Thread: Robert Sorby revolving centre

Is it a carbide tipped centre ? . If it is it should be much harder than the bushes you might be using . If its not hardened then you might just refurbish it on your metal lathe A diamond file should clean it up,or a tipped carbide tool should turn it if you set the cross slide at 30 degrees. Failing those options I guess a distributor or even the manufacturer should come to the party ? cheers ~ John

Greg, The Woodsmith in Croydon Vic were the importers of this kit, they also used to sell the various tips seperately.

Since they have gone mail order only they no longer list the Sorby products on their web page, but it may be worth giving them a ring.

Failing that, Jim Carroll also lists this kit, but currently out of stock.

If all else fails there are a few Sorby sellers listed on the net in the UK.

Lathe accessories - Revolving Centres from Robert Sorby

Robert Sorby Deluxe Revolving Centre System HDRCK_MST from Stiles and Bates

Looking where your damage occurs it may be worth using the smaller 60deg tip, that's the one I mainly use for this, it is also much easier to clean up on the metal lathe.

Thanks.

I will try and find someone who might sell a HSS version. I got the set from Jim Carroll so he might know where I can get a harder tip from. Unfortunately the smaller tip suffered the same fate. I was surprised that a bush would dig in so deep to the tip. Mind you, the tip has also rounded off the end of the bushes a bit too. Trouble with using the short bushes is that they need a lot o pressure on them to stop the blank slipping. The longer shaft one I got off you Fred work much better.

Greg

It may also be worth turning or getting a tip turned up that fits your bushes. A special insert might so the trick nicely.


Dave

The Turning Cowboy

Thanks. I sent an email to Robert Sorby company in the UK. I will see what they can offer. If nothing I will get something made or just suffer in silence.

Did the damage occur before you aligned the tailstock centres ,because that will happen with an alignment problem ,when the centres are aligned the 2 mating angles produce a full surface to surface contact and spreads the load evenly,any mis-alignment will cause the centre to ride out of square so every revolution will cause pressure to be applied in 2 different spots on the centre ,don't worry I have centres that look like yours as well this will wear a groove or sometimes even 2 grooves, with a wood lathe the problem is less obvious as wood is a bit softer than metal and less likely to wear the centre, but with a steel mandrel on a steel centre it can still wear a groove if not aligned. I am sure Sorbys can help, but the underlying problem still needs to be looked at and corrected . Cheers ~ John

I think you might be right John. They were off centre for a while and it was easy to see it when the lathe was on low speed. I corrected the centres and it still happened for a while, although a little better. I think that the machine has now put groves in for the beginner in the centre. The last lost of pens actually turned square at either end. A first!!!