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Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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Joined
Nov 23, 2009
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Location
Milford, Delaware 19963
Well I now have my new Rikon 70-100 converted to VS and running. I got two MT2 to MT1 reducers so I'm ready to make sure everything lines up right and start turning (I know that it's within a gnats eyebrow but something might need touching up) BUT...first I have to make a "jungle gym" for the cat --- that's right, the cat. Miss Kitty, who considers that our house is maintained solely for her convenience, needs a few more places to scratch, the kitchen cupboard, ottoman and sofa in the living room and my bulletin board are not enough she must have a unique gizwatch that I could buy if I were willing to part with $125.00 or so. Since I already have $150 invested in this free beast who addopted us i will use scrap lumger and my celler full of various tools and make one.

Then I will get to do a little turning.
 
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She knows I am making something for her. This morning she brought me a bird to show her appreciation. Actually, I think since we feed her dry food she just thinks I'm not a very good hunter so she brings me things to show me how it should be done. Usually it is a mouse or mole or young rat but sometimes a bird gets a little careless.
 
something we figured out this weekend on a Rikon lathe - do not use a Jet live center in a Rikon. It will not self-eject and may become stuck.
 
At least yours brings you stuff. Ours just makes noise in the morning for her chow. Which then promptly gets snubbed with a "How dare you feed me this slop!" attitude. Then a few hours later, the food mysteriously disappears. And if she waits too long, there's a hungry cat that's been sleeping on our back patio...
 
something we figured out this weekend on a Rikon lathe - do not use a Jet live center in a Rikon. It will not self-eject and may become stuck.

Can't you just use a knockout rod?

well, unless you're very careful - a JET live center has a removable point, so when you hit it with a knockout bar, unless you pay attention and catch the hollow edge of the MT, you end up knocking out the removable point.

I wasn't the one that did it - but I was there for a class. The person using the lathe had the tailstock cranked down real good - so it took more than just using a knock out rod to get it out.

I don't think the quills on Rikon lathes are ground with as much care as they are on other lathes - but that should be expected with the lower price point that it sells at.
 
something we figured out this weekend on a Rikon lathe - do not use a Jet live center in a Rikon. It will not self-eject and may become stuck.
Not a problem --- don't have a Jet Live Center and the Rikon one I have worked just fine. Not that it matters much, I don't use a live center that often anyway. I think what I have will work TBC if it doesn't I'll have an adaptor in and will be using my MT1 60 degree.
 
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FYI, on the the Rikons I have the factory supplied centers' center also can be removed, it's actually a pretty useful feature.
 
Sorry to hear about your Jet Live Center problem on you Rikon lathe... I have a Rikon 1216VS and have used several live centers, Nova, PSI, Delta plus Rikon's and never had an issue... Doesn't your Jet live center have a set screw to hold the tips in or are they press fit? Maybe that's the issue...??? Even my Delta live center which does not have set screws for the tips works well, but I have to ensure the live center is clean before I use one of the tips that go with it or they don't seal well. If they are clean, I have to use a wrench to change the tips but have never had a center stick in my Rikon or my new Jet 1212VS. BTW, how do you like the VS? Such a nice feature! Did you add a digital readout also??? Safe turning to you!
 
Sorry to hear about your Jet Live Center problem on you Rikon lathe... I have a Rikon 1216VS and have used several live centers, Nova, PSI, Delta plus Rikon's and never had an issue... Doesn't your Jet live center have a set screw to hold the tips in or are they press fit? Maybe that's the issue...??? Even my Delta live center which does not have set screws for the tips works well, but I have to ensure the live center is clean before I use one of the tips that go with it or they don't seal well. If they are clean, I have to use a wrench to change the tips but have never had a center stick in my Rikon or my new Jet 1212VS. BTW, how do you like the VS? Such a nice feature! Did you add a digital readout also??? Safe turning to you!
I don't have a live center problem - that was someone telling me not to use a jet live center on my Rikon lathe. It's a non issue because I don't have any Jet accessories.

Digital Readout isn't available with this unit.
 
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