Can You Use A Dead Center

Just imagine that the business end of a 60º center,which is normally round,looks like a pyramid with 90º corners on it. This is not complicated. Don't over think. The corners will bite enough into softer materials to allow light turning . This was used much more often back in the old days,when chucks were non existent,or too expensive to be affordable. Ivory turners could make chess pieces with a center like I have described. Brass candlesticks could also be made. The simple system would be very fast to change pieces of work in. Faster than using a chuck of any kind at all. So,in old factories,it would have been a good thing to use.

MANY years ago I bought the very LAST can of white lead that the paint store had in stock. It was being outlawed in the early 70's. I tried to be careful to not get it on my fingers,but probably did any way. Once you put a little dab of white lead on the end of a piece of work,it had a way of getting around on the work quite a bit!

I still have that can of Dutch Boy white lead,though it's probably dried out. Or,may have gotten tossed in one of my wife's clean out campaigns.
 
Wreck™Wreck said:
I simply do not understand this, aside from grinding at very low rotational speeds, why would anyone consider using a dead center in a tailstock in the year 2016.
Please explain
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i was taught with a dead center and old habits die hard- i reckon.
(i do own and use live centers on occasion)
maybe it's the same reason i hand scrape still, even though i have a biax
 
My white lead,being made for mixing in paint and probably making putty(?),had linseed oil in it,which invariably will dry over time. And,it's been over 45 years by now!
 
george wilson said:
My white lead,being made for mixing in paint and probably making putty(?),had linseed oil in it,which invariably will dry over time. And,it's been over 45 years by now!
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George, your showing your age.

I have a very small Dutch Boy can of white lead dad had in his stuff. The last time I poped the lid off the can to use, took a 16D nail mixed it up, good as new! I don't think that stuff will ever dry out with the amount of lead in it!
 
Sometimes a live center is too large in diameter and only a long nose live center or a dead center will do.
I have an expensive live center that I use sparingly because it is too large. I bought a long nose live center that I use instead. The dead center gets very little use now.When I do use a dead center I use grease from a auto grease gun tube.
Lasts about 30 minutes or so before adding more grease.
 
kwoodhands: my little Royal #2 MT is actually smaller than a plain dead center. The spindle runs on roller bearings inside the regular #2 MT shank. A smaller dia. CNC nose protrudes from the MT shank. It really is a wonderful little live center for close,small work.
 
Thank you for the explanation, George. Guess I need to get one or two plain carbon steel centers and try some grinding.
 
You can get HSS dead centers,OR,the ultimate: CARBIDE tipped dead centers. Of course,re grinding carbide takes diamond wheels. But,you don't have to worry as much about keeping them lubricated.

A dead center is like having an old lathe that has plain spindle bearings: They need attention and frequent lubing. Most Myfords have plain spindle bearings,and they were not necessarily made so long ago.

You need to look out for your metal getting warmer and warmer,and growing in length till the dead center welds itself to your work!!!! Back off that tailstock quill and keep track of adjusting the center and lubing it.

Yes,they are old fashioned,but they do have instances where they have value,and even superiority.
 
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