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Live center alternative

Jamie Straw

Jamie Straw

Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
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Location
Bainbridge Island, WA
At the studio, we've been using the Nova live centers (multiple points included) for most turning, even though the Powermatics come with their own centers. After 7 years, and some beginner mis-use, we have at least one that needs replacing. What live center kits can you recommend in the $100 range?
Screenshot 2025-01-10 063434.png
 
I love my Oneway with the 3/4x10 threads, as it is easy to make custom centers for specific applications. I've made them with points, flats, and inverted points for various projects over the years. It does require buying a 3/4x10 tap. Robust also makes one with that same thread pattern - have their drive center in that configuration and have customized it over the years too.
 
I haven't looked at the pricing for live centers. I'm still using the Nova and the Powermatic copy of the Oneway. Both are 20 years or older and get used a lot for all sizes of turnings. I've looked at the Pennstateind. live centers as well as the Grizzly. Don't know how good they are.
 
I'd like a version of this smaller reverse cone(?) for my Oneway live center. It comes with a similar fitting, but it is much larger and without the pinpoint center interior. I guess I could make a wood insert for the Oneway of a similar shape.
1000008973.jpg
 
I have both the Powermatic and Oneway which are identical. Like mentioned already I've made various jigs using the 3/4-10 thread. I also have a threaded adapter for my chuck which comes in handy for centering my segmented work.
 
I'm building up the tooling for my first lathe shop and a quality live center is on my list of buys. I was looking at the Nova because of the options it offers, but start setting this thread in thinking the Oneway like design might be a better option. Yes it's 20-30% more than the Nova. Having a thread already on the body, vs the Nova having a screw you insert might just be the deciding factor.

Gregory
 
Richard Coers said:
What you get with the high end live centers is two bearings. Not the case with many cheap ones.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is true. The most accurate *revolving centres are the three (or four) bearing models used on engine ( metalwork) lathes.
Note the needle roller bearing in the tail in this diagram. These are of course very much more expensive and not needed for wood turning.
I just mention it out of interest.

IMG_3094.png


* Old machinists would never normally use the term “Live” centre to describe a Revolving or Rotating Centre. Back in the day when most metal turning was done between centres they only had plain centres. These were just solid steel for both the head stock and tail stock. The one in the tail stock was called a “Dead” centre because it didn’t move. The one in the head stock was called a “Live” centre because it moved with the work piece. Any old diagrams of lathes will be annotated to confirm this. Times change, maybe new machinists call Revolving centres Live centres? but some suppliers of quality equipment still call them revolving centres.

 
I have 2 Novas, 2 Oneways, 2Powermatics and 1 Robust. They run in order of coolness (in other words which one in heavy use runs the coolest) Nova #1, Robust #2, and Powermatic #3, Oneway #3. A bunch of others that were only used for hands on when 10 or more lathes were being used. Now none of this means that any of the above are bad as I have had them all for years and they all still work as they were designed to do. I didn't mention bearings because for most of those I don't know how many bearings they have. But I do know the Nova has 3 bearings.
 
Steve Tiedman said:
I'd like a version of this smaller reverse cone(?) for my Oneway live center. It comes with a similar fitting, but it is much larger and without the pinpoint center interior. I guess I could make a wood insert for the Oneway of a similar shape.
View attachment 70932
Click to expand...

I made a smaller cone for my OneWay centre out of Aluminium. You could easily use wood though? I’ll try and find a picture.
 
Bill Blasic said:
I have 2 Novas, 2 Oneways, 2Powermatics and 1 Robust. They run in order of coolness (in other words which one in heavy use runs the coolest) Nova #1, Robust #2, and Powermatic #3, Oneway #3. A bunch of others that were only used for hands on when 10 or more lathes were being used. Now none of this means that any of the above are bad as I have had them all for years and they all still work as they were designed to do. I didn't mention bearings because for most of those I don't know how many bearings they have. But I do know the Nova has 3 bearings.
Click to expand...
Having used them all, for a period of time it looks, which would suggest a new turner get? They all seem to have a lot of flexibility, just that the Nova isn't threaded directly. Is this the case?

Long term I can see the utility of having both the Nova and one of the others, but could I get good performance with just the Nova to start? Tooling dollars are tight starting out, but getting quality tooling should help learning.

Gregory
 
Here it is with some other bits. The smaller Aluminium cone I made is 1 3/4” across inside. The three attachments on the right are all made from plastic (they’re threaded underneath) I bought a metalwork tap the same thread as the nose on the centre so it’s quite easy to make bits and pieces. Any decent hardwood should do the job.

IMG_3099.jpeg
 
A few years back I went on a factory tour at Axminster Tools. They laid out a “bargain table” for us. One of the bits I bought was a Pen centre. This is just a revolving centre with a hole in it. I bored and reamed the hole out to 10mm and made some of my own inserts for it. It has become one of my favourite tools. The centre cost me £5 plus some new bearings. The original bearings were ok, just a little noisy.

Edit: I also had to drill and tap the head for some set screws.
 
Yes, that! You won't be exporting those to the States, will you? ($$$)
1000008976.jpg

I may try making a cone shaped insert from wood for the Oneway fitting before buying a tap to make a similar threaded fitting from wood. But thanks for the photo, it's helpful.
 
Gregory Hickman said:
Having used them all, for a period of time it looks, which would suggest a new turner get? They all seem to have a lot of flexibility, just that the Nova isn't threaded directly. Is this the case?

Long term I can see the utility of having both the Nova and one of the others, but could I get good performance with just the Nova to start? Tooling dollars are tight starting out, but getting quality tooling should help learning.

Gregory
Click to expand...
One major benefit about the longer live centers that accommodate more bearings - they allow the tailstock to be further away from the work, without extending the TS quill further. This gives more room to get the banjo/tool rest into that space. I have not found the extra bearings to be of benefit in terms of load - I have a 60 deg cone style with single bearing that I’ve had for a dozen years and did a lot of unbalanced turning with it, and the bearing is fine. That’s on a 16” swing lathe. The much heavier pieces one can get on a larger lather is a different story.
 
Bill Alston said:
Sorry Steve, I’m not the world’s most competent machinist and once you add shipping etc!
Click to expand...
I didn't think so... But nice job on yours.

May I send your photo to Oneway, see if they'll add something similar to their line?
 
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