Replacement live center

[dwalker01]

The live center that came with my lathe has a large bearing just behind the point that is getting in the way of my tools when turning spindles. I have also had some problems with the single point following the grain of the wood when pressure is applied, causing the piece to go off center. I am looking for a replacement that will solve both of these problems. I have been looking at the Stebcenter revolving center. Is there something else on the market I should consider?

Dennis

 

[C Edward Moore]

centers

Dennis,

I have a Stebcenter Drive Center and a Stebcenter Revolving Center and am extremely pleased with both of these items.

Some would recommend the Oneway centers and they are good.

The "sleeper" here is "Revolving Center with 4 Points" or item #955-7200 on page 46 in Craft Supplies USA "The Woodturners Catalog - 2005". I have two of these centers and use them quite often. If my memory serves me correctly, David Ellsworth recommended them at a demo for the Capital Area Woodturners in the DC area. One of the most used inserts is the flat one. It works great when securing a box on a jam chuck.

 

[MichaelMouse]

The live center that came with my lathe has a large bearing just behind the point that is getting in the way of my tools when turning spindles. I have also had some problems with the single point following the grain of the wood when pressure is applied, causing the piece to go off center. I am looking for a replacement that will solve both of these problems. I have been looking at the Stebcenter revolving center. Is there something else on the market I should consider?

Dennis

That 60 degree point should be outlawed. I suppose it's fine for metal, but the kids were prone to knocking it out all the time, and it's almost impossible to reseat. I put 'em back on the dead center until the school sprung for the bucks.

I use the NOVA center with the attachments on mine. One of the nicest is the one that allows me to mount my goblet-centering noses and inside-out centering devices directly to the center. Price jumped recently, but I'd say it's worth the bucks. Don't get the cone. Too easy to make your own attachments.

 

[Steve Worcester]

Dennis,

The "sleeper" here is "Revolving Center with 4 Points" or item #955-7200 on page 46 in Craft Supplies USA "The Woodturners Catalog - 2005".

After attending a class from Sir David, I bought a Nova as well. The 4 point mentioned looks nearly identical. The real small point/cup center is what David recommends because of it makes such a small indention, it is easy to reposition the work without "falling" into the same hole each time. That particular point would not work well for spindles, but one of the others included might.

 

[Mark Mandell]

Dennis,

while I liked the woodfast center that came with my lathe, I wanted a bit of variety, so I bought one with interchangable tips from Craft Supply. Artisan Center, Item No. 955-7200 for a # 2 MT, comes with a set of points including a blunt one that I glued in a piece of wood and then turned a 3" cone to stabilize hollow forms and goblets. One issue is that the taper is very long so I cut about an inch off of it to be able to bring the tailstock closer to the workpiece.

 

[hockenbery]

To me having a good tailstock center is more important than a chuck.
As you stated the big ones get in the way for spindles. They also make it very difficult if not impossibe to finish the bottoms of bowls amd hollow forms when they are reverse chucked.

I use the Oneway center and the Craft supplies center that Ed mentioned.

Either one will do nicely if you can only have one center. I have a preference for the Oneway cenbter because I use some wooden pieces that screw on from time to time and I like having the cones.

happy turning,
Al

 

[john lucas]

Dennis
I've been using the Nova live center for years and love it. One nice feature is the replaceable points are #2 morse tapers so you can put them in the headstock for that rare occasion when you need some other type of support there. It's also very easy to make adaptors out of wood to fit the live center when you need something strange on that end. My only complaint is the size of the morse taper on the end is the same size as the hole in my tailstock on my Nova comet so you can't use a knock out bar to get it out.