? Dead Center for Beall Chuck ?

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kirkfranks

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Ok so I am thinking about making the switch to Turning Between Centers.
I will need a dead center but would rather have one with a straight back end to use in the Beall Chuck instead of a morse taper. On my lathe I notice much better "trueness" using the chuck vs. the taper.
So does anyone make such a dead center?

I would also like a small steb center with the same arrangement if possible.

So send me your suggestions and links.
 
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johnnycnc

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I have a parallel situation in that I don't like to remove my 3 jaw chuck from my metal lathe, as it is used most every day, and takes a while to dial back in
once reinstalled.
I discovered that the Beall collet chuck with 1"-8 threads will go in the three jaw, and runs pretty true.
so, I faced the same question, and here is what I found..
My dead center, MT2, has a cylindrical portion behind the point angle.
This was a bit of a aha moment for me, I did not realize this until recently.
it is not very long, but long enough to register reasonably true for me.
The next issue was collet size, i looked and found a Parlec 18mm at MSC that is just the right size for this.It is marked ER32-0708.
I really like this arrangement, as it gives me maximum flexibility.:biggrin:
You may consider trying a good dead center directly in the spindle taper socket, it may be better than your mandrel arbor..
 

leehljp

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Kirk,

Is it possible for you to try making your own from Aluminum or Brass? My first Dead Center three years ago was from Aluminum and it was not even 60°. It was made for a Drill chuck but making it for a Beall would not be much different.

http://www.penturners.org/photos/images/940/1_Dead_drive_1.jpg

If I had taken a little more time, I could have cleaned it up and made it look nicer. But it still worked much better than the mandrel for me.
 

kirkfranks

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Hank,
Your first mandrel was already in my mind as a backup plan. So far it looks like it may be the way to go. My only concern was durability, but at least I will be able to see if I like TBC.

My thinking is that if I use a 3/4 shaft then I can turn the blank to round and drill with the Beall chuck, and the dead center will use the same ER insert so I won't have to change out all the time.
 

jleiwig

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Hank,
Your first mandrel was already in my mind as a backup plan. So far it looks like it may be the way to go. My only concern was durability, but at least I will be able to see if I like TBC.

My thinking is that if I use a 3/4 shaft then I can turn the blank to round and drill with the Beall chuck, and the dead center will use the same ER insert so I won't have to change out all the time.

That is so freaky! I was just thinking about this last night. What about someone taking an MT3 dead center and turning it down straight? The smallest diameter on an MT3 dead center is .778 inches, so you could theoretically turn it down to .75 inches straight across, and then you could still have a carbide tipped dead center. How much John?
 

kirkfranks

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kirkfranks

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Hey this is my thread. I should get automatic to front of the list.
Lord knows how long his lists can get:)
Yes Paul I would be interested. You can PM me a price if you don't want to get public yet.
 

Paul in OKC

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OK. I am jumping the gun a smidge here, but I will be sending Kirk's center out today. Doable, yes. Very simple, not. I will do some checking on ordering centers and the shipping to me and all that to come up with a price, but it will be in the $35-40 range. That is for a #3 center (carbide tipped) turned down to 3/4 diameter. So...........
 

Paul in OKC

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pic

Here is a pic. Kirk, I will send you another email before sending this. I have one main concern in that the length of the shaft even at turned diameter will only go back to the end of the spindle. Nice to have a long center, but if there is any runout in the collet chuck, it will be magnified the farther out the center is. That said, it can be shortened. If I use a #2 taper, it will go in as far as it is turned, maybe increasing versatility. It would end up at about 1/2" diameter. Just my thoughts.
 

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kirkfranks

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Ok Paul
On my setup I measure about 2.6" from the "face" of the collet chuck nut to where the center will bottom out on the spindle.
Actually on my lathe with a #1 size spindle and I use an adapter in the chuck which is a PSI chuck so that may be different than other folks would get with a Beall and #2 spindle.
 

Paul in OKC

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Thanks, Kirk. (email replied) With a #2 it wont be much different because the mouth of the taper is around .7-ish. I will get this on the way tomorrow and we'll see what it looks like!
 

jack barnes

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Paul this is what I use, it was given to me an I can't find another one, can you duplicate it. It is 1/2" SS

Jack
 

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turbowagon

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Since there seems to be a big interest for these, wouldn't it be more cost effective to have them CNC machined? The shape is so simple, and they could be made in several diameters to fit the different collet sizes: 5/8" and 3/4" for example.
 

JeffinWIS

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Although not carbide, it's relatively easy(metal lathe) to turn a 60* point on a hardened dowel pin. Cheap, and they last quite a while. Simple to return the point when needed.
 

workinforwood

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Although not carbide, it's relatively easy(metal lathe) to turn a 60* point on a hardened dowel pin. Cheap, and they last quite a while. Simple to return the point when needed.

That's what I keep thinking. I'm not understanding the entire need in the first place. Sure the Beall is good, the PSI is good, but if you simply clean your taper and insert a proper center in the spindle you should have less run out than with a chuck, because the chuck sticks out from the head. The further it is out the more run out, and you can never get the run out to zero because the simple fact that a mass of metal spinning way out there off the head is going to cause a centrifical wobble, even if the wobble is miniscule it will be more than a center in a spindle. The whole idea to me makes me think of using scissors to cut holes in paper to go in a binder when you could use a 3 hole punch. But..if you just insist you have to do it, 3/4 tool steel seems like the only good choice. It's cheap and it's heavy duty and it's already pretty straight, so you just need a little truing cut and then to cut the point. If you drop a carbide point it will break. If you drop a steel point you can re-tune it even with just using a file on your wood lathe. So..I don't understand why the sudden need for trying to re-invent an existing tool with something that requires more labour and has potential for more error.:confused:
 

Texatdurango

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In my mind, it's all about convenience and fun!


I enjoy making pens and enjoy trying different things. I started turning pens with a Jet mini lathe, a pen mandrel, a few gouges and a couple of kits from Woodcraft and had never heard of a closed end mandrel. Now I have two wood lathes, a metal lathe and a ton of lathe accessories and tools, many of which are highly specialized and have been looking at a CNC mill. If one were to see my shop they would ask... WHY do you have all these tools..... just to make pens? (Actually, my wife asks that very question now and then after the UPS truck leaves) :biggrin:

When everyone was happy drilling their pen blanks on a drill press, someone started drilling their blanks on the lathe claiming better accuracy and convenience and the "battle lines" were drawn and ever since, everyone has been busy convincing others why their method is the "correct" way and that the "new way" is just a waste of time and requires more tools to do the simple task of drilling a hole.

When everyone was happy turning their pen blanks on mandrels, someone came up with the idea of just modifying the bushings and turning the blanks themselves between two 60 degree centers and doing away with the mandrels all together. Again, "battle lines" were drawn and some people spend their time trying to convince others that their method is the "correct" way and that the "new way" is just a waste of time and requires more tools to do the simple task of turning blanks.

The way I see it, if one wants to square a blank using a hand saw and a hand plane to smooth it up then drilling the blank using a hand drill with the blank held between their knees or in a table vice or simply held with a pair of pliers then that is their business. BUT, there are more convenient ways of doing the job, it just requires a few more tools!

If one wants to mount their blanks side by side on a mandrel then turning them using "standard" bushings, then that is their business. BUT, there are more convenient ways of doing the job, it just requires a few more tools!

If one wants to keep their Beall chuck mounted from start to finish, the entire time they are turning a blank round, drilling the blank on the lathe, turning the blank between centers, then sanding and finishing the blank by simply using a few extra tools then so be it, it's their business. It's just a matter of a more convenient way of doing the job, it just requires a few more tools!

But as usual, lines are being drawn in the sand once again as some are trying to convince others why their method is the "correct" way and that the "new way" is just a waste of time and requires more tools to do the simple task of turning blanks between centers.

Why can't all of the above situations be just a simple matter of choice with no right way and no wrong way? Why can't it be just because some of us like gadgets, we like tools and we enjoy making pens…. Our own way?

I just don't get why some people worry so much about how others make their pens and what tools they use to get the job done. I'm sure if someone would post about a new spray booth they installed in their shop to apply nice lacquer finishes, some would argue that they can apply just as good of a finish using CA and a paper towel! :)
 
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