Lathe: Quill getting hot

wdelliott · Post by **wdelliott** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:55 pm

Look for expertise. Trying to turn oak for a chisel handle. Quill is getting unusually hot, suggesting that I have the settings too tight. Yet, I cannot hold the oak without a tight fitting.

Suggestions please.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:15 pm

If the quill is getting hot I would suspect a bad quill bearing. However you said that you are putting a lot of pressure on the quill to hold the work. To correct this I would make sure that the drive center has it's spurs driven in to the piece sufficiently enough to hold the work adequately. If the spurs are driven in deep enough the work will hold with minimum pressure on the quill. Drill the hole for the drive center deep and large enough to let the point go all the way in. The spurs should go in deep enough but you may have to chisel a small slot for the spurs in order to drive the center in deep enough and not split the oak.
Bill V

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:18 pm

wa2crk wrote:If the quill is getting hot I would suspect a bad quill bearing. However you said that you are putting a lot of pressure on the quill to hold the work. To correct this I would make sure that the drive center has it's spurs driven in to the piece sufficiently enough to hold the work adequately. If the spurs are driven in deep enough the work will hold with minimum pressure on the quill. Drill the hole for the drive center deep and large enough to let the point go all the way in. The spurs should go in deep enough but you may have to chisel a small slot for the spurs in order to drive the center in deep enough and not split the oak.
Bill V

A shallow criss-cross saw cut will provide a grip for the spurs.

wdelliott · Post by **wdelliott** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:33 pm

Thanks. I have a feeling I'm trying too much pressure to hold the oak. I'll try your suggestions.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:17 pm

wdelliott wrote:Thanks. I have a feeling I'm trying too much pressure to hold the oak. I'll try your suggestions.

I have to wonder what is happening at the tail?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:35 pm

wdelliott wrote:Look for expertise. Trying to turn oak for a chisel handle. Quill is getting unusually hot, suggesting that I have the settings too tight. Yet, I cannot hold the oak without a tight fitting.

Suggestions please.

Without anything mounted on the lathe, turn the Mark V on and leave it run. After about five minutes, check to see if it is still getting hot. The headstock, right at the quill, will get warm (almost too warm to be comfortable) but it should not be too hot to lay your hand on.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:50 pm

dusty wrote:Without anything mounted on the lathe, turn the Mark V on and leave it run. After about five minutes, check to see if it is still getting hot. The headstock, right at the quill, will get warm (almost too warm to be comfortable) but it should not be too hot to lay your hand on.

And the faster it rotates, the warmer it gets.