"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I want to center drill a large shaft. The shaft is about 24" long and
is from an old machine tool, but the ends were never drilled for centers.
The shaft is too big to pass through my lathe spindle.

Machine a female cap to slide snuggly over the end of the shaft. Drill a
hole in the cap the size of your centerdrill and use the cap as a drill
bushing.