Maybe a newb lathe operator question

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Dannydizzan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I bought this heap of rust + tools for $50 because I am trying to educate myself on lathes. I have tested it and it works and I have almost cleaned it completely, but I was noticing something in the process.... How do I change the center??? Am I dumb or is this thing just made this way? I tried searching info online and there is little to none. 1 site is all I could find. The brand is Intergram and says made 1983 in USA on the label.

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Unless it is some super obscure design, to remove the center stick a bar through the hole in the headstock and tap it with a mallet. The center will pop out.
 
Ill try

There is not a hole in the headstock. In the pic below, you see the pulley, I took it off to clean and the bar appears to be one piece through two bearings, one on each side of the housing. Please excuse the terminology, as I said, Im still learning

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I'm a bit confused, your second picture shows a center, but it doesn't resemble anything shown in the first and third picture. A few more photos showing the headstock side would help. Usually the headstock either has a chuck, or a dead center, and that is usually able to be removed as described above. The second picture shows a different animal, and doesn't match the other pictures.:confused:
Dave
 
Dave38 said:
I'm a bit confused, your second picture shows a center, but it doesn't resemble anything shown in the first and third picture. A few more photos showing the headstock side would help. Usually the headstock either has a chuck, or a dead center, and that is usually able to be removed as described above. The second picture shows a different animal, and doesn't match the other pictures.:confused:
Dave
Click to expand...

The first pic is the Whole lathe. The second pic is the center with plate removed after I began cleaning. The third is a retro pic so I can show the whole thing before hand. They are all the same piece
 
Most likely a taper fit dead center. Was that large mounting plate screwed onto the dead center? If so, put it back on and gently tap on the back of the plate all the way around towards the tail stock to remove it. On the tail stock, just back out the live center with the handle all the way, it should just get knocked out when you hit the end of stroke. What kind of jet did you get?

Jim.
 
Mc2 said:
Most likely a taper fit dead center. Was that large mounting plate screwed onto the dead center? If so, put it back on and gently tap on the back of the plate all the way around towards the tail stock to remove it. On the tail stock, just back out the live center with the handle all the way, it should just get knocked out when you hit the end of stroke. What kind of jet did you get?

Jim.
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I'll try that because the plate was screwed on.
I bought a jet mini indexing lathe of CL locally.
 
If you look at the picture it shows flats. The only reason I know of to have flats is for a wrench to bite into. My guess is WD-40 and figure a way to stop the other side of headstock from moving. Depending on which way the headstock turns when you flip the switch you may find it to have reverse threads. They also might have used a loctite type product so you may need to heat it up to melt the seal.
 
I saw the flat also but my guess is it is to keep the spindle from rotating while removing the faceplate.

I'm beginning to think 8 ball junkie is right and it's all one piece. You might as well take the bearing plates off and see. Nothing to lose. It's a wood lathe with no real reason to need a through hole in the spindle (other than to release a taper lock). So maybe the manufacturer made the spindle all one piece for possible cost savings?

Another possibility is it might be a taper lock but with a drawbar as well, like a milling machine has. If there is a bolt to the left of the pulleys try loosening it just a turn, and then tap on the head of the bolt to break the taper lock.
 
You know another clue that it's all one piece is the center itself has the external threads for the faceplate. If it were two pieces the threads would be a much larger diameter, and the center would slide inside the spindle.
 
I would carefully and securely tie one end of rope to it. I would then tie other end to person who got my $50.00. The rest would involve a Bridge and deep deep water.:smile:
 
TomHay said:
I would carefully and securely tie one end of rope to it. I would then tie other end to person who got my $50.00. The rest would involve a Bridge and deep deep water.:smile:
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LOL, True.

It is 32" between centers, I thought I might could use it for something later on. I think from what I have seen and reading the comments, it is one piece. The face plate has removable teeth that look like slotted screwdriver bits. I guess this is supposed to be the "drive". Kinda crappy design IMO
 
Regaurdless of what kind of lath you have, you will have to use a LIVE CENTER, that spins. Otherwise the friction of the wood turning against the pointed center will create smoke & then fire...JER
 
Dannydizzan said:
Probably, but I told the guy if it ran I'd give him 50. It did so I paid up. I bought a jet lathe Friday, but I still want to understand.
Click to expand...

Well, IMHO - if it runs, and continues to run, you made an extremely wise
buy. The threads on the center look to be standard, so it should not be
much of a job to make an adapter. TomHay mentioned the flats - that
means an adapter would be easy to screw on and off using a wrench
to stop the spindle. Then you can use a small chuck, or collet chuck to
hold drive pins. 32 inches should be plenty to do shaft work.
Set the tailstock aside for other purposes<you could always send it to me:)>
and get a bearing block. Tip jobs, shaft sanding/cleaning/polishing...
if you are clever - ferrules and wraps aren't out of the question.

Dale
 
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I have not read the whole thread to find out if my opinion is wrong or not. But I guess I have modified more types of wood lathes for cue repair that most anyone else. So my guess is that that little threaded dead center is your headstock spindle. It is not meant to be removed or replaced. All adapters and chucks are meant to thread over the dead center. What people have done who mount three jaw chucks on those types is to hack saw off the dead center and just leave the threads so they can use a three jaw chuck on it. What size are those threads?

If I had that lathe and wanted to make use of it in my shop. I would either put a three jaw chuck on it as described above and use it for sanding. Or I would just hook a gear motor up to it like it is and use the dead center and live center on each end of cue butts to apply the finish.
 
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Cueman, I will check the threads when I get home. I think you described it perfectly and I am glad I asked. Got some good replies on here.
 
The first and third pictures show a plate mounted on the head stock. Material can be turned between centers with the use of lathe dogs and this plate. There is an inspection plate on top and both ends are bolted on. Why not just pull it apart and see how it's built instead of all of this guessing? That would have been the first thing I had done the moment I got it but then I'm the type of person who takes everything apart to see how it works.

Dick
 
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