dalemcginnis
Local Chapter Leader
Is it possible for bushings to become out of round?
Just received my dead center today and decided to try it out. Put both centers in and bought the tailstock up until they were point to point and they aligned perfectly. Proceeded to turn a blank and everything was going fine until I got down to bushing size when I discovered a problem. No matter what I did I could not get one end to match the bushing. It would be absolutely smooth with the bushing on one side, but the opposite side had a ridge you could feel and see. Tried rotating the blank on the bushing and turning some more but it didn't work. Finally got out an old set of bushings and put it on the blank and not only was it round, I had over turned it a bit.
I have used the problem bushing before on a mandrell and never noticed any problems, either turning or when I assembled the pen. When I look at the bushing it does seem as if it might have a flat spot.
Just received my dead center today and decided to try it out. Put both centers in and bought the tailstock up until they were point to point and they aligned perfectly. Proceeded to turn a blank and everything was going fine until I got down to bushing size when I discovered a problem. No matter what I did I could not get one end to match the bushing. It would be absolutely smooth with the bushing on one side, but the opposite side had a ridge you could feel and see. Tried rotating the blank on the bushing and turning some more but it didn't work. Finally got out an old set of bushings and put it on the blank and not only was it round, I had over turned it a bit.
I have used the problem bushing before on a mandrell and never noticed any problems, either turning or when I assembled the pen. When I look at the bushing it does seem as if it might have a flat spot.