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Carbide Tipped Dead Center
- Thread starter Tozguy
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,594
Standard dead centers work fine at the headstock end where there is no wear, and work at the tailstock end as well, but there will be wear. Good news is that they can be cut with carbide tooling or a tool post grinder and reconditioned. A carbide center is perhaps overkill at the headstock end, but much tougher against wear and abuse at the tailstock end. When it gets worn, and it eventually will, it will need a diamond wheel in the tool post grinder to repair it. Much depends on what you are turning, your skills, and your capabilities. I think having a carbide center is worthwhile, but I may be turning different work, on a different machine, at different speeds, to different accuracy requirements, more or less often than you are. Carbide still needs to be lubed and treated gently.
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,682
A Carbide center will probably last your lifetime. But don’t drop it! A ball bearing/live center is another choice/option. For decades, I have every center made in my shop. And can count on one hand the times I needed a dead center. I will crab the live center...Dave
Yes my question relates to the tail stock end. For the head stock end I will touch up the dead centre before mounting the work so it is dead centre. 
For the tail stock end I gather that the only advantage of carbide over a regular centre is durability. Since I have not worn out what I have on hand (3 regular dead centres and a live centre) there doesn't seem to be much point in my getting a carbide dead centre. If it didn't require lube then maybe but that's not the case.
Thanks for your comments.
For the tail stock end I gather that the only advantage of carbide over a regular centre is durability. Since I have not worn out what I have on hand (3 regular dead centres and a live centre) there doesn't seem to be much point in my getting a carbide dead centre. If it didn't require lube then maybe but that's not the case.
Thanks for your comments.
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,594
I don't understand your issue with the lube. A dribble of way oil or a fingertip of grease in the hole and you are good to go. I find keeping the tension on the center to work interface correct as the work heats and cools to be much more tedious, using any center...Yes my question relates to the tail stock end. For the head stock end I will touch up the dead centre before mounting the work so it is dead centre.
For the tail stock end I gather that the only advantage of carbide over a regular centre is durability. Since I have not worn out what I have on hand (3 regular dead centres and a live centre) there doesn't seem to be much point in my getting a carbide dead centre. If it didn't require lube then maybe but that's not the case.
Thanks for your comments.
Good to go but for how long? My issue with lube is not knowing when the lube runs out and the joint is running dry. Any lube will eventually work its way out of the contact area. Sure there may be lots of lube outside the joint but is there any left inside where it is needed?
Agree, keeping the tension even for the duration can be tedious.
Dave, predictive text can be funny
Talking about ball bearings, some persons will use a single ball centre when the tailstock is offset for turning a taper. And turning tapers can be a long job. I wonder what the lube requirement is in that case.