Woodriver Lathe Live centers

donalexander · Post by **donalexander** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:21 am

I'm curious if anyone here has experience with Woodcrafters live centers? I bought a SS live center back in the 80s and liked it until it came apart and its never been quite the same since. For just a little more than SS wants for their live center, Woodcrafter sells a live center with a set of tips. Item #142771.

I generally believe you get what you pay for but I also recognize sometimes I've overpaid for things. In this case, I am wondering is SS isn't a bit more impressed with their live center than I am. It looks quite a bit like Woodcrafters economy live center (item #141060) for 17.99.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:52 am

Here's the link to that

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:25 pm

Might I mention the one that I own?

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2020433/22893/nova-live-center-system.aspx

Please note shopsmith now sells these. Please check them out here:
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/nova_live_center.htm

A previous post from when I was looking for a live center kit, might help some:
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=2498

The existing shopsmith one you have is quite simple to take apart and then replace the bearing with a new one. There are some advantages of the shopsmith version such as the removable taper which allows the head to be used independently or extensions can be added to achieve a longer extended live center.

Ed

donalexander · Post by **donalexander** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:55 pm

Thanks Ed. I had not seen the 10 piece NOVA live center but I've ordered one and it is supposed to arrive in 2 days.

I got to poking around on the SS site and saw the NOVA chuck G3. It reminded me of the chucks on my metal lathe but there's no practical way to adapt them for use on the Mark V or the 10 ER. I'm curious if you know how they attach the G3 chuck to the headstock? Also curious if the SuperNOVA could be attached as it supposedly has less runout.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:59 pm

donalexander wrote:I'm curious if you know how they attach the G3 chuck to the headstock?

It attaches with an adapter. It's a 5/8's plain so it tightens down to the headstock spindle, like the saw arbor does.

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:37 am

lightnin wrote:Here's the link to that

This is the same set that I have, but I did NOT pay near that darn much for it! Wow, but they have gone up. Think I paid about $40 for mine 2 years (or so) ago.

That being said, I've used the cone shown in the top center row to match up with a Penn State pen mandrel on my 510. It's worked very well on the 20 or so pens I've made thus far. I don't do much lathe work, but like this live center set.

trainguytom · Post by **trainguytom** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:30 am

beeg wrote:It attaches with an adapter. It's a 5/8's plain so it tightens down to the headstock spindle, like the saw arbor does.

These are available from several places. They're on ebay, but they're pricey. Amazon.com has them from PSI Woodworking for about $12-16. I have the
1"x 8 threads per inch, and use it with a Nova Midi chuck. They work great.
Just make sure the chuck end size/threads match your chuck.

donalexander · Post by **donalexander** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 1:21 pm

Amazon.com is amazing! Less than 24 hours after ordering the NOVA live center, it arrived. Free shipping (I'm a Prime member) and $10.50 cheaper than SS lists it for. Now that's customer service I can live with!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:55 pm

donalexander wrote:Amazon.com is amazing! Less than 24 hours after ordering the NOVA live center, it arrived. Free shipping (I'm a Prime member) and $10.50 cheaper than SS lists it for. Now that's customer service I can live with!

Judge 'Customer Service' when there is a problem with 'their' product.

They do not support, merely refer you elsewhere.

Gotta love their human resources policies!

donalexander · Post by **donalexander** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:55 am

JPG40504 wrote:Judge 'Customer Service' when there is a problem with 'their' product.

They do not support, merely refer you elsewhere.

Gotta love their human resources policies!

Actually I do love their customer service policies. I have had two problems in roughly 10 years. The first was a poorly printed book and they replaced it quickly. The second was a wrong item shipped (a part for the SS actually) and I may have actually ordered the wrong thing. They apologized, reshipped the right thing over-night Fed-Ex at their expense (I didn't ask, nor would I have asked) and they asked me to return my part within 30 days.

I sure don't mean to argue, but my experience with Amazon has been outstanding and I can't say that about very many companies. And I use Amazon a lot.