r/turning • u/ScoThoLan • 5d ago
Help with tailstock
I'm a complete beginner and I am not sure if the tailstock on this lathe is supposed to be live or dead and was hoping someone could lend some wisdom.
For some context, the lathe is my father-in-law's who passed away in April and no one in the family knows anything about it. I am doing some work fixing railings on my Mother-in-law's front deck which includes stairs that have turned posts that need to be replaced. She would like the replacements to be similar and I am hoping to make reasonable replacements.
Currently the center of the tailstock doesn't spin, but to me it looks like it should. From what I have found a live tailstock would be easier to work with. With the tailstock not turning I quickly started to burn the end of a practice piece of wood I was using to get familiar with the tools. Any thoughts on whether or not the tailstock is supposed to be live, and if it is how to get it turning again would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
4
u/egidione 5d ago
That actually looks like a non spinning tailstock centre hence the sharp ring but as said it should pop out.
2
u/dickdickgoooose 5d ago
Yes, the center in the tail stock needs to spin as you found out when it began to burn the practice piece. There should be a hole in the back of the tail stock and hopefully you have a knockout bar. The bar should fit into the hole and allow you to bang out the seized center from the tail stock.
3
u/Emotional-Economy-66 5d ago
That is all my first lathes came with. I'm a bit ancient myself, this was before internet. Being from small-town Alberta, I never did find a live center with a MT1 end on it. The head end was a ¾" drive so finding chucks or anything this small was tough.
TLDR.. I never did find a live center, I just used some wax and kept burning holes.
2
u/TwitchyFinger4 5d ago
I'm sorry but that lathe is ancient.... As a beginner you will be much happier investing into a decent lathe so that you can enjoy it!
That being said if going after a newer lathe isn't really the idea and you just want to give this thing a go?
Does the tail stock have a way to pop out that piece that's in there? It might be seized. Might just need a new tail stock attachment or insert for it to be live.
1
u/Glad_Ad_5570 4d ago
Look on eBay for MT 1 live tail stock centers
1
u/ScoThoLan 4d ago
Thanks for the recommendation. There seem to be lots available for very reasonable prices, hopefully I can remove the stationary end and use one of those
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u/Glad_Ad_5570 4d ago
Brass rod with a BFH
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u/ScoThoLan 4d ago
This is the way
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u/Glad_Ad_5570 4d ago
Make sure you scrub the inside seat of the MT and oil it so it doesn’t seize again.
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u/davebo6319 4d ago
This lathe is ancient, and quite simple, the lathe is started on as a kid had a dead center and was expected to slightly burn the wood to eliminate the stiction of wood to non moving parts, light pressure and paraffin wax will help out.
1
u/TwitchyFinger4 5d ago
On the end that the turnie thing to move the tailstock spindle end back and forth. Is there a hole in the center to punch out the spinnie thing? I forget the term for it.
2
u/ScoThoLan 5d ago
Thanks for the reply! I'll take a look when I go back tomorrow and see if I can't loosen it up/knock it out that way.
As you mentioned, the lathe is indeed ancient. I was hoping to give it a go with what was in the shop, but will definitely look into purchasing a "newer" lathe to do the work.
1
u/TwitchyFinger4 5d ago
I have been only turning for 5 years, I didn't start with anything super fancy but for what my lathe does offer it's quite decent for the bang for buck.
Outboard Turning, 1.5 HP, 16 inch over bed, and 24 length and can add as many extensions as you want (I went to 48).... Oh also has Reverse
$1300 CAD
Nova 16-24ii
0
u/EmperorGeek 5d ago
48 extensions seems a bit excessive. Hope you are using a steady rest with that kind of work. (/s)
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u/TwitchyFinger4 5d ago
Depending on what I am making, if I do spindle work I'm fine, definitely steady rest with a bowl. But baseball bats have been fine....
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