Center spur?

[capcrnch]

Hi all,
Newbie member here. I really like the forums, they seem really good and chocked full of info!
I just got my hands on a new lathe with a 1 x 8 head...
It came with a center spur, but it is pretty cheap and I would really like to find a new (better) one.. Can anyone recommend a good place to buy one?
I believe the size is a 3/8.

I guess what i'm looking for is a place (online) that people recommend for purchasing the center spur, as well as a chuck for some turnings that im planning on doing.

Thanks!
Rich

 

[Joe Herrmann]

The most obvious places are Craft Supplies and Packard woodworks--addresses can be found on line. However, there are all kinds of companies out there that sell lathe supplies. Have you tried an internet search for "lathe spur drive center"?

Joe

 

[-e-]

a bit more specific

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/ = crafts supplies

http://www.packardwoodworks.com/ = packard


http://www.oneway.on.ca/ = oneway

 

[MichaelMouse]

First, you want to determine what you need. 3/8" is sort of meaningless. Tapers are sized by number as #1,2,3, etc. Go by the "fat end to determine what you need before you order. http://www.loganact.com/tips/tapers.htm

Take yours to a machine shop for confimation if you're in doubt, or if you're down near Canton in Da Mitten, drop by Woodcraft with your old one. You'll have to pay Jennifer her tax directly, of course.

Oh yes, I favor the two-fanged rather than the four, because I don't have to make notches at 90 degrees to get some grip distance in the wood, but only a broad bandsaw kerf. Not to mention Steb and similar "breakaway" types.

 

[capcrnch]

Sorry, in my rush to type, I left out that it was a Morse #2.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[hcbph]

I just picked up a Sorby Stebcenter the other week. Though I've only made a couple of spindle turnings since then, it looks very promising for that type turning.

Paul

 

[john lucas]

I have the !/2" steb center and a 3/8" 4 point drive. The Steb center is great for 3/4" and larger spindles but the spring puts so much pressure on smaller spindles it causes them to vibrate excessively and in the case of my mirror handles cause them to break off at the end before I can cut them off.
I like my 3/8" 4 point drive for most things. The only time I don't is it has a tendency bore into soft woods or green wood requiring you to retighten the tailstock frequently.
I may try to take my Steb center apart and reduce the center pin spring tension. Then this will be a great drive for me.

 

[hcbph]

John

I haven't messed with the spring in my Stebcenter but I found a drillbit the exact size of the center. I did a counterbore on the end of the piece of wood to accept it. Next to impossible to pull it off the lathe and seemed to work very well. I've got the largest one (1 1/4" I think) and it can really lock down on some of the spindle turnings I do. I've left a little extra scrap on that end so a quick snip with the bandsaw or miterbox removes that.

Paul

 

[Wilford Bickel]

Craft USA has their own spring loaded tip, multi toothed center - http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?search=action&keywords=multi-tooth-center

I picked one of these up a couple of months ago and could not be any happier with the product. I have not noticed the vibration John was getting on his mirror handles but will watch for it - they may have a "softer" spring in this version. It has become my main drive center and for the money I highly recommend it. The only thing I see that could be a problem is that they have angled the teeth in the turning direction - this could be a problem if you were using it on a reversing lathe.

Wilford