Lathe Equipment For Spindle Turning

The lathe motor drives a spindle to which the timber to be turned is attached by means of a range of equipment/accessories. The spindle, in the headstock of the lathe, is hollow with an internal taper which accepts some driving devices; other devices can be screwed onto the spindle which is threaded on the outside. The size of the taper and thread varies between lathes so it is important that the user knows these sizes when buying the various devices for fixing the timber to the lathe.

The tailstock houses a hollow barrel which also has an internal taper, usually, but not always, the same taper as in the headstock. This barrel accepts the tail centre which supports the timber during spindle turning.

The headstock spindle and the tailstock barrel should be hollow all the way through so that devices fitted into the tapers can be tapped out with a round bar when necessary. If the headstock is not hollow then it is advisable to use a thread protector on the headstock; unscrewing this will eject any device in the taper. Tail centres can be removed by placing a flat piece of metal between the centre and the body of the tailstock and then winding back the barrel with the tailstock handwheel.

There are several types of drive centre for spindle turning. These do not grip the wood so there needs to be support from a tail centre. Two or four prong drive centres are usually supplied with a lathe. These consist of a centre point with two or four driving blades mounted on a tapered shank. The drive blades can be located in the timber by saw cut grooves or the drive centre can be driven into the timber with a wood or plastic hammer. The Stebcentre is a more advanced type of drive centre; the centre point is spring loaded and this is surrounded by a circle of fine points, the wood is driven onto the Stebcentre by turning the tailstock handwheel until the points engage. For turning light pulls there is a stepped drive which locates in the previously drilled blank. Conical drives of various sizes are also available, these usually screw onto the headstock spindle. A drive with an internal square taper, for turning lace bobbins, is also available. There is an increasing range of mandrels and accessories for pen making.

When the timber is driven by one of these devices it has to be supported by a centre in the tailstock. When a dead centre is fitted the timber rotates around the point of the centre causing friction and the generation of heat. To minimise this effect it is necessary to lubricate the point of contact with wax. A much better device is the live or rotating centre whose point is mounted in bearings which allow it to rotate with the timber thus eliminating the need for lubrication. Tail centres come in a variety of sizes some with the point incorporated in a cup centre which reduces the risk of splitting the timber.

The tailstock can also be used for housing a taper mounted chuck, such as a Jacob's chuck, for drilling the timber as it turns. A hollow tailstock also acts as the guide for a long hole boring bit which is necessary when making table or standard lamps.

The tool rest is fitted in a banjo which can be moved along the lathe bed and at right angles to it. The tool rest can move up and down in the banjo and can rotate within it; both banjo and toolrest can be (and must be) locked when in the correct position. All lathes are supplied with one, toolrest - some with two. For best control of the cutting tool the tool rest should be as close as possible to the timber. When very small items are being turned (e.g. the baby in a mother 'n babe lace bobbin - about 20mm long) the standard tool rests are too long, so there is a need for a smaller rest. An engineering friend may be able to make one, or a standard rest can be cut to size or Sorby's system may offer a solution.

The height of the lathe is important in the interests of safety and ease of use. Ideally the centre line between the head and tailstock spindles should be at the level of the turners elbow. Some lathes have a height adjustment others do not, so it may be a matter of making a platform, of suitable height for the lathe - or the turner - to stand on.