Dead/drive center for Shopsmith?

Culprit · Post by **Culprit** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:49 pm

I have been enjoying making pens. Several penturners turn pens between the centers, and it does offer more flexibility than using a mandrel.

Does anyone know where I can find a dead/drive center for the Shopsmith? A 60 degree cone is preferred, but not required.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:28 pm

Culprit;
I think that you should check here;
Craft Supplies USA
Penn State Industries http://www.pennstateind.com/
Eagle America.
Woodcraft http://woodcraft.com/
And there others that also may be able to help. Many of the pen turning supply houses also have some tooling components in their catalog.
Bill V

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:33 pm

i made mine from corian. i glued two pieces together to make a one inch square about four inches long. i mounted that between the shopsmith centers and turned it round, then turned about an inch and a half of it down to a half inch in diameter. i then put that in the shopsmith router chuck ( you could also use your drill chuck) and turned a taper on the oposite end. it's not sixty degrees but it works just fine. you could also turn it from brass or aluminum, but corian is what i had on hand.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:45 pm

I have 2 one made from hard maple 8/4 stock, the other made from delrin. I plan on another made from 6061 aluminum.

Culprit · Post by **Culprit** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:17 pm

Bill V, thanks for the list. I have already checked most of those, but there are one or two on that list that are new to me. The one's I've already looked at don't have them for the 5/8 ths quill, and I would rather not use an adapter since every link you add to the chain increased the error/tolerance budget.

Terry and Bob, thank you - making one may be the best option.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:21 am

Culprit wrote:The one's I've already looked at don't have them for the 5/8 ths quill, and I would rather not use an adapter

Wouldn't the dead center be tapered and go into the tail stock?
Am I just picturing this wrong?

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:59 am

normally you would be correct, but for "mandrel-less" pen turning the guys use use a sixty degree dead center in the headstock to drive the tube. you use a sixty degree "live" center in the tailstock. there are no commerically available sixty degree dead centers that will fit the shopsmith so like others i made my own.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:11 am

A router centering pin may work for you in conjunction with the 1/2" Shopsmith router chuck. See -- http://www.amazon.com/Big-Horn-19081-Ro ... tering+pin

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:40 am

I see what you are looking for but how does that drive the work? Lathe dog of some sort I assume? Use of a faceplate? Curious but if you really want one we can probably turn one out of steel. You aren't far.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:27 am

Culprit;
I believe that I misread your original intent. I think that the SS screw center can be used by removing the wood screw and using a bolt or screw to mount a block of wood that can then be turned to a 60 deg point. The set screw can be used to hold the assembly in place but the part would not be ruined in the process.
Bill V