Nova Live Center

[Mike Stephens]

Just got this in the mail today.For those of you who have this center. How fare out does your hollow cup point stick out from the hollow cup? Mine sticks out almost 5/16 from the rim of the hollow point. this seems like a lot to me.

Also how fare in do your points and accessories seat into the the main body of the center. I didn't measure this but it looked like about 7/16.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[john lucas]

Mike I love my Nova Center. It is incredibly versatile. The point on my Cup center sticks out a short ways. I would have to measure it but I think it's probably 3/16 to 1/4". Each of the various centers seat into the short #2 morse taper almost flush from the top of the taper to the top of the tailcenter.
Of course mine is about 8 years old and they may have changed it.

 

[Mike Stephens]

The points on the one that I received stick way out. The hollow point center sticks way to fare out. I would have to drill a deep hole of about 1/4" diameter to get the cup to touch the wood.

I bought this center for it's versatility and good price but it is just not looking and feeling right to me.

I will try to get some picks up today.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike Stephens]

Here Are Some Pics

Tell me I'm crazy.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Tell me I'm crazy.

OK, you're crazy. But you can use a ruler. Apparently you're not married, so you seek criticism outside the home?

Now that's out of the way, my center, ~8 years old as well. Seems to be a quarter on the fat side.

I use a blunt center punch to mark my center, and it makes a fairly broad (5/32) depression. Since it's blunt enough, it doesn't split. I then tap the center in place until the rim touches. I just use the open nose on bowls rather than leave a deep artifact.

 

[Mike Stephens]

MM thanks for the reply.

I am married with 2 young kids. Just enjoy getting beat on I guess.

Sorry if it seemed like I was nit picking but I'm new to this turning thing. I thought the hole idea of having a cup center was to keep from splitting the wood and the point on this just seems to be much longer then it needs to be. Then again I guess I really have nothing to base my thinking on.

Please don't beat on me to badly. I want to still be standing at least when the wife starts hitting on me. 😛

 

[john lucas]

Mike I never drill a hole when using the cup center. I've never had a problem with splitting. The other center is supposed to stick out. It's used to give you clearance so you can cut closer to the center. This one will split the wood if you drive it in very far. It's really handy when you need to center something that already has a hole drilled in the end because the large taper will fit a lot of different holes. You just can't use much pressure. If you need to use this end so it sticks in just a tiny bit an not split the wood, put a tiny washer on the end. The center will only penetrate until it hits the washer and stop.

 

[Mike Stephens]

Thanks for the tip John. I'll remember it.

 

[rsser]

Mike S those are reasonable questions as the QC on these units has not been the best of late. A mate had to send one back.

Any case, my specs are very close to yours.

 

[Jerry Hall]

The Woodcraft Live Center Set

has (or at least the one I got some years back had) a cup center with a point that only sticks out about a fat 1/16. That is my go-to cup center for spindle turning, especially for off-center turning. (If I wanted a big hole in the end of my spindle turning I would use a drill chuck and bit or a 16 penny nail.) I don't like turning away the hole on small turnings. It is always deeper than I expect and often mucks up the form from what I intended.

At $49 this woodcraft set seems a good value:
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=142771&FamilyID=3727
I haven't had any problems with my live center fixing the work, even in larger spindle blanks. The small point and embossed circle is also more accurate for re-centering, at least for me. Just a point of view.

The long point, beefy, cup center you show is best suited to large bowl blanks and such it seems to me.

 

[Mike Stephens]

Thanks for all the replys.

I've been useing the center and am happy with it. I think Jerhall is right about the large cup center being better suited for bowl blanks.

Mike

 

[MichaelMouse]

I use mine empty (no insert) for butting up against a bowl blank, or just the insert designed for the 1/4" threaded accessories. Certainly doesn't require a point for any purpose. Of course, I didn't buy the big cup center, and it didn't come with.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/GoodOnesGone/PinJawMount.jpg