Has anyone here built a Copy Carver ?

No, but I bought a factory made duplicator for next to nothing from a guy i got some other WW tools from. Haven’t done anything with it yet. Can’t pass up a deal ;-))

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

Me neither, Topa :=)

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

No, it is cheating….(;)

...and your point is ? ;=)

But, but if I carve the original and like it, then I can make more from it. It’s woodworking propagation. Picasso made prints from his originals. Stradivarius let his indentured servants (I mean apprentices) copy his work, then pass them off as his work. C’mon, Phil !?

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

I have thought about it a couple of time. I would be interested to know how it works.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

There’s nothing wrong with it. Different strokes for different folks sooo to each his own. A lot of caracature carvers and others as well use similar machines to make their rough outs and do the rest by hand. People also sell rough outs to other people. If you want to do the whole carving with one of these that’s fine too.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

Havent built one, But there are several threads in other forums that show enought detail to build it without the plans. Just google it.

Here is a better design, that looks simple enough to build without a lot of hassle.

http://www.wood-carver.com/

Rs
YBNORMAL!

Holy smokes, $2750.00 for the wood-carver!
I can buy a pretty fair N.C. router for that much.
It looks easy enough to build for about $200.00 in parts and another $150.00 for the router.

-- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

@YBNORMAL, I had come across the Gemini and would refer to it as well if I build a duplicator. I need one of these for carving the book matched Les Paul (and other) tops you are going to find for me ;=)

@cr1, If you are referring to the power head on the Copy Carver, I’m pretty sure that is a cheap Ryobi laminate trimmer with the base and all the plastic handle and housing removed. He actually recommends the ones that have an all metal motor housing. I’ll just pull the feet and britches off a Dewalt I already have.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

Check this out:
http://lumberjocks.com/HalDougherty/blog/18039

Yeah, I saw that before. Can’t go by the one shot whether it’s any good or not. The one picture I believe I could do with a mirror and a hatchet. ;=)

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

IF I build this, I already see from the plans I purchased that the fixed height lets the probe and router tilt (not plumb most of the time). There will be times when that would present a problem. So I will have to either make it “z” adjustable by either allowing for the raising or lowing of the tool platform (rails).... or building simultaneous tilt adjust into the probe and router. Hmmm.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

I have the plans, David. It’s on my to do list.
Looks simple enough for me.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Check out this LJ David. This might help. He does some interesting stuff. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/45811

-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with

@devann, that is very interesting but sounds like he’s nesting routers. At this time I’m torn between a Copy Carver build and the purchase of a Marlin. The Copy Carver being made from wood is actually the only negative in my mind (there… I said it). Still pondering. Thanks for the link.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia