Should I buy an offshore lathe duplicator?

[Bob Oswin]

I am toying with buying an inexpensive duplicator for my Mastercraft-(think Jet) lathe.
I looked at the Vega and Delta but they are out of range for me right now.
I would appreciate any experiences you could share with me about the offshore duplicators.
I was looking at Busy Bee and Harbor Freight. I went to House of Tools last saturday but couldn't get near the lathes because they had them pushed
against each other in a great gizzley pile.
Talking to a clerk didn't resolve it for me either. Bummer!

Bob In Edmonton

[Bryan R Cowing]

I think you would be better off practising turning, besides they don't all have to be exactly the same.

[J.P.Rap Hamilton]

I can buy perfectly duplicated spindles at the lumber yard but I'd rather make them.If there not all exectly the same ,it's because they are hand made.With a little practice ,it's realy not that hard to produce a reasonable duplication.
J.P.

[Pete Bilecky - Mississaug]

I have the B.B lathe that came with a duplicator. The only time I tried to use it I made a great pile of designer firewood and next to no useable copies. I prefer to do it freehand.

The only reason I got it in the first place was that I bought it and the BB 14" band saw out of a local paper as a "garage sale" item.($400 for both if I remember right.)

The BB duplicator IS a POS and has been removed.
Cheers
Pete