I've got a rookie question............

I'm running a Delta Midi with a nice new Vega :kewl: duplicator and a Sorby Steb center for the drive.

When I setup the piece, the steb center gets dead center every time but the tailstock (Stock Delta live center) never seems to get centered. I have to fuss with it to get it centered. Is there an easier way? I realize a tailstock steb would be good but don't want to spend the dough around the holidays. It seems like the point just does not get in enough to line it up.

Thanks

Just checked, Bugga...no such luck. It looks like it's just one big piece machined out. There's the point dead center, then a ring that goes around the point. The point is probably 1/8" above the center ring....kinda weird

Essentially, this is what it looks like. Would a different, non-steb center, work?

Bugger,

The steb center I have is on the drive end. The tailstock is giving me problems.

Yes, it's a #2mt. Would one of those conical centers work, the ones without the ring around the point?

Yes, it's a #2mt. Would one of those conical centers work, the ones without the ring around the point?


Yes it would. The ring is supposed to reduce splitting when you put a lot of pressure on the wood. If you could chuck up the center you have and machine the point pointier you could get it ot work...

Yes it would. The ring is supposed to reduce splitting when you put a lot of pressure on the wood. If you could chuck up the center you have and machine the point pointier you could get it ot work...


Nurtz....I didn't even think about the wood splitting :behead:

Good info! The live center supplied with the lathe has the ring to keep the "applied pressure" from driving the point into the wood, causing a split.
Is the center point protruding out beyond the ring at all? What are you using to spot the center before hand? are you going too deep with that?
If you can't get another live center from your lather supplier take alook in PennState Industries and buy another. If you baby the tailstock pressure you could be looking at an accident.

If you are good with a hand file, maybe you could reduce the ring to suit! If you have a machinist in your area maybe he could turn a new face on the center.

Good luck and wear that face shield!

Bob I a having a hell of a time figuring out what you are talking about. Are you saying the point on the center does not stick out far enough past the ring thing to go into the center hole of the wood? Or are you saying your tailstock, thus the center, is off center?? I can try and fix your problem but I don't understand yet. You want to give me a call on the phone and explain and maybe I can fix for you if possible. Let me know and I will PM my number. P.

The "ring" that goes around the point is, maybe, 1/16" of an inch below the point. Therfore, the point is going into the stock but not too far, causing the stock to line up off center.

Basically, I've got a steb center for the drive portion. The point of that goes nicely into the center hole drilled beforehand and lines up the wood nicely, basically fitting in the through-hole perfect. The one in the tailstock goes in but is still "loose" in the through-hole. Picture a hole taking a funnel, like the ones used for filling a lawnmower. If you were to take the funnel and stick it into the stock, only the first portion would go in, allowing play. In my steb, it would go all the way up to the cone portion, not allowing play between the stock and the funnel. Does this make sense? Kind of confusing!

So, in a nutshell, that "point" that extends beyond the circle is not sticking out far enough. Yes, I can get a good fit so it does not break free but that point allows play between the "live-center" and the stock upon setting up, not allowing the stock to get centered right off the bat. I'd need to spin it, line it up, spin it, line it up..takes about 5 tries before I can get the stock perfectly centered.

Now I'm confused!:shocked:

ok , i understand what is happening !!

the point on the tail piece is getting lost in the 'through hole' drilled in the stock :)
ok a cure ,
get a piece of drill rod , same size as the largest diameter if the 'point' . they can be driven out of the tail stock ..
trickey part .. y
ou have to put a taper on the drill rod to match what is on the 'point' ... i did mine using a belt sander and grinding it down a little at a time .

ok now you should have a piece of drill rod with a taper on the end that matches the one on the 'point'. it needs to fit in the tail piece where you took the old one out of

second trickey part ... you need to make the drill rod the length you want to stick past the ridge on the tail piece , cut it an either put another point on that end or just make it the size of the hole you drilled in the stock ..
hope this makes sense ..

derf

Like I mentioned once already :) What size center are you using to mark the stock? You are saying that the through hole is already drilled! What diameter? That is itself may be the problem! It's not that the cemter pin does not stick out far enough beyond the ring, the center hole is larger than the pin to begin with!!
Try marking an X on the stock ends. Then make a center punch mark where the lines intersect.....THEN try your live center!
I do it this way. Then when I drill I go to a regular conical live center to hold the plug body (no real tailstock pressure required.)

I get it now. Sounds like what Bill said the center hole is too big or the center is wrong. Looking at your center it looks like if the stock is not small enough to fit inside that collar thing than the point will not go into the hole in your stock. I never used anything like that. I just use a live center and have never had a problem, no collar. I'd say send the center back if it is new and get one with out the collar. Why bother making stuff to modify it when you just bought the thing. Just get a basic live center. I just mark the center of my stock with a pencil and take a small center drill in a hand drill and drill a center drill hole at center. Put stock in lathe crank center in with a little pressure and go. Never been a problem. I'd can that center and get a basic 20 dollar center. P.

The hole diameter is, I believe, 5/32" It's pretty small. If I were to turn and then drill, I'd be hosed :skulz: :skulz: My drilling is....well...SUX! I'm drilling on a floor drill press, each end, then connecting with a long bit. I get about 8 outta 10 or so, maybe better but if I were to do a plug first, then I'd be 1 outta 10 with my luck.

I think I might try PM's idea and get a basic live center and see if that helps. I've got the Vega going great and want to get moving soon on some major pluggage.

Thanks for the help....sorry to confuse you all :huh:

I use these in my hand drill into my pencil marked center. Both sides. Put stock into lathe. Bash the stock up against the drive spur center with a rubber hammer and jam the tailstock center in the other end and go.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=1675819&PMT4NO=14610471


Oh so you are thru drilling your stock first?? Hole too big for center. Ah now I understand. I am a little slow. Now you can start doing the thru hole with your new lathe, after you turn the stock. I would think you might have a greater chance of splitting your stock with the hole thru it because your center is just pushing on a sharp edge of the hole. With a center drilled hole it sits on the angle made by the center drill thus less vibration and more area for center to ride. I have a headache now . Good luck and don't forget it is surpose to be fun and safe. P.

Would something like this work? The point is DEFINATELY out far enough
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2-MORSE-TAPER-LATHE-LIVE-CENTER_W0QQitemZ300049737076QQihZ020QQcategoryZ104 241QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Lovely. Just get the right taper. Should be good. Price is right. Must be import but so is mine.

These too
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/live-tailstock-centers.html

Oh boy...now I have to choose one :bc: ;)

I thought about doing the turning first then the drilling but I'd mess something up somewhere and can the whole idea. I will probably give one of those other centers a shot and see what happens.

Thanks for all the input and help. Have a great Thanksgiving and stay safe!!

Oh yeah, on a brighter note, the Vega works PISSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:jump:

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=014-0002

Bob
this is a really good modified live center (2 angles).
This one absolutely will not allow the wood to split. you get really good penetration and a much better "feel" as you lock down. The price is not too bad either.

I like that

Tinman,

Thanks for that one! That looks a little better than that ebay one I was looking at. I might give that a shot and see what happens:wall:

Becareful with the live centers that have the large bearings. when you are making a deep throated popper you want to be able to reach inside the cup to insert the center!!
IMHO the center that Tinman posted is the best I have sen yet!!

Becareful with the live centers that have the large bearings. when you are making a deep throated popper you want to be able to reach inside the cup to insert the center!!
IMHO the center that Tinman posted is the best I have sen yet!!

I do my popper mouths off the lathe, so I'll be safe there.

Yeah, I liked what Tinman posted and just ordered one. We'll see what happens. :hidin: