Woodturning Live Centers – What Works – What Does Not Work
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A short while ago, I had a conversation with another club member about live center options. He is an experienced turner, so the conversation was mutually beneficial.
Sometimes a new turner is constrained by how their lathe was initially equipped. That begs the question of where to go from this point. What to do when you do not want a point poking into your beautiful wood?
Some options include:
-removing the center point (if it comes out) but then it can get lost in wood shavings.
-padding the point with a coin.
-covering the live center with wood.
-purchasing a more capable live center. But then often the issues repeat themselves as projects come.
one upgraded live center has 3/4-10 threads and a cone accessory. Then
-perhaps a covering wood piece could be threaded to be secure when on.
-what about a dedicated cone center so you do not have to look for where the cone piece is hiding.
-how about a rubber stopper drilled to match that slips on but is still secure?
Another upgraded live center has 1-8 threads but no accessories.
-The threads match more lathe spindles as is. An inexpensive adapter covers more options.
-With matching threads, many other possibilities emerge. Limitless.
Enjoy.
Great video. Any suggestions on which brand of live center chuck adapter and tapered or flat bottom die?
Not sure of the question(S).
My threaded live center chuck adapter came from Penn State.
I use the Beall taps for making the faceplates.
Alan
Alan,
I really enjoy your weekly videos. Adding a rubber stopper to my Oneway live center is something I will certainly try. However, not sure why I would want to put a chuck on my tailstock. I looked The Woodturners Store website and found one of these revolving live centers and their explanation is that it is used to accurately mount into a vacuum chuck on the headstock.
I don’t have a vacuum chuck, so don’t understand that.
Anyway, is that the main reason you use a chuck in your tailstock?
Ron,
I do not think I have ever mounted my heavy Vicmarc chuck on the live center.
Having said that I frequently mount my threaded wood faceplates for some major purposes:
1. custom shapes for a vase, or long spindle, etc. Primarily support.
2. Transferring, centering, and splitting segmented rings.
3. Centering segmented rings with my Longworth chuck.
4. probably more but also probably variants of the above.
Alan
Alan,
Thanks for the reply!
Ron