Anyone know anything about this spiral cutter?

[Mark.Chambers]

Hi Folks,

My local Men's Shed has this spiral cutter that's been sitting in the corner and no-one knows anything about it. It has a mount for a router, so it can't be all that old - looks like 1960's to me.

2013-10-17 11.33.00.jpg2013-10-17 11.33.22.jpg

It has a sticker on the side marked 'Vermont American' but their website doesn't mention it. The sticker might be off something else and a red herring.

I'm hoping to be able to source a new component to change the pitch of the spiral. i.e. the white plastic bit in the next photo.

2013-10-17 11.34.21.jpg

If anyone knows anything about this device, especially where to get a manual and spare parts, I'd love to hear about it.

Regards,
Mark

[wheelinround]

Mark I have used one at Ornamental Turners contact Tom Cattell or David Laird next Wednesday brand name is the same. Index

[camoz]

Mark,

Can't help with spare parts, but this is a manual for another brand that should be fairly similar in design.

Craftsman ROUTER LATHE MANUAL.pdf

should at least give you an idea of what it is meant to do. Regarding a new cable drum, could you not just make one?

Cheers,

Camo

[arose62]

Go googling for "router lathe", and you may find something useful.

Timbecon sell a similar beast
Product Details

Cheers,
Andrew

[Mark.Chambers]

Mark I have used one at Ornamental Turners contact Tom Cattell or David Laird next Wednesday brand name is the same. Index

Thanks, I'll email them. Why Wednesday?

[Mark.Chambers]

Mark,

Can't help with spare parts, but this is a manual for another brand that should be fairly similar in design.

Craftsman ROUTER LATHE MANUAL.pdf

should at least give you an idea of what it is meant to do. Regarding a new cable drum, could you not just make one?

Cheers,

Camo

Thanks Camo,

Very helpful document - it looks to be almost the same device.

I didn't want to make a new cable drum if I could buy one for a few dollars but I'll look into it now. I think it might be tricky because the indexing pin will place a limit on the minimum diameter. I might be better off with some kind of elaborate pulley system to halve the travel distance. Or get a more capable unit.

Mark

[Mark.Chambers]

Go googling for "router lathe", and you may find something useful.

Timbecon sell a similar beast
Product Details

Cheers,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I tried Googling everything I could think of, but I didn't know it was called a "router lathe".

Thanks,
Mark

[wheelinround]

Mark the "Only Wednesday" was if you rang you can email them any day.