Do I need a new live center?

[Chasper]

It still spins.

I can get long micro thin ribbons of wood flying from the blank closest to the drive end, but on the blank nearest the live center there is usually a little chatter and broken ribbons on all but the best turning woods. It could be that my mandrels are warped a little.

I can hold the live center like an ice cream cone with the MT2 in my palm, take the live center between my fingers and feel some play as I jiggle it up and down. Maybe some loseness in the bearings? I just read the thread where people are talking about wear in their live centers and I don't think I would recognize wear unless it stopped spinning.

 

[kent4Him]

Sound's like time for a new live center to me.

 

[GoodTurns]

I'll admit to being a relative rookie with most of the equipment, but I have learned that rattling and smoke are two indicators that the checkbook will be opening!

 

[Vince_Hoffmann]

I fold up a small (1" square) piece of paper towel and place it over the live center point, then push it into the end of the mandrel. No vibration or chatter whatsoever as long as the tailstock is locked down.

 

[jrc]

What kind of lathe and did the live center come with the lathe. I went thru 3 of the same kind that came with my Jet mini. Belive it or not Harbor Freight has one that I have been using the same one for over 4 years.

 

[hilltopper46]

The first image below is a live center but your pen mandrel is not designed to work with this live center. The point on this one is redressed after yours truely used it when I first started to turn pens.

The second picture is a 60-degree machine tool live center - you will get much better success on the live center end of the pen with this type of live center.

 

[jrc]

The lower live center photo I had to take the very tip off to fit the mandrill better.