Can I Use a #2MT Drive Polishing Wheel?

myoung44708 · Post by **myoung44708** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:53 pm

wa2crk wrote:Is it possible to unthread the #2 Morse taper from the mandrel. When I first started to turn pens I got a mandrel that had a @ Morse taper end that was only threaded on. Don't know if yours will do that.
Bill V

The rod on the polisher is one solid piece with the taper machined into the rod.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:57 pm

A couple of points on this -- myoung wanted something to mount buffing wheels, so I don't think this would be too stressful using the adapter in a Nova chuck, at least in comparison to using a saw arbor to secure the morse taper.

As far as hardening is concerned, these likely are Chinese-made adapters and hardening has a different meaning there, at least according to what I've experienced. I'll have to track down my adapter and give it the file test.

As far as a Nova chuck holding a metal item, I can only add that the screw/worm center that comes with the Nova is made of metal and gets held in the chuck jaws without a problem. Now how that related to inserting a 3 1/2" adapter in the Nova chuck and then adding a #2 Morse Taper attachment with something hanging on it would require a bit of thinking on the part of the user.

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:48 am

pennview wrote:A couple of points on this -- myoung wanted something to mount buffing wheels, so I don't think this would be too stressful using the adapter in a Nova chuck, at least in comparison to using a saw arbor to secure the morse taper.

As far as hardening is concerned, these likely are Chinese-made adapters and hardening has a different meaning there, at least according to what I've experienced. I'll have to track down my adapter and give it the file test.

As far as a Nova chuck holding a metal item, I can only add that the screw/worm center that comes with the Nova is made of metal and gets held in the chuck jaws without a problem. Now how that related to inserting a 3 1/2" adapter in the Nova chuck and then adding a #2 Morse Taper attachment with something hanging on it would require a bit of thinking on the part of the user.

I hope I didn't make you feel defensive here. I do like the idea of coming up with a way of being able to use MT2 tools on the power head of a shopsmith. The device shown might well be a good way to go but I also have some concerns about how someone might try to use it.

I think you do too according to your last paragraph. And I think we are pretty much on the same page on the subject.

For the rest of you let me add the following:

For the buffing application and other light duty type operations with a tail stock holding things together it might work. Like wise the use of a arbor might work. They are worth perusing as options.

When we start talking about other applications rules change and so must peoples thinking. Since we have all level of woodworkers here we are bound to have as many that might not see the difference and attempt to do a much more dangerous operation thinking it about the same as the polishing operation... but no it can be a lot more dangerous. Thus we need to exercise control on what might be a possible solution over what might also need a lot farther discussion and experimentation.

So with this in mind lets go back to this post:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=6007

This is where I show a method of cleaning up tubes and the use of the G3 chuck. When ask about it later in the post I explained the use of a particular tape I use and other expounded on there methods or the fact they have a chuck for metal work, that not needing anything as it is already designed for such applications. Gripping metal with a chuck designed for wood is not something you want to do as an every day application.

One thing that comes to mind is this set of jaws:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000403/10881/Nova-Long-Nose-Jaw-Set.aspx

I don't have this set so I'm not to sure how "long" long is and what might be done to make it more friendly to holding the part in question.

Keep in mind the G3 and other chucks can grip metal things like the screw center or stebs like centers as shown here:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=2499

Just not what is needed in our application.

So I'm back to thinking a chuck designed to hold metal would be a great addition to getting on track with a good solution for holding MT2 items.

Perhaps we need to move this to a new thread all of its own? Anyone interested enough to get us started on that?

Ed

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:55 am

No problem, Ed. Just wanted to point out that the there was little chance of any problems stemming from such a set-up when mounting that Penn State buffing attachment -- because it requires tailstock support. We're in agreement on this.

If you're planning to mount some morse taper attachment using this adapter without tailstock support, you need to give the idea some thought because there will be nothing holding the attachment in that socket except friction.

Your typical lathe has a hollow spindle with male threads (many 1" x 8 TPI) and a female #2 morse taper. The drive center would be #2 MT and it would be used in conjunction with the tailstock for turning spindles. For attaching a chuck, you'd use the male threads. And, for some applications you could use a #2 MT attachment in conjunction with a threaded draw bar that draws the MT attachment into the spindle and holds it there with a nut on the end of the draw bar. With the solid spindle on the Shopsmith, you're limited to what you can do safely using the headstock alone when trying to adapt a morse taper using the Enco socket.

The Enco socket is not that hard. It is easily cut with a file so I'm sure a machinist could bore the end of this to fit the Shopsmith spindle. But, you would still be left with only friction holding anything mounted in it unless you use the tailstock, so holding the socket in a chuck seems like the simpler approach.

myoung44708 · Post by **myoung44708** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:00 am

Once again, I've created a monster. I'm 3 for 4 in creating lively discussion.

And yes there is a live center on the tail side

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:46 am

Martin, not really. We enjoy discussing new adaptations of the Shopsmith.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:58 am

pennview wrote:Martin, not really. We enjoy discussing new adaptations of the Shopsmith.

Yes! Monsters are much more interesting than earth worms.

Gets folks up off their catocous.

No it ain't in the dictionary.

myoung44708 · Post by **myoung44708** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:49 am

As the results will show, (no pictures yet), using an arbor with this particular polisher is a resounding success. The pens and penncils are beautiful. My wife took care of the polishing part since she is much more patient than I. We kicked out 4 sets in ebony, wenge, tulip and rosewood. I have 17 more sets to make.