Thread: Live Centre Morse Taper 2??????

1st question - what do you turn?

2nd question - do you require a hollow center for drilling, or interchangeable center points? 90 / 60 degree, cone, hollow etc.

That will determine which live center that best suits you. No point having an under / over gunned live center, more like a Goldilocks "just right" unit.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

1st question - what do you turn?

2nd question - do you require a hollow center for drilling, or interchangeable center points? 90 / 60 degree, cone, hollow etc.

That will determine which live center what best suits you. No point having an under / over gunned live center, more like a Goldilocks "just right" unit.

There good questions,an i should have provided a bit more information.

No need for drilling through at this stage,if that ever was needed I would just have to suck it up,an buy another tool.[emoji6]

Mainly I,we turn small scale items,Pens,between centres,which is how i found out the Centre i had was stuffed.

Tool handles stuff like that, Ive been using 60 degree point at present.

Not sure if i would like to be able too change centre bits,or maybe I should arm my self with more than one ??.

I’m probably chasing information on what brands to avoid and what are ok or good Brands.

Cheers Matt

Matt, there are various types and I have a few different types, but everyone who has the Nova kit swears by them. Always told myself one day I'll pick up one of their live centre kits, haven't yet.


Nova Centre System | Carbatec



Then there is this one which is probably very close to the same deal, but comes with a case.

https://www.timbecon.com.au/torquata-live-centre-set



These are pretty handy, I have one of them.

https://www.timbecon.com.au/baladoni...ng-live-centre



Then there are the crown type drives to match. I have both sizes and use them all of the time; mostly.

https://www.timbecon.com.au/baladoni...-drive-centres

I often have a go at K1W1's, but for such a small population base and small country they really do excel in design and development. I got one of the Nova Live Centre systems when they first became available and it is a real great bit of kit. I then bought a 2nd one and fitted it a steb style tip that matches the one for the headstock spindle. Makes it so easy to spin spindles from end to end.
I have given them a real workout since getting them and I have never been disappointed.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

I often have a go at K1W1's, but for such a small population base and small country they really do excel in design and development. I got one of the Nova Live Centre systems when they first became available and it is a real great bit of kit. I then bought a 2nd one and fitted it a steb style tip that matches the one for the headstock spindle. Makes it so easy to spin spindles from end to end.
I have given them a real workout since getting them and I have never been disappointed.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Thanks Crocy,

But no idea what K1W1 is, tho I think your talking about New Zealand ??.

Cheers Matt

I was given one of these a couple of years ago, it is a high quality item
2 MT Morse Taper Precision Live Center

Matt, the Nova live centre kit is great, I use them when I need a point. Vermec and Vicmarc make good live centres as well. I had to get a Vicmarc cup centre to replace the Woodfast, when I sold the yellow Peril.


I am getting one of these from Vermec for xmas.

Hi Matt have a look at the timberbits
site they have the cheap and expensive centres [I have no interest in Timberbits other than purchasing from them]

Originally Posted by Pat

Matt, the Nova live centre kit is great, I use them when I need a point. Vermec and Vicmarc make good live centres as well. I had to get a Vicmarc cup centre to replace the Woodfast, when I sold the yellow Peril.


I am getting one of these from Vermec for xmas.

I have a number of live centers from el-cheapos to genuine Sorby Steb Centers, the Nova system, the Vermec system and a couple of small custom live centers for my small spindle turning. The Vermec and Nova units with multiple inserts are good however imo the Vermec is a better unit in quality and in use.

One thing to consider when turning small / very thin spindle items is the mass of the live center being driven by the work piece. A large "driven mass" (many times more mass than the turning) can torque stress very thin turnings on startup & whilst turning.

The design of live centers varies with the two common variants being,

1. point into bearings (inboard) into an integral body & MT2 shaft i.e. the Vermec. (minimal driven mass)
2. point into a socket body which houses the bearings (outboard) and spins about the MT2 shaft i.e. the Nova.

For my style of spindle turning my preferred centers are all type 1 - Vermec style. If you are turning larger work both are as efficient as each other.

Type 2 designs are generally more robust for larger turnings because generally they house larger bearings.

In manufacturing, machinists select a live center knowing the workpiece weight, the desired or max spindle speed, required center dimensions, point style for adequate tool clearance, the required accuracy and of course the tailstock taper. Woodturners aren't so picky - and typically have a one size fits all approach.

Other things to consider include,

• the service life and service speed of a live center. No point using a live center designed for a maximum spindle speed of say 2000 rpm when it is going to see the majority of service at spindle speeds of 3500 rpm plus. It won't last like it should. Conversely a LC used in bowl roughing out applications does not require high runout accuracy tolerances or high speed specs.
• maintenance of the MT2 spindle taper and the matching socket in the tail stock quill & head stock.
• tailstock force - too much is as bad as not enough.
• bearing / seal design - dry wood dust can be very abrasive on seals & wood turners typically don't run coolant like machinists.
• user serviceability of bearings - not recommended btw unless you have the machinist skills.

Thanks so far for all the feedback,at present I’m kind of leaning towards the Vicmarc or Vermec option,even know i said I dint really want to change centre bits.

Tho the Timbecon option could still be a goer immmmm

Cheers Matt.

I also have the Nova system and for large turnings I'm quite satisfied with it. However, for me it's real bonus is it's versatility. Also, while I know most are enthused with theirs, I was slightly disappointed when I first bought mine. (More than 10 years ago, mind you!)

A couple of the centres just don't seat 'nicely' in the bearing. They run true, but on one of 'em the taper only inserts in about 3mm...

When doing trembleurs, pens and similar thin spindles I fall back to a cheap, fairly lightweight chaiwanese live spur that I also bought years ago. For the reason that Moby mentioned above: low dead mass when starting/stopping. I guess I was lucky when I bought it 'cos that thing is robust and still nicely accurate. [Phew!]

All the 'simple' centres seem to come from China nowadays and it's pure pot luck what quality you receive.

Anyways, yeah... from your description I think the vermec/vicmarc is what you'll be happiest with.

Matt, do you and Sally use one of these when pen turning? I find them so much better than putting a live centre on the end of the mandrel.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Matt, do you and Sally use one of these when pen turning? I find them so much better than putting a live centre on the end of the mandrel.

Well worth the purchase price!

If you are into pen turning another benefit of the Nova or Vermec systems is that you can also make / turn your own custom centers from HDPE to use in the LC when applying CA finishes. I personally use Vermec's ER25 & ER32 collet bodies * with standard collet nuts and ER collets on the headstock spindle with the Vermec LC as linked to above in the tailstock with custom HDPE cone centers for CA applications. Very versatile.

Another very handy bit of Vermec gear is the threaded live center / reversing mandrel. Threaded Live Centres MT2 Revolving (vermec.com)


*Enzo & Yvonne no longer carry the collet bodies as a standard web site listing but can manufacture them upon request.

If we are sliding into the pen turning realm, then there are the turn between centres sets, available from Pen state. Otherwise a Dead centre as the drive and a live centre 60° cone in the tail stock.