Stebcenter

Re: Stebcenter

Jim Pugh in Elyria, OH

>I think the 'mulitooth center' is a chinese copy of the Steb center. You might contact CS to see if they still stock these as I don't think they are in the newest catalog.

The 1/2" Steb center is a handy size and a good place to start your collection. The current prices are considerably higher than they were just a few years ago so buy now before they get any higher. In my most recent Packard catalog the 1/2" and the 1" Steb center are both $59.95.

Re: Stebcenter

Richard Allen

>I have the cheap one from CS. It works as expected. The teeth are not as sharp as the Stebcenter. The spring loading works great (back off the tailstock and you can stop the spindle with your hand).

I also have the Oneway safety center. I prefer the Oneway center for driving spindles up to 3x3. The profile of the Oneway safety center is the same as the Oneway live center. This means that the spindle can be fliped end for end and run true.

You can remove a spindle with either of the centers (Oneway safety center, cheap CS "stebcenter" and the Stebcenter) and remount, expecting the workpiece to run true. You can do this with a spur center but you need to take a little caution that everything goes back on the same way it came off (often done by grinding a notch on the side of one of the spurs and parking the end of the spindle for that spur).

Good Luck

Richard

Re: Oneway safety center

Doug

>Richard - I am not familiar with the Oneway safety center and can not find reference to it in the catalogs or the CS web site.

Re: Oneway safety center

Lan Brady

>I would buy depending on what you are usign it for. I turn smaller items so I bought the 1/2 inch. I leave waste stock on the end, but tools do slip on occasion, I would prefer to not bury it into turning steel. Also , it has good holding power but the small bite diameter means that a catch will stop the wood from spinning instead of ejecting it into the air.

Good Luck with your decision, Lan

Re: Stebcenter

RonZ

>Chinese copy - junk. Besides the teeth aren't sharp, the center point popped out and is missing.

Stebcenter - It's all I use now [anybody want to buy some used 4 prongs?]. While I confess that I'm a dealer here in Israel but I base my business on only selling products which I use. The 1/2" is a great start if you are positive that you're doing only real small items. Otherwise the 7/8" covers most ground. I have all three sizes along with a live center for the tail stock and another one that will fit in a chuck so I don't have to remove it. I used the 1 1/4" to turn 12"x12"x30" between centers to make meeting table pillars. To really apreciate how good the Stebcenters are you need a descritption of the pillars. This was a square made of 2" thick slabs of cherry and ash, filled with pine. The stebcenter slipped only once and it could have been because I didn't tighten it right. After tightening it did all 7 pillars without a hitch. Besides being safer than a 4 prong, if you're skilled, you can remove and replace your work while the lathe is running.

Lee Valley sells for $49.50

Charlie Romano

>

Re: Oneway safety center *LINK*

Richard Allen

>Hi Doug

You can see the Oneway safe center on the Oneway web site.


Oneway safe center

Re: Stebcenter

Arch

>As usual, I'm behind the times and out of step.:) Lots of things I'd rather have for Christmas than a Stebcenter. They are good for holding or adjusting canted blanks. So are 2 prong spurs. They are good for stopping the blank with the lathe running. So is a spur with a long point, tho I'd rather use a belt-clutch or VS to zero, or since there are better ways to save my time, an on/off switch. They hold the blank securely without drilling into it. So do spurs seated in saw-cuts.

For the turner who has everything, they are novel and bright and they do work, but they cost 50+ bucks. A decent spur center or two costs much less, probably enough left over to buy a fifth of good single malt.

This post is mostly for maintaining my 'Crotchety Ole Coot' standing. I hope I get a Stebcenter for Christmas _and whisky... that's without the 'e'.:)

Turn to Safety, Arch