Occasionally there is a need to re-mount a finished sanded turning, For those who have the OneWay live center or similar, a tennis ball fits nicely into the inverted cone and will give adequate pressure without the chance of marring the wood.
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Non-marring Tailstock Pressure
- Thread starter William Rogers
- Start date
Great tip! Thanks William.
Well now I need to buy this cone
I have seen the tennis ball trick before, but can't remember where. Maybe Mike Waldt?
robo hippy
robo hippy
There was an old post using a tennis ball for a goblet support, but I haven’t seen using it in the cone to support a bowl or platter.
Tennis Ball as Jam Chuck?
I recently saw a picture of a "goblet" being turned using a tennis ball on the tailstock end for support; sort of like a jam chuck I guess. It seemed to me that, while the shape of the tennis ball might fit some pieces, a tennis ball might not be rigid enough and may vibrate loose. Given that...
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Tom Gall
TOTW Team
Or make one out of wood and a 3/4"x10tpi nut - or thread the wood - or just drill a 3/4" hole and slip over the threaded shaft.
I've also used a racquet ball
Racquet ball may be easier to keep clean, but a good trick either way.
I’ve got the OneWay live centre and bought a rubber ball to use with it. It can come in handy at times. It was recommended by someone as giving better grip than a tennis ball but I wouldn’t know as I only have the rubber one.
I have an assortment of rubber balls for this method, just choose the one that seems to be an appropriate size for the task at hand.
Another simple way is to just use a cone shaped faucet washer over the point of your Oneway live center. You will need to slightly enlarge the screw hole in the washer, then just place the cone side of the washer towards the Oneway live center. The cone part will center and stay centered in the Oneway live center. Very simple to use without adding any extra attachments to your center. Doesn't mar your wood at all. You do need a faucet washer about the outside diameter of your live center.
I like the tennis ball idea!
I sometimes use a standard live center pushing a disk of wood for extra support, the wood perhaps shaped a bit if the inside is not flat, protected by something soft. But the tennis ball should work immediately on almost anything. Have the cone.
JKJ
Great idea but limits access to the bowl interior. I sometimes use a piece of cork between the wood and the live center.
The diameter of a champagne cork is greater than a wine bottle cork and can spread the forces over a greater surface area if concerned. You only need 1/4 inch or so of the cork so one cork can provide several interpositions even though each can be reused.
The diameter of a champagne cork is greater than a wine bottle cork and can spread the forces over a greater surface area if concerned. You only need 1/4 inch or so of the cork so one cork can provide several interpositions even though each can be reused.
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Tennis ball is a great idea for lots of applications
A wood cover for the tail center with leather tip works well where I want a smaller profile.
I drill a hole for a press fit turn it down to about 1/2” glue on a square of leather rough side out.
If it’s a bit loose on the center a turn or two of masking tape tightens the fit.
Here is the wood cover holding a ball in a cup getting close to round
A wood cover for the tail center with leather tip works well where I want a smaller profile.
I drill a hole for a press fit turn it down to about 1/2” glue on a square of leather rough side out.
If it’s a bit loose on the center a turn or two of masking tape tightens the fit.
Here is the wood cover holding a ball in a cup getting close to round
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I got a 2" diameter x 12" long dowel of UHMW off amazon, drill out and tap 3/4-10 to thread on tailstock live center and part off however long I want it to be, then simply turn it to whatever shape I need - Very useful to make custom live center points and soft enough to not mar the wood - the only one I made and used so far is a parabolic curve to about 1/8" diameter at the tip (rounded) and works nicely to support hollowed ends of boxes , peppermills, etc, no matter the diameter. (as long as it isn't more than 2" I.D.")