Replies

1. 
   johnR5 | Jun 10, 2005 02:04am | #1

   How about a photo.

   I know someone that has a lathe "grave yard" I call it

   He could help if you have a photo of the lathe. 

2. 
   Curtis | Jun 10, 2005 04:36am | #2

   Hello saul

   tail piece ( or tail stock) would be the correct name for that end part, but you also said it has everything except the part that touches the wood, which is called a dead center or alive center (depending on if its solid or has ball bearings) The tail piece can also be used to drill with, (that is if you put a jackbus chuck on it) Im hoping that's your case? can the threaded piece be removed from the tail? if so then you are on your way to the store, (so to speak) depending on the size there are a number of local stores that may carry parts, (Like Sears, Home Depot, Lowes...) but there are also woodworking stores and catalogs that also can help. You might even try machine tool corp. like production tool inc.

   If the part doesn't remove from the tail stock, then perhaps you can bring that to those stores, perhaps they can order parts, or at least perhaps they will know what kind of lathe you have.

   A third way, why don't you take a picture and ask those people here? They say a picture is worth a 1000 words?

   Good luck

   C.A.G.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/9/2005 9:37 pm ET by curtis

1. 
   saulgood | Jun 10, 2005 05:00am | #3

   Thanks for you replies. I'd love to take a picture, but until I can find someone with the capabilities to upload, my description will have to stand. For now, at least I know what I'm looking for. I didn't think Home D would have something like that- I'll have to check it out. I'm about to check my Grainger Catalog, see if its there. Thanks again.

2. 
   KeithNewton | Jun 10, 2005 07:42am | #4

   The most common way for the live or dead centers to attach to the tail-stock is to fit into a tapered socket. Number 2 morris taper is the most common. Here is a link to a good site. http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?search=action&keywords=live%20center&searchstart=10

1. 
   saulgood | Jun 10, 2005 07:23pm | #9

   Thanks for the link. I don't have the lathe here with me, so I'll have to look at it again to see if it's got a tapered female socket later. I did look at the various centers, though. What's a good combonation to start with? I've got two different baseplates, presumably for turning bowls. For slimmer projects, I'm wondering which "drive center" is a good all-around option. Also, for the tailpiece - what's best? I noticed there are "cup" centers and more simple looking conical centers.

3. 
   DennisS | Jun 10, 2005 08:17am | #5

   Saul -

   Without a picture, all I can do is speculate. So here's my speculation:

   Does the tail stock, the big thing on the right hand end of the lathe have a handwheel that you can turn to extend what's called the tailstock quill in and out? If it does, crank the handle counter clockwise all the way back in whilst holding on to whatever is hanging out of the other end of the quill. Once it's backed off all the way, the 'thing' in the tail stock should/might release. Again, if it does, that means that piece is a morse taper "thing" be whatever it is.

   Once out, assuming it comes out, go to your local woodworking store and find a live center with a taper that matches the one you have. I personally wouldn't bother with a dead center, I suppose they have their place in the world of turning but I can't see using one myself.

   If the "thing" doesn't pop out, then you're gonna have to find a live center with threads that match those on your tailstock quill. If there isn't one readily available, there are adapters available to go from one thread size to another. Or, lacking a source for that, it might be a simple matter to have a machine shop make one for you.

   ...........
   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
   Dennis
1. 
   saulgood | Jun 10, 2005 02:19pm | #6

   Dennis, the tailstock does have a wheel, but I'm still a little confused about something:"crank the handle counter clockwise all the way back in whilst holding on to whatever is hanging out of the other end of the quill..."By "counter clockwise", do you mean down, towards me? I'm guessing your lathe has a handle on its wheel, buit mine has none - the wheel is mounted within the tailstock and is "rolled" with the palm. Also, I'm not sure what would be the "quill", so I don't know where the other end is... but I can tell you that there's not much hanging out anywhere. On the left, or inside end of the tailstock there is a long, threaded portion. the opposite (outside) end houses ####sort of keyed shaft which can be kept from moving or spinning by tightening a set screw in the body of the tailstock (by "keyed", I mean that it has a dado along the length of the outside of the shaft). Which piece might release, the threaded end or the opposite end? or either, based on what I just said?

1. 
   donkey | Jun 10, 2005 03:33pm | #7

   Are the "ways" (the long bed area that connects the head and the tail) round or flat?  It sounds by the round wheel in the tail stock, not a hand wheel at the end  - it could be a crasftman lathe (round ways).

   Check out Sears.com to see a picture.

   Donkeyeww...don't poke me there, it hurts.

1. 
   saulgood | Jun 10, 2005 06:54pm | #8

   The head and tailstock are connected by a long cylinder... I seriously doubt this thing is Made In America, though, because of it's total lack of a brand name. It could be a Craftsman knockoff - I'll check it out. thanks.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 11, 2005 07:10pm | #12

   By "counter clockwise", do you mean down, towards me?  At first I laughed and then fell off my puter' chair..

   Then I thought.. Which I should have while reading it...

   I guess we have no standard for facing or behind the object we are talking about...

    

3. 
   DennisS | Jun 12, 2005 08:59am | #13

   > ...By "counter clockwise", do you mean down, towards me?Stand at the lathe with the headstock, the motor end, on your left. The tail stock is on your right (not trying to be snide, just getting everything in perspective). When you rotate the handwheel or whatever you have on the tail stock, the part on the right that slides along the bed of the lathe, what I'm calling the quill should go in or out depending on which way you turn or otherwise move the wheel or such. Thus far based on what you've said about the lathe, I should probably bow out of the conversation since it doesn't sound like anything I've seen before. The tail stock 'handwheel' is normally mounted on the extreme right end of the tail stock and yes, does have a handle for spinning it around. Perhaps you handle is missing or broken(??). In any event, if the lathe bed is a single tube of steel, you'll have trouble keeping the tailstock aligned with the headstock. This won't be a problem if you do mostly face plate and bowl turning work. Myself, I wouldn't plan on doing much spindle work, turning between centers with it.Sorry............
   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
   Dennis

1. 
   saulgood | Jun 12, 2005 05:51pm | #14

   Dennis, thanks for your input. I'm getting a pretty clear picture now, and at least will know what to ask for when I do find a good store. Just so you know, The handwheel on this lathe is not on the extreme right; it's located within the body of the tailstock and it's "knurled", or meant to be operated with a "pawing" motion - if that makes sense. This is why I was confused about the "counter clockwise" reference.
   The "bed" is indeed cylindrical, but it's got a "key" along the bottom for alignment. Yeah, this thing is pretty cheesey as fine powertools go, but I've seen that "Woodright" guy on TV spin a chair leg on a lathe he whipped up with an Ash bow for a power source, so I'm pretty confident that mine will be workable.

4. 
   Harryd | Jun 11, 2005 07:14am | #10

   Saul,

   In the 1980s Home Depot carried an Asian-made knockoff of a Craftsman lathe.  It had #3 Morse tapers and a 3/4-16tpi headstock.  It sounds like your purchase is similiar.  The one I bought was poorly aligned - the tailstock and headstock were about 1/8 inch off vertically and about 3 degrees angled in the horizontal plane.  I was fair for faceplate work but spindle work was nearly impossible.  After the second set of bearings gave out in under two years I trashed it. 

   HarryD

1. 
   saulgood | Jun 11, 2005 07:06pm | #11

   You trashed it? I think that's the one I got. I'll try Home depot, thanks.