"Bill in Detroit" wrote: Not having either seen the video or read the
book, I would hazard a
guess that you intended to say "Steb" center. A dead center doesn't rotate
at all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No, Bill, he's got it right. A dead center installed in the spindle rotates
with the spindle, and drives the work by friction. This is how I was taught
to turn letter openers. The wood is mounted off center to produce the oval
blade--the slightest catch causes it to stall rather than break.