Drive Centre - which type?

[Andy's Shed]

I've just fitted a new headstock spindle and it takes an MT2 drive centre, the one that I currently have from the old spindle is a basic 4 prong MT1 version.

I was thinking of ordering a 4 prong MT2 centre, but having looked online there seem to be various types available. I don't want to spend a lot if possible.

Any recommendations?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Crown drives - Stebs. The original Stebs are very expensive but copies are much cheaper. E.g. -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37336548...yxP+1HYszOiiwqrhuV9waf+jZm|tkp:Bk9SR-KEyKWgYQ
a much better option than four prong ones.

 

[Andy's Shed]

Crown drives - Stebs. The original Stebs are very expensive but copies are much cheaper. E.g. -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37336548...yxP+1HYszOiiwqrhuV9waf+jZm|tkp:Bk9SR-KEyKWgYQ
a much better option than four prong ones.

Thanks Phil, I'll have a look at that in a moment.

What I forgot to mention is that I do now have a Record SC4 chuck and it came with a faceplate and a centre screw, just in case that alters any suggestions.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You can get a crown drive to fit in your chuck if you prefer. I have an original Steb which fits either way.

 

[Andy's Shed]

I think I'm sold on the crown drive, thanks again.

 

[Inspector]

There is another type of drive you might want to consider. They are called safe drives or ring friction drives. They look like the Steb centre without the teeth or the same as the cup centres used before bearing centres for the tailstock before came along. They have the advantage of slipping if you get a catch and don't chew up the wood when it slips. They reduce the pucker factor when learning or during a momentary lapse in concentration.

https://www.axminstertools.com/global/axminster-cone-friction-drive-2mt-340126
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311777258203
https://oneway.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_75_107_121
Pete

 

[Stigmorgan]

I always felt the need to drill a hole to fit the 4prong drive into to make sure there was enough contact, much prefer my crown drive, the teeth dig in and grip perfectly and it fits in my chuck jaws if I can't be pineappled to take the chuck off.

 

[Robbo3]

A morse taper drive centre can be held in a wood turning chuck & removed quickly when no longer required. A lot of professional turners do this.
The prongs on drive centres should be kept sharp using a fine file. The centre point can be touched up by carefully using a small flat file used in line with the bed & at an angle so as to keep out of the way of the revolving prongs.

 

[Andy's Shed]

Many thanks all.

 

[Fergie 307]

There is another type of drive you might want to consider. They are called safe drives or ring friction drives. They look like the Steb centre without the teeth or the same as the cup centres used before bearing centres for the tailstock before came along. They have the advantage of slipping if you get a catch and don't chew up the wood when it slips. They reduce the pucker factor when learning or during a momentary lapse in concentration.

https://www.axminstertools.com/global/axminster-cone-friction-drive-2mt-340126
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311777258203
https://oneway.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_75_107_121
Pete

Pucker factor made me grin, not heard that before. Certainly experienced it a few times though

 

[JimTaylor]

You can get a MT1 to MT 2 Sleeve, you can then use the old drives. These are not a lot of money.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, as I posted on the OP's other thread. They are also useful for using morse taper drill bits (which aren't expensive) in the tailstock - under about 14mm iirc they are all 1MT.
https://www.ukdrills.com/morse-taper-shank/morse-taper-metric-bit

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I've just bought a revolving crown centre from RDG tools - for anyone interested there's a discount code for dealing direct rather than through ebay - 12769. It's only 5% but a quid's a quid.

 

[Richard_C]

Think about what you will be turning. Recently I started turning small things from 50mm or smaller square spindles, my original drive was far too chunky so I got myself a smaller one. There may be more than one right answer.

 

[Chisteve]

I use both of the above ring and RDG steb centres MT1 would recommend

 

[pryere]

There is another type of drive you might want to consider. They are called safe drives or ring friction drives. They look like the Steb centre without the teeth or the same as the cup centres used before bearing centres for the tailstock before came along. They have the advantage of slipping if you get a catch and don't chew up the wood when it slips. They reduce the pucker factor when learning or during a momentary lapse in concentration.

https://www.axminstertools.com/global/axminster-cone-friction-drive-2mt-340126
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311777258203
https://oneway.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_75_107_121
Pete

I have been using a pair of these for a while now. For smaller work, they are great.