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I don't know about a jet , My tail stock end slides easily , I start with my finish blank , Thats the ends cut off . Then I mark the centers with a awl, making an impression so bit stays right there. If your really having trouble drill your belly hole first, so drilling stops there . Don't hold your hand over that hole while drilling ,,alot of heat comes out of there, burns your hand and you'll let go . I hope you have your drill chuck in the live center , not the dead end . Drill bit spins not the blank . Ok holding the blank center on the dead end center slide towards spinning drill bit and align drill and blank center. go in just a litlle , back out and clear the chips . Depending on how good your drill bit is you can only go in like 1/4-3/4" before backing out and clearing chips . repeat . In a little(1/4"-3/4") back up and clear chips . If you do not clear the chips they jam up in there ,cause heat , and distort drill bit ,sending it off center. After you get the blank drilled half way thru , turn end for end and repeat all this . You'll feel the ends connect or if you've drilled belly hole 1st you can use it as a veiwing window and see it .. Hope your wearing a face shield . I don't like gloves on machinery,, your call, but if you do make sure they're not tattered . Another biggy is drill bits .. How much of a flute do they have .. The ones I use are flutted only about an inch .. Tried some that were fluted all the way and to wobbly for my liking .. 1" flute stiffer .. Ok assuming your using 1/8" or 3/16" drill bits ,,, 6-8 inches long .. What your drilling is a biggy too .. white pine is a can of corn to drill like butter.. Hard maple is difficult bits heat up , distort, they have to be really sharp (drill doctor).. Even then it can be dangerous if a piece gets away from you .. comes out of your hand like a lead pipe. A firm grip helps and again a face sheild .. Drilling hard wood, I've even started with a shorter drill bit like 3" because its stiffer,, drilled both ends to get it going center-center. Then put 6"-8" bit in chuck and even free hand from there. Free hand ? yea .. I'd start this way first ,, no free hand just yet . . Larger Bits ,, drilling for arse weighting I use a Cordless drill .. I think you'd be crazy to put a large bit in your lathe chuck ..
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