concave live center & toolpost

gesan

gesan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello
I'm looking for concave live center and some type universal tool post - I have pieced together a fairly useful device for tips and shaft cleaning. I know someone on ebay sells the live center for tips 35 plus shipping.
I'm hoping to get both at same place.

If anyone has seen the excellent tip video floating around (kudos go to Sheldon Lebow I think) thats what I want to be able to do. The toolpost in that video and the live center looks like it would attach to my lathe if anyone knows who makes that one.
I have the lowend shaftmaster device (bought from ebay)with a drill and a HIRSH woodlathe. The guy who sells that says on his website you can upgrade it(he wants more for the add on tools than if you bought his upgraded lathe) I have read on this forum about the quality of his lathe.
I of course hope to eventually graduate to either Chris Hightowers lathe or maybe uniques lathe.

Anyway any input would be appreciated!
patrick
 
Lose the shaftmaster quick...and if the concave center is a certain brass one sold by a toad shaped flunky of life don't buy it as the bearings are crap and will fail in a week....
 
Cntr, & Toolpost

Hi Patrick,
If you want good tooling, you're going to have to spend some money. Try to get by on the cheap and you'll eventually regret it.
If you currently have a pointed live center you can make an adapter that is concave which fits snugly over your pointed cntr.. I made one of Delrin for a different
application that works very well. It may be also that the point piece that is in your center can be removed, in which case you can machine a replacement that is concave. I've done that also.
As far as your toolpost, it's hard to beat an American rocker type for convenience and versatility. I'm not certain that I can visualize your current setup but you may have to fab. a mount.
I'd also suggest that you stay away from most of the eBay tooling. You're suppose to get what you pay for but then sometimes you don't. Good Luck, KJ
 
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tooling

I agree that you get what you pay for in tooling. If you have a lathe that takes a Morse taper center than you can get a cheap one that is also pretty decent for about $20. Then make that delrin adapter that another gentleman mentioned. The tool posts are another matter. I have used: rocker style, four way, and "AlorisType" quick change tool posts. I really can only praise the later. It is fast to use, and the tool reindexes very precisely. The other two are time consuming. If you can use a bench lathe size post, like for a 9 inch lathe, then the smaller set of the quick change piston style post, and five tool holders can be had for $89 from Enco on sale, which they are now. They are not Aloris brand, but rather a Chinese import. If you see the Aloris price you will know why I am steering you to the imports.
The wedge style are a little more secure but for cutting wood you do not have all that much tool pressure to deal with.
An even smaller quick change tool post is sold by Harbor freight online for about $40 or so if i recall. I think your lathe may be too small for the previous size. This small one includes a tool holder and a cutoff blade holder. Extra tool holders are maybe $10 each or less.
 
concave center

Thanks to each of you for taking the time to share your info and advice with me.
I do appreciate it.
patrick
 
Buy a concave live center from Chris Hightower. I love mine!
 
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Strokerz said:
Buy a concave live center from Chris Hoghtower. I love mine!
Click to expand...
thanks for the reply - that seems to be the concensus (buy 1 from Chris) so if it walks like a duck - and quacks. thanks again
pat
 
I have a cue companion lathe a 7x10 mini lathe and a wood lathe set up for cleaning and wrapping. I use Chris's concave live centers on my 7x10 and in my wood lathe also. They work very well.:D
 
This forum is great! Thanks to all for the replies. I took your advice and called Chris Hightower and now I understand why everyone says "buy from Chris"
I agree - he is extremly helpful. I ordered the cnter from him and hope 1 day to buy his lathe
again thanks
pat
 
gesan said:
This forum is great! Thanks to all for the replies. I took your advice and called Chris Hightower and now I understand why everyone says "buy from Chris"
I agree - he is extremly helpful. I ordered the cnter from him and hope 1 day to buy his lathe
again thanks
pat
Click to expand...
Ya can't go wrong buying anything from Chris. I have several of his products. From tooling to maintainence products. I don't own one of his lathes but have used one before and I liked it very much. If I ever take that step twords cuemaking I will invest in one of his machines. I do own his book and all his videos:D He is very helpfull over the phone as well. I had the good fortune to meet him in Vally forge this past March and I have to say he is a very nice guy, very friendly and helpful. Thanks Chris for making great products for us repairmen and cuemakers, you make life a lot easier!
 
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Strokerz said:
Ya can't go wrong buying anything from Chris. I have several of his products. From tooling to maintainence products. I don't own one of his lathes but have used one before and I liked it very much. If I ever take that step twords cuemaking I will invest in one of his machines. I do own his book and all his videos:D He is very helpfull over the phone as well. I have the good fortune to meet him in Vally forge this past March and I have to say he is a very nice guy, very friendly and helpful. Thanks Chris for making great products for us repairmen and cuemakers, you make life a lot easier!
Click to expand...
I appreciate all the kind words. I found it very frustrating myself when I started out and cuemaking was like a secret society with tighter lips than a Mafia hitman room. I decided I was going to try to make a living making the cue repair and cuemaking business a much more pleasant experience to get into than it was for me.
God Bless and Happy Cue Building to all!
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
 
cueman said:
I appreciate all the kind words. I found it very frustrating myself when I started out and cuemaking was like a secret society with tighter lips than a Mafia hitman room. I decided I was going to try to make a living making the cue repair and cuemaking business a much more pleasant experience to get into than it was for me.
God Bless and Happy Cue Building to all!
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com
Click to expand...

And I think you have done just that, Chris.
I know some people have other opinions but ANYONE wanting to get started in Cue Making needs to buy and read your book before doing anything else.

Willee
 
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