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Which drive centre?

AndyP

AndyP

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I’ve come to the conclusion I need a better drive centre. I currently only have the 4 prong which came with the Record 305 lathe. For bowl turning the screw chuck works fine but when spindle turning (pots at the moment) I do not want to waste timber turning away the screw hole.
The 4 prong does not always seem to grip so well so I am keen to know what fellow turners are using for a drive centres.
 
I usually cut a 3mm deep 'X' to help the teeth of the four prong drive to locate into the wood; essential with harder woods. Seems to work for me though I have also got one of those jobbies above that Chas refers to- Rob
 
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I have a couple of the 4 prong type and a multi toothed one and use all of them for no particular reason, they all work. If a vey hard wood I cut a cross as Andy does otherwise I just knock them into the wood using a heavy plastic hammer. Obviously a steel hammer shouldn't be used on a morse taper.
 
With the spring loaded drives, on most 'firmer' wood species it is possible to remove the workpiece from the lathe and remount if needed and pick up the centre quite successfully, something that is more problematic with a simple cross drive. Conversely with 'softer' wood species beware heavy cutting loads may cause the fine teeth to just cut a groove in the wood.

More important for the 'Drive End' of the spindle to be cut reasonably square.

If you get really into batch turning of spindle pieces you can even remove finished item and load a new piece of centre punched stock without switching off the lathe. Have done it 'because I could' but am glad I was never in need to earn a crust that desperately for a living.
 
I have this set, it covers most things I want to drive with a centre.PXL_20260127_185247158.MP.jpgIt has a thread that matches the headstock.
I have had it a long time and can't remember where I bought it.
 
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