If you're careful, you can use a joint protector. Drill the top, stick in a 1/4" stud. It'll turn sorta' straight if you're careful installing the stud and a little careful when you screw it on the shaft. That worked OK for me, anyhow, before I got my lathe, but I was very careful to install the stud dead straight. I chucked everything on my drill press, and then I installed and glued the stud with everything chucked in my drill press to hold it straight until the epoxy cured. I'd just send you mine, but I tossed it when I bought the lathe. I'm just going to assume you know enough not to spin the thing without proper support at the ends.