On Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:38:31 -0800 (PST), Jim Wilkins
wrote:

On Mar 12, 7:19*pm, "Wild_Bill" wrote:
Fabricating and using a lathe spindle hand crank is a fairly common early
project for a new/beginning lathe user.. many lathe owners use the cranks
regularly, including myself.
...

I pull on the leather belt to finish a threading cut.

The only time I did (re) threading I just pulled on the workpiece (8"
faceplate).

As part of the hand crank project a centering spider for the left end
of the spindle can be useful. Grizzly puts them on their gunsmith
lathes. Mine is a cheap 1/2" drill chuck with the nose turned down to
fit into the spindle bore. The rod it's centering keeps it in place.

Confused. What is the purpose of the said 1/2" rod?

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC