spaceengravers
Member
I got what I needed for drilling on the lathe for Christmas. I'm using a Nova midi chuck in the head stock and a drill chuck in the tail stock. Putting the square blank in the midi chuck and a 1/4 inch drill bit in the drill chuck. When I move the drill bit up to the blank and start drilling, it is slightly off center. After drilling part way in, I can stop the lathe and turn it by hand and see that as it turns the bit wobbles slightly in blank (because it's off center and the blank is pulling it one way or the other as it turns).
I remove the chuck and the drill chuck and install 60 degree centers in the head and tail stock and push them together...they align perfectly.
Should I be marking the center of the blank, using a punch to dimple it, and moving the bit up the blank and set it in the dimple before starting to drill? I was under the impression that drilling on the lathe would ensure it is centered each time...What am I doing wrong?
Mike
I remove the chuck and the drill chuck and install 60 degree centers in the head and tail stock and push them together...they align perfectly.
Should I be marking the center of the blank, using a punch to dimple it, and moving the bit up the blank and set it in the dimple before starting to drill? I was under the impression that drilling on the lathe would ensure it is centered each time...What am I doing wrong?
Mike