Live Center Options For Woodturning

www.AsWoodTurns.com
I appreciate my OneWay live center. It is well made and a good design. The design enable me to tap other items to enhance its capabilities.
In this video, I make a finial steady that mounts to the live center and keeps thin finials from breaking while I'm turning them.
I also show how to drill out a #6 rubber stopper. I use a rubber stopper whenever I need pressure from the live center but do not want the wood to be marred.
I use a standard 3/4" 10 tpi tap from a industrial supply company.
The #6 rubber stopper came from Amazon.
Similar live centers are offered by: (may have different threads)
-OneWay
-Penn State
-Robust
-Easy Wood Tools
Enjoy!
Blog: www.AsWoodTurns.com
FB: / aswoodturns
Music: Traumerei by Shumann performed by Becky Schlappi. Used with permission.

[@monophoto1]

Great video! PSI has a relatively inexpensive live center with a nose that is threaded 1"x8tpi - which happens to match the threading on my lathe spindle. I use it much the same way you use your Oneway live center. I've made a number of threaded 'noses' using HDPE - what Capt. Eddie calls 'soft touch centers'. They are OK, but they can still burnish the surface of a turning if the center spins against the wood.. When I get some time (I'm retired which means that I'm too busy), I want to try to make one using a recycled plastic wine 'cork'. The plastic material used to make those corks is softer than HDPE, and would tend to grab the wood, thereby reducing the tendency to spin and burnish the surface.

[@AsWoodTurns]

I see it now on PSI and much less expensive than the OneWay. Can you detect any play in the bearings either on axis or perpendicular? HDPE is a great option. However, I've never had my rubber stopper spin. Thanks for the PSI info. Alan

[@derekoliver1548]

I use that same threaded live center from PSI.

[@monophoto1]

Alan I can't detect any sloppiness in the PSI live center, but I'm pretty sure that its not as robust as the Oneway. Louie

[@rogerdirkx.1679]

Alan, very good tip on drilling the rubber stopper. I was having trouble doing that. Not any more. Thank you. Roger D.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Glad to help. I use mine frequently. Alan

[@derekoliver1548]

I was hoping for another ornament video, but this was a really good alternative. I always like to see the ingenuity of other turners with accessories they make for their lathes.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Sorry about that. The cornucopia took a lot of time. But the results from the ornament challenge will come shortly since today is the deadline.. I share your desire to see what others have done. Alan

[@dougrobins8291]

I agree with your comments about the oneway live center. When I got my lathe, I bought one along with a stronghold chuck, and it has been 6 years of reliable use.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Great news. Thank you Alan

[@bearshield7138]

thank you for showing this

[@AsWoodTurns]

Something I use all the time. Alan

[@srwoodturning4208]

Hi Alan, great video. Thanks for the tips.

[@AsWoodTurns]

You are welcome Steven Alan

[@rimar2000]

Excellent master class, Alan.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Muchas Gracia Osvaldo Alan

[@wb_finewoodworking]

Those are some very interesting ideas for extra support from the live center. That’s an area that I need to explore.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Glad to be of service. Alan

[@shaunhayward]

I just bought this live center and wanted to know how to make custom accessories. Your video was great!

[@AsWoodTurns]

That works for me. :) Alan

[@ThePapa1947]

Great ideas Alan. I really like the rubber stopper idea. I have used small pieces of pine but the rubber would be much better. I have one of the adapters with 1"x8 threads and it is has decent tolerances. I have also used it with a Nova chuck and Cole jaws for gluing segmented rings against a turning mounted on the headstock chuck. Glad I kept the old chucks when I bought the new lathe which came with the OneWay style live center and has 1 1/4 threads on spindle. Gary

[@AsWoodTurns]

for the 1x8 tpi you may need a bigger stopper than the #6 but many sizes are available. Thanks for your feedback. Alan

[@ThePapa1947]

@@AsWoodTurns oh I would use the new live center like yours for the stopper. I did make a cup center for the 1inch one for turning spheres.

[@randysmith9715]

WOW! Alan AND Tim in one morning! SCORE!

[@AsWoodTurns]

Alright! Alan

[@bertdelisle393]

Great video Alan, I also have the Oneway live center and have lots of tapped blocks for various projects. One challenge I have found was the drilling and tapping the block in a chuck works very well "but" once it is mounted on the live center the face may not run perfectly true. I suspect that is because the working face was cut while mounted in a chuck. I have now found the a solution to that, Robust makes a safe style cup center that is threaded 3/4-10tpi on a morse taper. Now I make my tailstock accessory threaded and then use my new Robust threaded cup Drive to shape the working face, perfectly aligned to the headstock and when in the tailstock the same perfect alignment. Now I can make and use sphere chucks on either head or tail stock and when adjustment is needed it's a piece of cake to hold it on center every time. Color me happy.

[@AsWoodTurns]

I've not had a problem like you described. However, I've added the Robust drive center to my wish list. Sounds like it could be handy many ways. Alan

[@tomasarguinzoni9022]

Great idea thank you for sharing 👍🏼

[@AsWoodTurns]

You are welcome Tomas Alan

[@alanmullock381]

Always good tips Alan👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@AsWoodTurns]

Thank you Alan Alan

[@carolriley569]

Great ideas!

[@AsWoodTurns]

Thank you Carol, Alan

[@RickTurnsWoodturning]

Good video, Alan!

[@AsWoodTurns]

Thank you Rick Alan

[@MikeWaldt]

Excellent info. Alan. I have the Oneway, and find it is really the only live centre you ever need, it is so versatile for custom additions. Cheers Mike

[@AsWoodTurns]

Agree. Actually, I only have my cone center because I left the OneWay at home and needed to quickly buy one. Alan

[@victorrussell6284]

Yes agreed, not cheap but such a useful centre.

[@keg1dog]

Thanks for the great ideas, I’ve had a oneway live center and just had a need it looked and found this video and thought dang what haveI wasted so many opportunities!;)

[@AsWoodTurns]

The stoppers have been very handy. Alan

[@rgoodleaf]

Some good ideas there!! I really liked the rubber stopper idea. I made a 'soft touch' fitting for my live center out of HDPE. HDPE threads well but I think it creeps a bit when the tap is advanced, so I had to chase the threads several times so that it threads fairly easily on my live center. Maybe next time I'll drill a hole slightly larger than 5/8" and see how that works.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Thanks for sharing your experience in this area. Alan

[@AllenOxendine]

Thanks for sharing

[@AsWoodTurns]

You are welcome. Looks like a video binge. Alan

[@user-jq9re7ky8r]

Thanks for the visibility !!! Спасибо за наглядность!!! Очень полезное видео!!! Very useful video!!!

[@AsWoodTurns]

and thanks for the translation. You're welcome Alan

[@tonysmith3143]

Thanks

[@AsWoodTurns]

You are welcome Alan

[@davidflaa2730]

I drilled a small recess in a piece of scrap HDPE to fit over the end of a pen mandrel inserted into the tail stock. The HDPE spins on the mandrel, but holds the piece securely so doesn’t burnish the wood, and doesn’t hurt the mandrel. I’ve only used it once, but it seems to work well.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Good idea. Alan

[@deaton42]

You might want to include the Robust Live Center available on Amazon for about $50.00. This live center will minimize most ‘catches’ by allowing the workpiece to stop while the ‘live’ function continues to spin.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Thanks for the Robust tip except that the price I just saw was much more than $50. Still - it is an option for Robust fans. :) Alan

[@sharonpturner]

Hello, I really enjoyed your video, it is informative and concise. I have subscribed. I found your site because I was looking for a solution to a tailstock problem. I recently sold my General and bought a OneWay. I have a sleeve to allows my old tailstocks to fit. On my last job I used a tail stock that did not have the black flat bit at the end. Now I can't get it out. I have a black flat tool that usually does this, but the offending tail stock does not reach deep enough into the sleeve to show in the slot. Can you or anyone reading give me some advice?

[@AsWoodTurns]

Sounds like something I encountered in a machining course. (If I understand your situation.) Your best best is a wedge to drive between your center and the tailstock. Machinists have a u_shaped wedge for this purpose that straddles the morse taper pin. But I would try with a wedge to the side. Longer term, Drill, tap, and add some sort of bolt to the small end of the taper to prevent it from going too far in. Alan

[@robertcornelius3514]

Round rubber chair feet work well too.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Great alternative to rubber stopper. Alan

[@randysmith9715]

I have always used 3/4" rubber table feet gotten at the local borg store.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Good alternative to the rubber stoppers. Alan

[@stevejohnson4707]

I use a drilled out golf ball.

[@AsWoodTurns]

That is a good option as long as they are not liquid filled. I cut one open as a youth and it exploded. Alan

[@garymccoy2888]

You can buy a nut to fit the threads on the live center. Then epoxy the nut into the wood. Cheaper than buying a tapping tool.

[@AsWoodTurns]

The nut is an effective alternative. My reason for the tap is that I've now made many jigs that have used the tap. So, it has paid for itself. Alan

[@SQLKC]

​@@AsWoodTurns Can you post a link to the tap 3/4 10? I have looked around not finding much and the ones I did find were in sets that run north of 600 bucks.

[@AsWoodTurns]

@@SQLKC To find one, you should look at site for machinists. They will be expensive. FYI, I have not tapped for .75 x 10 for quite some time now. I am finding better value using the PSI live center with the MT2 & 1.0"x8 tpi. That in combination an adapter 1x8Tpi to 1.25x8TpI and Beall taps gives me the best of many worlds. Alan

[@keg1dog]

What size rubber stopper please?

[@AsWoodTurns]

Since the threaded portion on mine is 3/4 and the stopper is tapered, at least 1 inch on the short side and at least 1.25 inch on the long side. Alan

[@keg1dog]

@@AsWoodTurns thanks Alan. I found a rubber stool leg tip that is 3/4” inch that fit nicely and used it on an egg cup I made. They used to sell stoppers at HD but no more and tractor supply didn’t even know what I was talking about. Thanks for the help and the video I needed!

[@AsWoodTurns]

@@keg1dog Try Ace Hardware or Amazon also

[@keg1dog]

@@AsWoodTurns thanks, I looked on Amazon but was confused by the sizes, they were like #6 or #12, then in metric and I have not had a chance to run the #’s I will try Ace. We live in Las Cruces NM so even though we are not small we do not have a huge hobby industry here. Thanks

[@AsWoodTurns]

@@keg1dog Maybe next trip to El Paso? actually, there is an Ace in Canutillo. I used to live on the east side of El Paso.

[@millomweb]

Why do you use the wrong names for things ? A live centre is the one in the headstock. You can use a 'running centre' in the tailstock.

[@AsWoodTurns]

At least I have plenty of company in the woodturning world. :) Alan

[@millomweb]

@@AsWoodTurns Common misconceptions abound !