the cutters as it increases your friction, and resistance exponentially. Likewise in order to fit multiple work stations at one machine they tend to place the operator parallel with the work piece. For larger work pieces like gunstocks this equates to stretching way acrossed your table and combined with increased friction is hell on your lower back. Every single stockist I've met using multi cutters has serious lower back problems and has since sold the multi cutting machine that did them in.

All things considered I can free cut the average stock in 45 minutes, and it can take up to 2 hours to duplicate the same pattern. 45 Minutes at best, and that is no savings for such a Large, Expensive Machine.

CNC tooling is a different story of course as you do actually lower operator time, but very few of us got into carving to turn it over to a machine. I'm sure Sam Walton was a fine man, but I'd just as soon he stayed out of carving ! ;^)

My own interest in high production methods is a means to an end. It gives me more time to fritter away on details. I'm not saving any time really. I'm merely OCD. LOL.

[Old_Gord]

You might ask DecoyCarve, he has one that he hand constructed I believe.
Look in the member list for Decoycarve to send him a private message if he doesn't spot your question.

OG

Originally Posted by madmangil

Does anyone have one of these machines? I have seen ads for machines that duplicate a single object at a time and ads for others that are up to 8 spindles. I am not looking to buy one I am just curious as to how well they work and how fast they actually are.
For example, if a bear carver can chainsaw out a 15" bear and detail it with some other tools in a total of 4 hours, how long would it take to make the second one on a duplicater? How long would it take to get it detailed the same as the original? How long would it take to make 8 of them on an 8 spindle machine? Do you end up spending an immense amount of time getting the correct size logs so that something isn't missing from one of the duplicates?

[decoycarve]

I built my own roughout machine. I could not survive without it. It cuts 4 to 8 (8 if I back to back a carving then cut it in half) blanks for me at once. It takes me 20 minutes to center up a set of carving blocks, load the machine and roughout a set of santas or decoy bodys. The machine cuts my santa carving time down by more than half. I could do finer detail than I do on my machine but I like to do the detail with knives and gouges. I have bought a 2 different roughout machines and sold both. They did kill my back operating them. I designed this one to operate from the side and most of the work is done sitting down. This thread was posted a while ago and covers a lot of this subject
The Shop (decoycarves roughout machine)
Goody

[dutchmanmk3]

Originally Posted by decoycarve

I built my own roughout machine. I could not survive without it. It cuts 4 to 8 (8 if I back to back a carving then cut it in half) blanks for me at once. It takes me 20 minutes to center up a set of carving blocks, load the machine and roughout a set of santas or decoy bodys. The machine cuts my santa carving time down by more than half. I could do finer detail than I do on my machine but I like to do the detail with knives and gouges. I have bought a 2 different roughout machines and sold both. They did kill my back operating them. I designed this one to operate from the side and most of the work is done sitting down. This thread was posted a while ago and covers a lot of this subject
The Shop (decoycarves roughout machine)
Goody

Nice Design ! ;^) I Like it !!!

I started out doing historical reproductions several years ago so the accuracy of the duplicator was critical for dimensional integrity. These utilized 1 1/2 hp. motors per 20 spindles, and the linkage of the original German mill was a panick !

Later I went to a double spindle, and started making custom solid body Electric guitars. Given the size and depth of the blanks I went to a 1 to 1 3hp. unit that could cut in a single pass.

I started doing gunstocks as a specialty due to an interest in many historical, and classic collectibles. This necessitated the use of a 1 to 1 1 1/2hp unit, but I have been known to work with Bubinga, Ebony, Maple, Lignum Vitae and Rosewood, and I'm really seriously considering a 3 hp motor, but just don't want another large machine so I have taken to paring the blanks on a band saw, and using a trimmer to pre-shape before they go on the duplicator. This actually cut my overall waste by at least 1/2, and closer to 2/3 higher yeild. What I lose in production is more than offset by lumber, storage, and shipping, so maybe I better not fix it ??? ;^)

I still use the duplicators primarily for the accuracy of the inletting, but could just as easily go with an ornamental mill for better accuracy ? I just really don't want any more equipment than I already have. This was supposed to be a retirement business, and turned right back into a production business !