Tip #30
Shopsmith Lathe Duplicator Tutorial
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Safety

Warning: Before using the lathe duplicator, read and understand these important safety instructions:

• Wear proper eye and ear protection.
• Keep your hands, fingers and other parts of your body at least 2" away from the rotating workpiece until it is rounded. After It is rounded, use caution when you get close to the rotating workpiece. Do not touch the workpiece as it turns.
• Keep the guard In place whenever you are performing turning operations. Position it not more than 1/2" from the workpiece.
• When turning glued-up stock, make sure the glue joints are strong. Glue the stock and leave it clamped for at least 24 hours prior to turning.
• Wear proper apparel. Never wear jewelry, gloves, ties, loose clothing or clothing with long sleeves. Keep long hair tucked under a hat. Jewelry, gloves, ties, clothing and hair could become entangled in the workpiece.
• When mounting stock between the centers, the spurs of the drive center and the cup of the tailstock center must penetrate at least 1/16" into the stock. Do not use a drive center or tailstock center if the point is damaged. The stock could be thrown from the lathe.
• Wax or soap the end of the stock that mounts to the cup center. This lubrication helps keep the center from wearing into the stock and causing the stock to loosen on the lathe. The ball bearing live center is highly recommended for use with the lathe duplicator.
• When mounting stock to a faceplate, use #12 x 1-1/4" long screws. The screws must penetrate at least 1" into the stock. The surface of the stock that's against the faceplate must be smooth and true.
• Cut faceplate stock round and spindle stock that's more than 3" square into an octagon. This removes excess stock, minimizes imbalance, reduces vibration and makes turning large diameter stock safer and easier.
• Check the balance of the workpiece. Prior to mounting workpieces more than 3" in diameter, check and adjust the center of balance (dynamic center). Unbalanced workpieces could be thrown from the lathe.
• Do not turn on the power with the cutter or any part of the tool rest assembly against the workpiece. Turn on the machine and let it come up to speed before starting the cut.
• Do not stand In the line of rotation of the workpiece when you first turn on the machine. If the machine is set on the wrong speed or the workpiece is unbalanced or improperly mounted, the workpiece could be thrown from the lathe.
• Feed the cutter slowly into the workpiece. Use both hands to hold onto and control the tool rest assembly.
• Periodically, turn off the machine and check that the workpiece is held securely between the centers or on the faceplate.
• Do not lean across or reach underneath the lathe while it is running.
• Do not try to stop the lathe by grabbing the stock or any part of the machine. Do not part the stock completely or turn the spindle down to such a small diameter that it snaps on the lathe. This can be extremely dangerous.
• Do not turn stock with splits, loose knots, or other defects that could cause the stock to break, splinter or come loose while turning. Never turn second-hand lumber. If you hit a nail or screw, you could be hit by pieces of metal.
• Remove the lathe duplicator components from the Mark V before sanding or finishing a workpiece on the lathe.
• Do not grind the carbide cutters. The dust created by grinding the carbide can cause eye and skin irritation as well as respiratory system and internal organ damage.
• Do not allow the cutter to come in contact with the parts of the lathe duplicator or Mark V. The cutter will cause damage to the parts and you could be hit by pieces of metal.

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