I’m turning live edge bowls, 9 to 10 inches, from green aspen. I clean off an area for the spur center down through the bark, but even when I’m taking light cuts (1/16″ -1/8″) the spur slips. By the time I have the outside of the bowl roughed out the the spur has drilled an inch or so into the workpiece. As it spins, it loads up with chips and the problem gets worse. I’m using an old Sears lathe (I know, I know) with the stock spur center – it has a head with a diameter of 27/32″.
I see larger spur centers are available, I’m tempted by one offered by WoodRiver with a 1″ diameter head. Could this be the solution? I’ll attach a .jpg of my existing center loaded with chips.
Replies
I have never turned a bowl with a spur center. I was taught to screw a face plate to the inside face. Turn the outside and leave a tenon that get held by a chuck to turn the inside. A spur center needs opposing pressure from a live center to capture the piece.
I agree with jdstreet, safer to secure the bowl with face plate or even possibly a screw center and run the tail stock up on the other end with a live center if the bowl has any size to it. If you don't have a chuck for mounting to the bottom of the bowl, you can make a few of these. Drill and tap to screw onto your lathe spindle. Then just glue it to the flattened bottom of your bowl blank and mount on the lathe. Turn the bowl and remove with a skew or parting tool when you're done. You can then re-use it for the next bowl if you want.
Usually a slipping spur centre will be because your live centre has loosened up.
Once you have turned for a bit, tighten the tailstock and you'll be fine.
There is no harm in using a larger spur centre if you like of course - they are very cheap and no-one ever regretted having a selection, but big ones slip just as often as small ones.
Once you have smoothed out a place for it, try driving it into the wood with a wood mallet or plastic faced dead blow hammer. This will set it firmly into the wood. Then place it and the work piece into the head piece. As Rob said, keep the live center tight. Use the spur only until you can get a tenon made and then convert it to an adjustable chuck to finish the piece.
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