There are many methods to centre workpieces for turning. They all
seemed laborious to me. The method I have devised may be a case of
reinventing the wheel but for me it was a discovery so I thought I'd
post it in case it helps fellow woodturning enthusiasts. I use a self-
centering four jaw chuck (my preference is a scroll chuck for speed of
adjustment but a keyed chuck does the job). The centre hole of the
chuck is fitted with a metal bung, either threaded or with a small
shoulder to stop it dropping through. (Threaded is better as it stays
in place when the workpiece is pulled away). The bung has a sharp
nipple turned on it in the centre. To use, place the chuck on its back
on a firm surface. Set the jaws to the right dimension and hammer the
two ends of the stock down onto it. This of cause not only marks it
but dents it for easy mounting. Very accurate, very fast.
Hope it helps
Exbrat

wrote:
There are many methods to centre workpieces for turning. They all
seemed laborious to me. The method I have devised may be a case of
reinventing the wheel but for me it was a discovery so I thought I'd
post it in case it helps fellow woodturning enthusiasts. I use a self-
centering four jaw chuck (my preference is a scroll chuck for speed of
adjustment but a keyed chuck does the job). The centre hole of the
chuck is fitted with a metal bung, either threaded or with a small
shoulder to stop it dropping through. (Threaded is better as it stays
in place when the workpiece is pulled away). The bung has a sharp
nipple turned on it in the centre. To use, place the chuck on its back
on a firm surface. Set the jaws to the right dimension and hammer the
two ends of the stock down onto it. This of cause not only marks it
but dents it for easy mounting. Very accurate, very fast.
Hope it helps
Exbrat

Somehow I got lost there. Do you have a picture?

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Those are my principles. If you don't
like them I have others. (Groucho Marx)

"Gerald Ross" wrote: Somehow I got lost there. Do you have a picture?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I got everything except how you center the work.

"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message
...

"Gerald Ross" wrote: Somehow I got lost there. Do you have a picture?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I got everything except how you center the work.


Sounds to me like he's talking about a dowel center:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...FRQyZAodlDV3Kg

....or something similar. Drop one into the center hole in the chuck, then
let the chuck jaws center the workpiece over the point. Tap on the opposite
end of the workpiece to mark the center. Reverse the workpiece and repeat.

B.

On Nov 26, 1:57 am, "Buddy Matlosz" wrote:
"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message

...

"Gerald Ross" wrote: Somehow I got lost there. Do you have a picture?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I got everything except how you center the work.

Sounds to me like he's talking about a dowel center:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...l%20center&gcl...

...or something similar. Drop one into the center hole in the chuck, then
let the chuck jaws center the workpiece over the point. Tap on the opposite
end of the workpiece to mark the center. Reverse the workpiece and repeat.

B.

Buddy, you've got it. (Saves my having to work out how to send a
picture for Gerald) The 'dowel centre' that I made on my metal-working
lathe is the same design as the dowel centres shown in your link, but
the body is threaded (1/2" BSP) to fit into the chuck mounting hole.
The sharp nipple is conically shaped, about 1/8" across at its base.
By giving the workpiece a good tap the conical dent made in the
workpiece is quite sufficient to easily mount the workpiece between
the forked centre in the head stock and the tail stock centre. If you
don't have access to a metal lathe then a bung/plug turned out of
hardwood with a masonary nail in the centre would do. Make the plug
long enough to rest on the work bench (i.e. flush with the chuck
backplate) so it doesn't get knocked through when you hit the
workpiece. To prevent your workpiece pulling the plug out, put a small
shoulder on the bottom of the plug (as opposed to the top as is the
case with the dowel centres mentioned) and insert it via the back of
the chuck. (That's why I threaded my plug). As I mentioned, I'm not up
to speed on posting pictures but I would be happy to email one should
it still be thought useful.

Thanks for your interest in my post.

Exbrat

A pic to ABPW would REALLY be helpful. I'm a newby but I'm having trouble
visualizing what you did here. Thanks for the contribution.


wrote in message
...
On Nov 26, 1:57 am, "Buddy Matlosz" wrote:
"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message

...

"Gerald Ross" wrote: Somehow I got lost there. Do you have a picture?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I got everything except how you center the work.

Sounds to me like he's talking about a dowel center:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...l%20center&gcl...

...or something similar. Drop one into the center hole in the chuck, then
let the chuck jaws center the workpiece over the point. Tap on the
opposite
end of the workpiece to mark the center. Reverse the workpiece and
repeat.

B.

Buddy, you've got it. (Saves my having to work out how to send a
picture for Gerald) The 'dowel centre' that I made on my metal-working
lathe is the same design as the dowel centres shown in your link, but
the body is threaded (1/2" BSP) to fit into the chuck mounting hole.
The sharp nipple is conically shaped, about 1/8" across at its base.
By giving the workpiece a good tap the conical dent made in the
workpiece is quite sufficient to easily mount the workpiece between
the forked centre in the head stock and the tail stock centre. If you
don't have access to a metal lathe then a bung/plug turned out of
hardwood with a masonary nail in the centre would do. Make the plug
long enough to rest on the work bench (i.e. flush with the chuck
backplate) so it doesn't get knocked through when you hit the
workpiece. To prevent your workpiece pulling the plug out, put a small
shoulder on the bottom of the plug (as opposed to the top as is the
case with the dowel centres mentioned) and insert it via the back of
the chuck. (That's why I threaded my plug). As I mentioned, I'm not up
to speed on posting pictures but I would be happy to email one should
it still be thought useful.

Thanks for your interest in my post.

Exbrat

Hi Exbrat, Thanks for offering your method of centering regular shaped
stock. I hope your post will stimulate us to post (and repost because we
often get in a technique rut, plus we forget previous suggestions and
seldom use the archives) our ideas and try other's variations on common
turning methods. Rote is good, but thinking is better.

I thought to try your method to make the tail dimple in small slightly
irregular square stock for centering in a scroll chuck (I'm making lots
of Darrell's icicles).
I haven't tried it, but from my armchair I'd think your method wouldn't
work for spindles smaller than the hole in the chuck body because there
would be nothing to set the dowel pin against. right/wrong?

Thanks again for posting your suggestion.
Keep em coming!


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

On Nov 26, 3:52 pm, (Arch) wrote:
Hi Exbrat, Thanks for offering your method of centering regular shaped
stock. I hope your post will stimulate us to post (and repost because we
often get in a technique rut, plus we forget previous suggestions and
seldom use the archives) our ideas and try other's variations on common
turning methods. Rote is good, but thinking is better.

I thought to try your method to make the tail dimple in small slightly
irregular square stock for centering in a scroll chuck (I'm making lots
of Darrell's icicles).
I haven't tried it, but from my armchair I'd think your method wouldn't
work for spindles smaller than the hole in the chuck body because there
would be nothing to set the dowel pin against. right/wrong?

Thanks again for posting your suggestion.
Keep em coming!

Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter

http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

Hi Arch, I don't know what Darrel's icicles are but last week I turned
a couple of dozen legs for doll's house furniture. They were 1/4"
square. The limiting factor is the smallest that the chuck jaws close
down to. Mine close down to about 3/16". Smaller than that would
require jaw shoes/shimming. The plug must of course clear the back of
the jaws to allow them to close that far, which my threaded plug can
do. (I've drilled two holes in the surface of the plug to facilitate
fitting/removal with a vertical peg spanner). If you make a plug that
is not threaded, it must be long enough to protrude out of the back of
the chuck to rest against the work bench that the chuck is lying on to
take the force of the mallet blows - a hammer risks damaging the
indent youv'e just made on the first end unless you are careful. For
irregular but identical cross-sectioned workpieces (e.g. purposely off
centre or rectangular etc.) I use an independent four jawed chuck.

hth Exbrat

Sorry Exbrat, I forgot about turning an adapter to fit inside the hole
to fix and center the pin. I have a metal lathe and plan to try making
one.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:50:58 -0800 (PST), wrote:

There are many methods to centre workpieces for turning. They all
seemed laborious to me. The method I have devised may be a case of
reinventing the wheel but for me it was a discovery so I thought I'd
post it in case it helps fellow woodturning enthusiasts. I use a self-
centering four jaw chuck (my preference is a scroll chuck for speed of
adjustment but a keyed chuck does the job). The centre hole of the
chuck is fitted with a metal bung, either threaded or with a small
shoulder to stop it dropping through. (Threaded is better as it stays
in place when the workpiece is pulled away). The bung has a sharp
nipple turned on it in the centre. To use, place the chuck on its back
on a firm surface. Set the jaws to the right dimension and hammer the
two ends of the stock down onto it. This of cause not only marks it
but dents it for easy mounting. Very accurate, very fast.
Hope it helps
Exbrat

Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Nov 26, 7:02 pm, mac davis wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:50:58 -0800 (PST), wrote:
There are many methods to centre workpieces for turning. They all
seemed laborious to me. The method I have devised may be a case of
reinventing the wheel but for me it was a discovery so I thought I'd
post it in case it helps fellow woodturning enthusiasts. I use a self-
centering four jaw chuck (my preference is a scroll chuck for speed of
adjustment but a keyed chuck does the job). The centre hole of the
chuck is fitted with a metal bung, either threaded or with a small
shoulder to stop it dropping through. (Threaded is better as it stays
in place when the workpiece is pulled away). The bung has a sharp
nipple turned on it in the centre. To use, place the chuck on its back
on a firm surface. Set the jaws to the right dimension and hammer the
two ends of the stock down onto it. This of cause not only marks it
but dents it for easy mounting. Very accurate, very fast.
Hope it helps
Exbrat

Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol


Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how about this:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html
I have one ordered, but just because I'm tired of taking the chuck off the
spindle just to do a few minutes of work between centers...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol


Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a
point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
(clip)I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how
about this:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mac. was there a link to a wall mounted centering device? I'd like to look
at it, but I don't see the link.

Regardiong the center in this link, it looks to me like it must be held by
the closed jaws, so it would mark the work, but not center it. Am I seeing
it right?

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:03:51 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:

Mac. was there a link to a wall mounted centering device? I'd like to look
at it, but I don't see the link.

Yep.. from Lee Valley, of course..

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...at=1,330,49237

Ok for spindle work, but sort of useless for bowls, IMO..

Regardiong the center in this link, it looks to me like it must be held by
the closed jaws, so it would mark the work, but not center it. Am I seeing
it right?

yep.. I probably misunderstood the OP..
Sounded like he wanted a pointy thing in his chuck, with the chuck lying flat on
a bench, so he could mark center??

I've been using the same $3 plastic center finder for years, with a spring
punch..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Nov 26, 8:07 pm, mac davis wrote:
On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:

Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol

Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how about this:http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html
I have one ordered, but just because I'm tired of taking the chuck off the
spindle just to do a few minutes of work between centers...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

No mac. A misunderstanding. I wanted something that centers the
workpieces quickly and accurately over a sharp spiggot, poised to be
hammered down onto it. The workpiece can be any dimension that the
four jaw chuck can take. The chuck does not need to be mounted on the
lathe. It is best lying it on its back on the work bench. The
technique shown in your link is one I have used for many years using
countersink bits for small workpieces and homemade parallel shaft
forked center for large workpieces.

Exbrat

Looks like a modification of the Robert Sorby steb centre.

Tom
"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol


Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a
point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how about
this:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html
I have one ordered, but just because I'm tired of taking the chuck off the
spindle just to do a few minutes of work between centers...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Nov 27, 11:28 am, "Tom Dougall" wrote:
Looks like a modification of the Robert Sorby steb centre.

Tom"mac davis" wrote in message

...



On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:

Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol

Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a
point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how about
this:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html
I have one ordered, but just because I'm tired of taking the chuck off the
spindle just to do a few minutes of work between centers...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi Tom, No it's not like the Robert Sorby steb centre. That, as I see
it, is just another drive center with a parallel shaft that can be
fitted into a chuck as opposed to a morse taper shanked drive center
fitting into the headstock direct. It has its uses of course as it
obviates the need for swapping out the chuck all the time. As I
mentioned in my post to Mac, I use a countersink bit for small
workpieces and a home made (modified old Forstner bit) for larger
work. So, back to my idea. It is not another drive center! It's a way
of accurately and rapidly marking and indenting regular sectioned
workpieces ready for mounting between centers.

Hi Patrick and Gerald Ross, We must have reached a thousand words so I
think a picture(s) is right. I'll do that. Just have to buff up on
how. The pointer to ABPW has put me on the right path. Watch that
space. May take me a few hours.

Exbrat

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:28:23 GMT, "Tom Dougall"
wrote:

Looks like a modification of the Robert Sorby steb centre.

IMO, it's just a way to have a drive center mount where my chuck screw goes, so
I can leave the chuck in the spindle.. just lazy.. ;-]

Tom
"mac davis" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:45:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Or, they could just buy one of these.. lol


Mac, if you know of a supplier/manufacturer who stocks/makes such
chuck accessories covering the most common headstock spindle threads
please share your source. I personally haven't seen such an accessory
on the market. Of course one can get one's local machinist to knock
the accessory up at a price. All I was offering was the idea.

Exbrat

As I understood it, you wanted something to fit in your chuck, have a
point and
tap stock to mark it, right?
I still like the link I gave you for a wall mounted one, but how about
this:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcentqc1.html
I have one ordered, but just because I'm tired of taking the chuck off the
spindle just to do a few minutes of work between centers...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing