what is this?

[jussi]

What's a "wood turning duplicator"? And how does it work? See link

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/gms/268817288.html

[crokett]

A wood turning duplicator lets you make turnings on a lathe according to a pattern. So you can turn as many copies of the same profile as you want. So you cut a profile on 1/2 ply for instance, then set it up with the duplicator. The duplicator has a pin that follows the pattern and a chisel that cuts the wood. You crank a handle that sends the pin along the profile and cuts the workpiece at the same time. Same principle as when you get a key copied - the original is the template and the machine just follows it.