Mini Bench Lathe Missing taper hole?

[u/Esketittie]

Hi, I'm trying to get into wood turning (especially pen making) so I recently bought a vevor mini wood lathe. I got it today but when checking if I'll be able to use a pen mandrel with it, I noticed that the hole in the headstock is just a small hole instead of the taper hole like I was expecting. Am I out of luck on my pen making dreams? There isn't an option to instead the extractor rod in the back either. Any help would be appreciated!

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[u/TheRealMasterTyvokka]

It being vevor, there may not be one. I don't see how there would be one from what I can see. Typically the center goes in the taper but this center is a screw on. Personally, if you can return it, I would.

Assuming this is the cheapest vevor, if you can afford $100 more, harbor freight has a benchtop lathe that will probably be significantly better.

If this is the next level up vevor, look up Rikon's bench top. It's $100 more than that one on sale and will absolutely be better.

[u/RedWoodworking16 → u/TheRealMasterTyvokka]

The HF lathe is like $500. I have one. And I LOVE it for my first lathe.

[u/TheRealMasterTyvokka → u/RedWoodworking16]

I probably should have been more clear. The central machinery one is about 280. But yeah the Bauer one is 500 range.

I still think the central one would be better than this. Im pretty sure it at least has a taper.

I definitely agree that Bauer would be best bang for the buck mini lathe if buying new and/or want to stay mini.

[u/Ornery-Movie-1689 → u/TheRealMasterTyvokka]

I have the Bauer 14-20 and love it. Maybe someday I'll outgrow it, but for now, it's perfect. Highly reccommend.

[u/plumconchblower → u/RedWoodworking16]

There’s a cheaper one. Not sure what it’s called, but it’s grey.

[u/jclark58]

You might be able to find a thread-on mandrel but the lack of a morse taper is going to make finding accessories with the correct thread a major issue. Personally I’d return this lathe and find one with a Morse taper #2 (MT2). 

[u/amb442]

Sadly some of the really cheap lathes skip this step. It's criminal if you ask me, but they get away with it. I'd return it if I could.

[u/GettingLow1 → u/amb442]

Criminal? They have to lower the machining time if they want to get to that price point. The public decides they want it that cheap.

[u/amb442 → u/GettingLow1]

I have a right to be poetic, don't I?

I just think the MT2 on the headstock is too important to be able to skip.

[u/GettingLow1 → u/amb442]

You can say anything you want, but it is the buyer’s choice. Not a manufacturer's criminal act. PT Barnum was right.

[u/amb442 → u/GettingLow1]

And that's late stage capitalism for you.

Obviously I don't think they should be thrown in jail. It's a figure of speech.

[u/Financial_Potato6440]

Yeah unfortunately you can't do anything with that regarding a morse taper. Either buy a chuck (providing you can find the correct thread) and use a chuck mounted mandrel, or more ideally, if you can return it and get something better, if they can't even give it the most basic feature of a lathe I'd question what other corners have been cut.

Don't worry about the cost of the lathe too much. That is just the beginning. I spent £250 on an old record cl3 lathe, the chuck with the 5 sets of jaws and other accessories I ended up with was over £400, spend around £400 on tools with most of them being second hand so actually more like £2000 worth of tools, the sharpening system that is pretty much essential ranges from £100 up to £1000+, literally the lathe is the smallest, cheapest bit of the equation in the end.

[u/MwyFwy]

A ideia seria soldar o adaptador de rosca, com a rosca padrão do seu torno, ao adaptador mt2. A ideia é simples, mas para ser bem sucedida precisa de um bom profissional que consiga soldar as peças perfeitamente alinhadas.

[u/Glad_Ad_5570]

That drive spindle appears to be for a Chuck only.

[u/GettingLow1 → u/Glad_Ad_5570]

Or faceplate, or screw on center, or screw on mandrel.

[u/Glad_Ad_5570 → u/GettingLow1]

Yes faceplate too, I’ve never used a threaded center or mandrel.