Lee Schierer
USNA '71
Go Navy!
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I want one for drumsticks. I have just about decided I can get away with a better lathe and an old fashioned duplicator. I did come across this how its made video for a making whole bunch of round wood items accurately. It is long but some might enjoy it.
Best Regards, Maurice
One of the folks I watch on the 'Tube is Ben from Crimson Guitars. In his home shop, he has a small metal lathe that he most often uses for the expected things...metal work. But occasionally, he employs it for some wood components where "getting it sized right" is critical. The ability to manipulate the cutter both forward and back as well as laterally (diameter) in very precise ways is exactly what I was thinking relative to Roger's situation. Pretty much a manually operated horizontal milling machine. I'd honestly love to add a small one of these to my shop someday.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Work support is the most challenging part of making things like that because vibration and wobble is NOT your friend. The duplication type accessories does help insure consistency in the shaping and that's critically important for drumsticks so they feel and weigh the same as pairs.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Roger, I use the Sorby Sizing Tool ….
Chairmaker, Tim Manney, discusses his micro adjust for it here: http://timmanneychairmaker.blogspot....zing-tool.html
Regards from Perth
Derek
FYI: A 14x40 metal lathe of modern design will have only a 1.5" spindle bore. If I had to make these I would make them in my 13x40 lathe. Chuck it buried in the chuck. Drill a center hole in he end of the stock. Extend it out enough for the tennon and cut that. then extend it all the way to form the curved part using a live center. part it off and maybe reverse the tennon into the chuck to smooth out the big end. No CNC required but...
Bill D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFWAHLYrgO8
Dado blade on table saw, using square stock. Watched WoodSmith Shop today, and that's how they did tenons on chair legs. Google " cutting round tenons on square stock," and several videos will pop up. You will have to make a couple different sized jigs to run in miter slot on TS. Cut a tenon on each end, then turn stock to needed size.
Yes, I wish I could see inside the machines that do the tricky part at the Vic Firth factory. I have a process that works well on an antique toy lathe but it takes an hour to make a pair. Vic Firth is fairly good about their quality control. I have been in music stores with wood worker drummers and gotten embarrassed while they scrutinize every stick in the store before finding their pair, often from two different packages. Perfectly straight grain and both sticks made from the same split billet is where I start. All for a $10 item, it is silliness!
Best Regards, Maurice
Don't underestimate just how much a skilled musician can "feel" the difference here...the human body and mind can be pretty amazing.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...