Tailstock issue

[Displaced Canadian]

I noticed a slight out of round issue the other day, checked all the usual suspects and all was fine. When I put a piece of wood on the chuck it turns quiet and straight. When I move the tailstock up to it and apply pressure things start to vibrate and I get a wobble. I noticed that if the tailstock is not tightened to the bed it hits straight in the middle of the blank. Once I tighten it down to the bed it moves over just a smidgen on an inch. Is there an easy fix to this? The lathe is a HF clone from Rockler.

 

[Wildman]

Over tightening with tailstock can cause out of round whether using centers or chucks.

When centers installed head/tailstock, align when tailstock locked down? If drive center and live center in alignment not much you can do.

If not in alignment, clean Morse tapers or try adjusting nut on bottom of tailstock. Some lathes cannot get head/tailstock alignment without use of shims under tailstock. Feeler gauge blades can help.

4 -jaw chuck mounting almost always bring tailstock up, lock it down and advance quill to center mark on wood before tightening chuck jaws and tightening quill. Would use same technique for collect chuck too.

I have never used on of these alignment tools but some folks find they help.
http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Mer..._Code=113121&Category_Code=lathes-acc-mrstool

 

[sbell111]

I have never used on of these alignment tools but some folks find they help.
http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Mer..._Code=113121&Category_Code=lathes-acc-mrstool

I can see how that tool could be useful in aligning a swivel headstock, but can't see it's functionality in correcting the OP's problem because once he moves the tailstock to replace the tool with whatever he is turning, it's going to be a whole new ballgame.

My first thought upon reading the OP is to take off the tailstock to make sure that the bottom of it doesn't have built-up gunk.

 

[nava1uni]

It could also be that the plate that tightens had saw dust on it and when it is tightened down it isn't seating properly. I had to take off the little plate and clean it and then it worked properly.

 

[Displaced Canadian]

Thank you Cindy. The issue was "goobers" under the tailstock. It didn't look like much but I cleaned it up and now all works fine.