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Oneway Spur Drive

john lucas

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I just use a off brand steb center that I got from Pennstateind.com The morse taper goes in the chuck and the jaws lock down on that. The body of the drive center is flat against the jaws I have one in 1" and 3/8" and they both work great in my chucks. I don't know if the Oneway will fit the vicmarc. Looks like it might but without having a ruler and my chuck handy it's hard to say.
 
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Okay maybe the simpler solution is better.. ie. use what you have.
I do have a morse taper spur drive that came with my lathe, not sure why it didn't occur to me to do as you just described and put it in the chuck, I will do so though.
 
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I have one from Axminister similar to Emiliano’s, but about 1/3 the cost. Nova also make them for their Super Nova chucks, but they did not fit my Axminister chucks.


47FB920A-6B12-4A4A-B78A-D80049EA7469.jpeg
 
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The different brand of chucks have different dimensions back there, as evidence by the different diameters of the wood screws that are also designed to fit in back of the jaws. However, I use a generic chuck based steb center that works fine. I would think the Oneway spur drive would work OK in a Vicmarc.
 
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Emiliano Achaval

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I have one from Axminister similar to Emiliano’s, but about 1/3 the cost. Nova also make them for their Super Nova chucks, but they did not fit my Axminister chucks.


View attachment 36788
I can see why is so cheap. No adjustable or replaceable point, you need for different density woods, no adjustable or replaceable "wings" I prefer to use only 2 wings, So I have two in a drawer in case I ever need to replace them. As the saying goes, you get what you paid for.
 
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I can see why is so cheap. No adjustable or replaceable point, you need for different density woods, no adjustable or replaceable "wings" I prefer to use only 2 wings, So I have two in a drawer in case I ever need to replace them. As the saying goes, you get what you paid for.
Wow. Don’t drop that one on the shop floor. 2 drops and you need a new one. Dull point and bent wings.
 
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I can see why is so cheap. No adjustable or replaceable point, you need for different density woods, no adjustable or replaceable "wings" I prefer to use only 2 wings, So I have two in a drawer in case I ever need to replace them. As the saying goes, you get what you paid for.


Works fine without adjustments. Not saying yours is not the Cadillac of spur drives. The Axminster works fine in my chuck. I just don’t need one with bells and whistles for what I do.
 

Emiliano Achaval

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I have one from Axminister similar to Emiliano’s, but about 1/3 the cost. Nova also make them for their Super Nova chucks, but they did not fit my Axminister chucks.


View attachment 36788
In my haste to reply I did not mention that mine does not go into the chuck. Mine threads directly to the spindle. I had the one for the chuck but I do not like a piece sticking that far out from the headstock.
 
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In my haste to reply I did not mention that mine does not go into the chuck. Mine threads directly to the spindle. I had the one for the chuck but I do not like a piece sticking that far out from the headstock.

Threaded to the headstock is not evident from your photo. That would make a difference in price. I use mine for wood about 7-8” or less. If over 8” I might use it to determine the best center for a faceplate or worm screw, but not for rough turning. So for the extension length, it is not a big deal to me for the diameters that I use it. Mine is only about an inch in diameter and speculate the one you use is larger. Looking at the One Way it the link also has it listed as 1” in diameter. If I wanted to drive larger pieces I would opt for the One Way Big Bite spur. It fits in the chuckt and doesn’t appear to be brand specific. I messed up one of my Axministers using the Nova drive because the chuck was not designed for the way the Nova mounted. The One Way in the link shows a similar mount, so I would be leery of using it in a Vicmarc. However I would use the One Way Big Bite.

Edit: https://www.thewoodturningstore.com/oneway-big-bite-chuck-spur/
 
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RichColvin

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This is what I have been using for a long time. My friend Bill Rubinstein used to make them, now Nova makes them. Packard sells them.

David Ellsworth was demonstrating in Pittsburgh and showed his spur drive that was the original one like this. I made a picture and a note to get one when I had $100 to spend on this. Well, that day came and the drive was no longer available. Then, Packard started selling them again and I gobbled one up.

It is really great. I like using all 4 spurs at the same projection. That gives loads of options, including the ability to have a flat surface for an alignment when needed.

I think it is really a worthwhile investment.

Rich
 

Randy Anderson

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So I've never used a chuck mounted spur drive. Just the standard MT setup into my headstock. Is there an advantage I'm missing other than not having to take the chuck off and on?
 

RichColvin

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So I've never used a chuck mounted spur drive. Just the standard MT setup into my headstock. Is there an advantage I'm missing other than not having to take the chuck off and on?
The one I use (& Emiliano showed) has a much wider area for gripping the wood. I find it is far less prone to shipping.
 
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So I've never used a chuck mounted spur drive. Just the standard MT setup into my headstock. Is there an advantage I'm missing other than not having to take the chuck off and on?

Not having to remove the chuck is the main reason I use it. It also saves on wear of the headstock MT. I only use it on small diameter wood less than 8”, so the Axminister I use works fine for that. I think I would try the One Way big bite if I was trying to use a spur on bigger pieces.
 

Emiliano Achaval

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So I've never used a chuck mounted spur drive. Just the standard MT setup into my headstock. Is there an advantage I'm missing other than not having to take the chuck off and on?
The main advantage is that I can put a 300 plus pounds block of wood on my Stubbys, either one and not worry about it. I would not recommend doing that with a little Morse taper spur drive.
 
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I just use a off brand steb center that I got from Pennstateind.com The morse taper goes in the chuck and the jaws lock down on that. The body of the drive center is flat against the jaws I have one in 1" and 3/8" and they both work great in my chucks. I don't know if the Oneway will fit the vicmarc. Looks like it might but without having a ruler and my chuck handy it's hard to say.

John, I have the same Penn State Industries steb centers and see how they can be held by a chuck. Two questions:
1. Does clamping the steb center in the chuck mess up the Morse taper? I mean galling up the Morse taper of the steb center so it doesn't seat well in the lathe Morse taper.
2. What chuck jaws do you use for spindle turning?

I like to use the Nova 35mm spigot jaws for spindle turning. Unfortunately, they are too tall to work with the PSI steb center like you describe.
 
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John, I have the same Penn State Industries steb centers and see how they can be held by a chuck. Two questions:
1. Does clamping the steb center in the chuck mess up the Morse taper? I mean galling up the Morse taper of the steb center so it doesn't seat well in the lathe Morse taper.
2. What chuck jaws do you use for spindle turning?

I like to use the Nova 35mm spigot jaws for spindle turning. Unfortunately, they are too tall to work with the PSI steb center like you describe.

Dave, Nova makes the step centers that fit their chucks. Why would you want the Penn State drive.

https://www.rockler.com/nova-9020-7...b_nJ-KDksZgZMHgBuoqq5qKFJUmXyjYxoCyjoQAvD_BwE
 
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Dave, Nova makes the step centers that fit their chucks. Why would you want the Penn State drive.

Because the Penn State drive is cheap and expeditious. I.e., I already have one.

I am interested in Nova's steb center that you link, have one in my Amazon cart already. I'm trying to find out if it's "tall" enough to work with the 35mm spigot jaws that I like to use for spindle turning, have requested input from Nova/Teknatool on that.

Maybe someone on the forum can help. Can anyone tell me the dimension "L" in the diagram below? (From base of body to slightly below gullets). It will need to be > 1 3/16"to work with the 35mm spigot jaws.
upload_2021-1-19_7-50-37.png
 
Last edited:
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I am interested in Nova's steb center that you link, have one in my Amazon cart already. I'm trying to find out if it's "tall" enough to work with the 35mm spigot jaws that I like to use for spindle turning, have requested input from Nova/Teknatool on that.
Maybe someone on the forum can help. Can anyone tell me the dimension "L" in the diagram below? (From base of body to slightly below gullets). It will need to be > 1 3/16"to work with the 35mm spigot jaws.
View attachment 36878

I'm a great fan of the 35 mm spigot jaws for spindle turning -- they actually are on my lathe right now. I also have that 7/8" diameter Nova steb drive. I put one into the other -- the silver area below the teeth in the photo, down to the indentation where the black begins, stands above the face of the jaws. Didn't measure since there was the clearance. The base of the v-cuts forming the teeth is perhaps 1/8 or so above the face of the jaws.
 
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Thanks everyone for the help. Glad to hear that the 7/8" steb drive will work with the 35 mm spigot jaws. I guess it makes sense that it would since the 35mm spigot jaws are clearly designed for use with spindles.

I'm a great fan of the 35 mm spigot jaws for spindle turning -- they actually are on my lathe right now. I also have that 7/8" diameter Nova steb drive. I put one into the other -- the silver area below the teeth in the photo, down to the indentation where the black begins, stands above the face of the jaws. Didn't measure since there was the clearance. The base of the v-cuts forming the teeth is perhaps 1/8 or so above the face of the jaws.
 
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Another variation on a spur drive that works well for large, rough pieces and allows easy adjustment to balance the piece.
92ECBCA7-1563-444E-B6B1-543432B4F48D.jpeg
 
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Another person also recommended the Big Bite from Oneway, unfortunately it won't fit the Vicmark chucks.
I may decide to try and make something similar to that though, it really does look like a good drive to use for odly shaped larger pieces.
 
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Another person also recommended the Big Bite from Oneway, unfortunately it won't fit the Vicmark chucks.
I may decide to try and make something similar to that though, it really does look like a good drive to use for odly shaped larger pieces.

Why does it not fit Bruce ??, if it is the centre tab being TOO wide, you can grind equal amounts off of it each side till it fits, or is it something else that prevents you from using it ??
 
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Not sure why Leo but it states it on their website that it only fits 3 different brands of chucks, including theirs.
But as you say I can’t see why you couldn’t shave off equal amount on each side if that is in fact the reason why it won’t fit vicmark.
 
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Because the Penn State drive is cheap and expeditious. I.e., I already have one.

I am interested in Nova's steb center that you link, have one in my Amazon cart already. I'm trying to find out if it's "tall" enough to work with the 35mm spigot jaws that I like to use for spindle turning, have requested input from Nova/Teknatool on that.

Maybe someone on the forum can help. Can anyone tell me the dimension "L" in the diagram below? (From base of body to slightly below gullets). It will need to be > 1 3/16"to work with the 35mm spigot jaws.
View attachment 36878

Dave, the L dimension is 1.240”.
 

Timothy Allen

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The OneWay Big Bite fits in my VicMarc 120 chuck, BUT the center hole in the VM120 is larger than the size of the tab on the Big Bite, so it is difficult to center, and thus I have never used it with that chuck, I just use it with my Oneway or Talon chucks.
 
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The Oneway Big Bite is absolutely great for larger wood turnings and it totally replaced my spur drive on natural edge turnings. It is the best $20 bucks I ever spent on a turning tool.
 
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If I had and wanted to use the big bite, I would either glue some shimming material on the tab, or drill two small holes in the side of that tab, then sick the right size screw or nail in it, so it would sit cantered in the chuck.

I did glue (locktite) shim on the base of a tailstock that was too lose to my liking, and that worked just fine, after all it does not have to do anything but sit there.

Oneway big bite.jpeg
 
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Well I decided to go with the big bite even though it doesn't fit my Vicmark chuck.
I did as Leo said and added material to the side to take up space. Instead of gluing or epoxying I just tacked welded two cut off pieces of a 13/64" cheapo allen wrench(of which I have a drawer full of)
This is an oversize fit which I ground down in minute increments to get an as perfect of centering fit as I care to get, worked out nice.

I'm still just going to put the 1" spur drive that came with the lathe in the chuck when I want to do spindle or smaller work, but I also wanted a large spur drive like this for the oddly shaped pieces and also I'd like to orient the grain better than I have been in the past, this may help me in that area I believe/hope.

AFF21-B86-9-F31-4-AD2-9060-B8-AEFD19-A5-DE.jpg

F728-FE90-F2-EB-47-B6-AFAA-716860329-D15.jpg
 
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