• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Between centre turning

B

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Hi I would like to try some between centre pen turning and do not know where in the UK to get the 60 degree dead centre and live centre I have seen them listed on Chronos site as

2 MT DEAD CENTRE for Myford Lathes (Ref: DC2)

New Small Body 2MT Live Centre

Would these be OK for my Jet Lathe also I know Dan was going to do the bushings (bushes) for the pens but can not see them on the site I would need several fittings slimline etc but that will take 60 degree Dead/Live centre or is there somewhere I can order the whole lot as a kit including dead and live centre?
 
Grump

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
Standard Live and dead centres are 60° for internal 60° use a centre drill.
I use a half dead for driving but that's me init?
images.jpg
 
21William

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,629
Location
Dorset
First Name
William
As well as Chronos you could check out the prices at Axminster Tools, RDG and Arceurotrade. Chronos prices include postage but Axi only charge a quid for postage and Arceurotrade postage is normally competitive. Also worth checking out eBay but stuff from Hong Kong can take two or three weeks to get here.
 
B

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Thank you all seem to be sorted with that list of suppliers you gave me for centers William but where do you get bushes from for the various size pens that will suite the 60 deg taper on the centers ?
 
Buckeye

Buckeye

ペンメーカー
Executive Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,697
Location
UK
First Name
Peter
bigbob said:
Thank you all seem to be sorted with that list of suppliers you gave me for centers William but where do you get bushes from for the various size pens that will suite the 60 deg taper on the centers ?
Click to expand...

I am not sure there are any UK suppliers, I have taken the normal bushes and put them in my collet chuck and drilled the 60 Degree chamfer, it works well, if you haven't got a collet chuck you are welcome to send me the bushes and I will do it for you.

Peter
 
Grump

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
Dan was talking about putting a 60° on his bushes but I think that was for a specific kit.
You don't need anything other than the centers and bushes, they fit as is, least ways mine do init?
 
21William

21William

Fellow
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,629
Location
Dorset
First Name
William
I got the impression Bob that those that turn between centres don't normally use bushes but take careful measurements instead? You could though as suggested drill out standard bushes with a centre drill if you want to use them.
 
Grump

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
21William said:
I got the impression Bob that those that turn between centres don't normally use bushes but take careful measurements instead? You could though as suggested drill out standard bushes with a centre drill if you want to use them.
Click to expand...

Or use them as they come, it works.
The more accuracy built into the bushes the better chance you have of being somewhere near the finished diameter.
Always good to check as you go, you'll get the feel if you do it regular.
The reason I use a half center is all these things only fit where they touch, so if I only touch at two points it's better than one and will drive it round and on center.
 
B

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Thank you all so use the bushes that come with the pen my only worry is what about the slimline pens where the bushes fit on the mandrel and act more like spacers than bushes was hoping for a bush that fitted inside these with a larger diameter outside to put the centers in. I have not got a collet chuck Peter but if they are a reasonable price and am able to use it for other things woodturning wise I would buy one thank you for your kind offer.
 
B

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Make your own custom bushes for slimlines
Click to expand...

Hi Brian thank you for help I do not have a metal lathe (I would like one) but do not have the space or money to get one I will try to turn a slimline between centers without the bushings and see how I get on just hope I do not splay the brass tubes I guess I will have to be careful and not my usual clumsy self.
 
Buckeye

Buckeye

ペンメーカー
Executive Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,697
Location
UK
First Name
Peter
bigbob said:
Thank you all so use the bushes that come with the pen my only worry is what about the slimline pens where the bushes fit on the mandrel and act more like spacers than bushes was hoping for a bush that fitted inside these with a larger diameter outside to put the centers in. I have not got a collet chuck Peter but if they are a reasonable price and am able to use it for other things woodturning wise I would buy one thank you for your kind offer.
Click to expand...

It's for sure that you don't need bushes to turn between centres, you just need to keep measuring as you go so that you don't turn the blank under size, If you are going to use bushes then you can use them as they come, but you will find your centres start to get damaged unless the have a hardened tip, better that they have a 60 degree chamfer to them to match the centres, they will run much better that way, but just try them as is and see if they do what you want.

If you have a mandrel that uses collets like the Axminster deluxe mandrel then you can get different sized collets for that and depending how big the bushes are you can set them in and use a centre drill for the 60 degree entrance.

Peter
 
Grump

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
Or use a Jacobs chuck in your wood lathe to drill the bushes, use your drill press or a vice and hand drill with a square you can be as near accurate init?
You don't need a metal turning lathe for a few bushes.
Bushes don't have to be metal either, it don't always gotta cost megabucks, leave the fancy stuff for those who like to waste their hard earned init?
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top