MatthewZS
Member
I've just begun looking at buying some of the stuff for turning between centers and an idea hit me. An Idea that is going to take more (I suspect) than I have here to implement... namely a metal lathe. Rather than keep it to myself I figure I'll throw it out here for someone WITH the proper setup to try it ..... if it hasn't been done already that is. All I ask is that if you try it and it works and makes you a brazillionare, I like the cheeseburger happy meals
I see people with the live and dead center setup for TBC but they still use those modified bushings for most of the process. I suspect that is because the very corner/edge of the brass tube against the metal of the center just wouldn't have enough "grip" to not slip when you tried turning the piece. Why not build a set of centers that instead of a smooth cone had a stair step to it to accommodate a number of tube sizes like an aztec pyramid? See attached image.... and yes, It was a quick slap together image just to convey the idea, it's way off square.
I know there are MANY tube sizes, but you could build one center set with 5 or 6 of the most common sizes, then another set with the others or some such. This would provide just that little bit of flat straight on surface to really grip the end of the blank and turn it, it would remove bushings from the picture all togther, and should be EASY to produce for someone with a metal lathe.
I see people with the live and dead center setup for TBC but they still use those modified bushings for most of the process. I suspect that is because the very corner/edge of the brass tube against the metal of the center just wouldn't have enough "grip" to not slip when you tried turning the piece. Why not build a set of centers that instead of a smooth cone had a stair step to it to accommodate a number of tube sizes like an aztec pyramid? See attached image.... and yes, It was a quick slap together image just to convey the idea, it's way off square.
I know there are MANY tube sizes, but you could build one center set with 5 or 6 of the most common sizes, then another set with the others or some such. This would provide just that little bit of flat straight on surface to really grip the end of the blank and turn it, it would remove bushings from the picture all togther, and should be EASY to produce for someone with a metal lathe.