Turn a Cone Center for Your Wood Lathe Tailstock

I show how to turn a tailstock cone center for your wood lathe. We turn a wooden cone shaped sleeve to fits over your tailstock live center. This is a very handy accessory.
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[@attilakovacs5803]

Hello Mike! Thanks for the nice tip! I also have a tip concerning the midi lathe live centres. The original centres that come with these lathes (such as the Laguna 1216) are not the best constructions. The one I have developed a fair amount of wobble over time, so I bought a nice set of woodturning live centres and a single one for metal lathe, too, for replacement. They are good for the purpose, but I still wanted to use the original live centre because of its compact size. So I decided to do something about the wobble. The solution I came up with was replacement of the narrow, one-track ball bearing with a wider, two-track, angular contact ball bearing. I had to machine out a few millimetres from the inside of the revolving cup, and modify the spindle, too, to make room for the wider bearing. It was quite a bit of work, but in the end, the modification turned out very well, the rigidity of the live centre has improved a lot. Now I have a perfectly usable, solid but compact and lightweight live centre, and I'm going to use your idea to make a wooden cone to fit on the revolving cup to make it more versatile.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sounds like it was a good solution for you.

[@johnstpierre8909]

Mike another great vid.

[@glencrandall7051]

Between this cone center, the collet chuck used in this video, a morse taper demonstrated elsewhere and a couple of other items you have shown how to make, we just don't need to buy any lathe accessories. Thanks for pointing us in the right direction. After all it makes more sense to make something ourselves. And it's more economical. Thank you for sharing.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I am blessed that the price for another accessory does not matter. I guess I am about a 6 or 7 on a 10 point scale for the having the ability and interest in wanting to make accessories. But I know some turners can not spare any money for their hobby. And some folks really like the idea of making accessories.

[@glennnord2605]

Thank you for sharing < A very good tip

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pwmoffitt]

Your videos are very helpful! Thanks for explaining what you are doing each step of the way.😊

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Phyllis. Glad you find my videos helpful.

[@charlieodom191]

Good idea endless possibilities!! Thank you Mike

[@matthewharvey8755]

Yet another great idea. Idk how many times I've nicked mine haha. Thank you again Mike!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It is not if but when! 😁

[@terry2346]

Another great video Mike! Thanks

[@kenkay40]

Very useful tip Mike.

[@trueitbycjtruitt9546]

Thanks for the tip much appreciated brotha 👊😎🤙🍻

[@danhealy7341]

Thanks Mike, another great tip. I have steel cones and am cautious about hitting them with a tool. I will make a couple of these for those times that I know I’ll need to get close. Thanks again. Your tips are always appreciated and very helpful.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate your support, Dan.

[@diydarkmatter]

your the man mike . been wanting to do this and just haven't but you did show me that im not the only one thinking of this lol . have a great day my friend .

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Have a great day yourself, my friend

[@sodacan1011111111111]

Hey brother, this is awesome. I'm going to be making one of these tomorrow.

[@carolriley569]

Good ideas, as always!

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Great video 👍

[@alans1816]

Thanks. As an in between option, perhaps less good than reverse chucking, but better that leaving the cone rough from chatter, why not support the piece during shaping using the live center in the cavity made for it?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thats sounds like a great option.

[@LewisKauffman]

Thanks, Mike! I've also made some of these and some threaded ones, too.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I have another video on the threaded ones, Cpt Eddie calls them a "soft touch".kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHfGanmcq6-KsLM

[@chucksmith9633]

I bought a 60° cone center for my lathe and got it stuck in the tailstock. Two rods opposite each other works well to pop it out. I epoxied a short piece of brass rod to the end of it so that bottoms out when I retract the tailstock all the way.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good solution. I have not heard of anyone buying a short MT cone center. Something to be aware of. Where did you buy it?

[@chucksmith9633]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning I bought it on Amazon. It's the O'skool Heavy Duty 60 Degree Ball Bearing Tailstock Live Centers Mt2 I lined the Mt2 up with my 1/2" Jacobs drill chuck (that comes out of my tailstock fine) and the overall length of the taper and nub is about 3/8" shorter. My tailstock is not hollow, so I couldn't knock it out. I thought prying it out every time would damage the bearings so I lengthened it with a rod.

[@cobberpete1]

Good Stuff Mike, I have a much better idea now for some of those bothersome jobs

[@kennethnuttle7251]

Mike I would be more inclined to use a knock out bar than pry with one of my good tools to remove something from my tailstock, being careful if the live center is threaded.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good to have choices and use the one that works for you.

[@fastnaught1]

Hello Mike, I enjoy your channel especially for a newer Woodturner like me. I would love to make a visit to your shop if that’s possible. I live in S.C. not far. I think you’re in GA. Is that correct? If I could email you maybe we could work out the details. If you don’t mind giving me your address. Thanks

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

My contact info is on my website in she notes. Be happy to have you visit

[@dylangraves]

MIKE PEACE TIME BABY!!!

[@paulmelanson1527]

Do you have a video that shows how to make those cone covers

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Paul, you did watch this video right? If so I guess I am not understanding your question since that is what this video is about.

[@thomasnewton9818]

To my surprise the knockout bar works on some tailstocks. The Jet lathe I use has a hollow quill.

[@MarklTucson]

I had to make a special knockout bar for my Nova live center. The stock Rikon knockout bar was too short to reach the Nova live center but works fine with the stock cone that came with the lathe. I took a piece of 1/4" rod and put it on a handle

[@MikeB0001]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@ItsMe-jg2qr]

Just wondering, didn't your shop teacher teach you no finger rings?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Never had a shop class as I had too many other classes like Latin and French. I know keep a small ring bowl in my shop but usually forget to take it off. In my case I feel it is a very small risk I am generally willing to take.

[@ItsMe-jg2qr]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Thanks for the reply. In my shop class 50 years ago, that was the first thing we were taught. Unless you don't care about losing a finger. It's just that many young guys don't have wood class in high school anymore and rely on the internet to learn. By the way, I think your an expert wood turner which I am not.

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

What Dan Healy said.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Michael.