Ready to buy need a "it will work" approval!

[steinklatre]

Ready to purcase my centers but want to be sure this will work. It looks like this will.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCENTSET.html

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCENTLT2.html

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/TM42.html

I am so ready to get started!!!!!

[terrydowning]

I have the 60 degree live center, it works well.

For the others on your list I have not used so I can;'t speak for them but from what I can see in the listing you will need this 5/8" to 1" x 8 TPI adapter. I have this also for mounting my chucks and it works well.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/L5818.html

For the drill chuck I think you will be better off with the SS drill chuck It's bit more pricey but will most likely have less run out.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/dr_chuck.htm

These are also available on eBay

[steinklatre]

I will only be using the chuck for crude aluminum drilling and such so don't want anything too much. Another big reason I decided on that one is it looks like it comes with the adapter!

Wrong?

[holsgo]

I believe the only one is the mt2 live center. That will mount in the tailstock. The other stuff looks to be for threaded spindles of which the Shopsmith is not. You should order the drive center straight from Shopsmith. There are variants but you need a 5/8 bore with setscrew to be locked onto the spindle. This applies to anything being mounted on the spindle.

[holsgo]

If you are drilling aluminum then what will be spinning? The piece or the drill? If the piece then how will it be held? Or are you flipping to drill press position and holding the work in the vise?

[steinklatre]

To clarify:

I need a chuck to use the drill press function I fab a lot of stuff pretty light duty.

Like my http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkAQHmOqs9s&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1 <- Uploading now

The head stock centers for wood turning seems to be the issue. Its all really expensive.

The chuck from penstate appears to come with the adapter to use any 1x8 threaded center which seems really smart.

Lance

[terrydowning]

I will only be using the chuck for crude aluminum drilling and such so don't want anything too much. Another big reason I decided on that one is it looks like it comes with the adapter!

Wrong?

Most of the newer mini and midi lathes have a hollow threaded spindle.
Threads are 1" x 8 TPI inner hollow is Morse Taper 2 Standard.

Looking at this drill chuck, it appears the black part you're seeing is the 1" x 8 TPI threaded socket to mount on the threaded spindle. My guess is this is a press fit 1" x 8 TPI to Jacobs Taper 33 (JT33) adapter for mounting the drill chuck on a threaded spindle. You will still need yet another adapter to go from 5/8" ShopSmith Spindle to 1" x 8 TPI threads. I have yet to see a 1x8 item from any vendor that comes default with the 5/8" quill to 1 x 8 adapter. (Except maybe the lathe chucks purchased from SS), these are always separate items. The good news is you only need 1.

However, stacking adapters has 2 negative side effects.
1. reduces accuracy, the longer the shaft is from the headstock to the chuck the more runout you will have, each adapter can add to the runout as well.
2. Shortens the span between the table and the headstock. (Granted not that big of an issue for SS but...)

I say search eBay for a used SS drill chuck, it will serve you better in the long run.

I have learned as others here that scrimping on tools is ultimately more expensive in the long run and often a false economy. You will either have a broken tool or will eventually want/need better performance/accuracy. Spend the money up front, it's a better value IMHO.

Please remember that much of the PSI line of products is Chinese Mainland Manufactured to less exacting specs (This is why it's less expensive) It's not the mfg or material that is shoddy per se, it is the specs they manufacture to. I have gotten crap products from US and/or European manufacturers. It really does depend on the spec and the QA.

Tighter tolerances means more QA, means higher reject rate, higher cost, and ultimately higher price to you. Many of these "Budget Price" products are in fact rejects from a higher spec manufacturing line. Rather than throw away, re-manufacture or recycle these products they get sold as "Budget Items" or "Low Cost Alternatives" by outfits like PSI and Harbor Freight. There's nothing inherently wrong with these tools, they're just hit and miss on the quality.

I've had good luck on the items I have purchased from PSI(so far), HF is a bit more spotty in my experience.

I wish for a tail stock drill chuck I had purchased the tail stock chuck arbor ($21 + shipping) from SS instead of the cheap ($15) MT2 drill chuck I got from HF. My 1955 SS (Jacobs) drill chuck is much higher quality.

Just sharing my OPINIONS on this. Ultimately it's your money and you can get whatever you want.

Enjoy and be safe.

[SDSSmith]

Of the three items in your first post, only the live center will work without adaptation to the Mark V. The other two items could be adapted with the purchase of this or similar adapter. As noted by others, I would go with the Shopsmith drill chuck which can usually be had used at a decent price. Same thing for the Shopsmith drive center. On the flip side and if you plan to pick up a lathe, the 1"-8tpi accessories may be transferrable.

[steinklatre]

Terry thank you for spelling it out. YOu filled the missing links for me. I will just eat it and get all SS stuff.

Lance

[beeg]

The chuck from penstate appears to come with the adapter to use any 1x8 threaded center which seems really smart.

Lance

So your going to buy an additional adapter so that the other items will fit the SS?