what is the preferred headstock/chuck for the delta mini lathe.? I have the stock one and it is not that great. Is there a self centering one? what do you plug pro's like?

Sorby Stebcenter is what you want. Or get the knock off at Penn State for much cheaper.

Sorby Stebcenter is what you want. Or get the knock off at Penn State for much cheaper.
Yep - what Tobias said. :kewl: also use a live tailstock from Penn that is the same as the Sorby.
:kewl:

If you are looking for a chuck, there are plenty of self centering scroll chucks on the market. I have a teknatool and like it a lot for bowls.

http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=lathes-acc-fourjaw

Yeah, thats what I want...my lathe-lingo is pretty bad. I need the live tailstock center and a better spur drive.

I have Sorby steb centers. I bought them before PSI came out with the knock offs. The PSI stebs are very good. Save some money and take a look at them.
Get a 1/2" for needles and something up around 7/8 for everything else.