I feel like I fell for the 9 hp shopvac or something.

My lathe specifications are 42 inches between centers. Well sure, that
is without a spur in the headstock or a live center in the tailstock.

In reality of what I can turn between centers, reasonbly being able to
mount it, is 39.5 inches.

Well it was a factor in my decision making. Now I know.

John

In article ,
Eddie Munster wrote:

My lathe specifications are 42 inches between centers. Well sure, that
is without a spur in the headstock or a live center in the tailstock.

In reality of what I can turn between centers, reasonbly being able to
mount it, is 39.5 inches.

A: they are all measured that way, so far as I know.

B: a dead center does work, people used them for centuries, and it can
help you get several more inches when you need them. Use a little wax
and/or oil on it. There is less to be gained at the headstock,
generally, but some drive spurs stick out less than others.

C: do you actually have a lot of work to do between 39.5" and 42"?
That's a fairly tall table if you're turning legs. It's a long baseball
bat. It's a short Peavey handle.

--
Cats, Coffee, Chocolate...vices to live by

Eddie Munster wrote:
No not very much work. Just some newel posts.

I once had to turn a newel post that was too long for the lathe by an
inch or so. Fortunately the design called for a large cap on the top of
the post, so I was able to drill large diameter holes in both ends for
the spur drive and live centers to fit right into. Had to take the
tailstock off the lathe, mount the blank on the spur drive and wrassle
the tailstock back on. But I didn't need to worry about it getting loose
on me, which was just as well since that was the biggest MF I ever turned

--
Derek Andrews, woodturner

http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com
Wedding Favors ~ Artisan Crafted Gifts ~ One-of-a-Kind Woodturning

Good idea, for that little bit extra. I may use it one day. For
something really big I will make a longer bed, a temporary one. The
headstock and motoer are all in one.

John

Derek Andrews wrote:
Eddie Munster wrote:

No not very much work. Just some newel posts.


I once had to turn a newel post that was too long for the lathe by an
inch or so. Fortunately the design called for a large cap on the top of
the post, so I was able to drill large diameter holes in both ends for
the spur drive and live centers to fit right into. Had to take the
tailstock off the lathe, mount the blank on the spur drive and wrassle
the tailstock back on. But I didn't need to worry about it getting loose
on me, which was just as well since that was the biggest MF I ever turned

John, I have turned several pieces that were significantly longer than my
lathe bed. The longest was the mast for my sailboat at 14' 2". Not too
long after I did that, I had a restoration job to do that required returning
some antique bed parts which had been burned in a fire. They were somewhere
around 50" or so. In both cases I used my mini lathe for the tailstock, and
I used a floor stand tool rest that I built. If you are interested, you can
see pictures of the mast turning adventure on my personal website,
http://www.enter.net/~ultradad. When you get to the main page, scroll down
to the link under boatbuilding titled turning the mast.

--
Bill

Bill Grumbine

commercial site www.wonderfulwood.com
personal site www.enter.net/~ultradad
"Eddie Munster" wrote in message
...
I feel like I fell for the 9 hp shopvac or something.

My lathe specifications are 42 inches between centers. Well sure, that
is without a spur in the headstock or a live center in the tailstock.

In reality of what I can turn between centers, reasonbly being able to
mount it, is 39.5 inches.

Well it was a factor in my decision making. Now I know.

John