Centering pepper grinder

[marklaf]

I have four a jaw Barracuda chuck that I use to make pepper grinders. I can't center the stock in the chuck. When I back the head stock away from the tail stock the grinder wobbles in the chuck as it spins.

[algale]

What model Shopsmith are you using? Have you done the basic lathe alignment per the manual? Do you have the right adapter for your Baracuda chuck? Its it properly mounted on the flat of the spindle?

[marklaf]

It is the Mark7

[marklaf]

It is the Mark7

[rpd]

I have four a jaw Barracuda chuck that I use to make pepper grinders. I can't center the stock in the chuck. When I back the head stock away from the tail stock the grinder wobbles in the chuck as it spins.

You need to start off between centers to get the stock round and to square the ends so that it will seat properly in the chuck jaws.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q2J2SocRa8[/youtube]

[algale]

Did you do the lathe alignment per the manual? Involves putting the drive spur on the spindle, the dead center in the tail stock, and making sure the points align vertically and horizontally. I doubt that's your problem, but you need to start at the very beginning and make sure everything is correctly aligned.

[JPG]

Did you do the lathe alignment per the manual? Involves putting the drive spur on the spindle, the dead center in the tail stock, and making sure the points align vertically and horizontally. I doubt that's your problem, but you need to start at the very beginning and make sure everything is correctly aligned.

But it might be!

Check the headstock to tailstock alignment, but include the drill chuck and bit.

Some things that can 'skew' the bit.

Tail stock off center from the headstock.

Tailstock socket cocked.(the eccentric adjustment part not seated in the tailstock).

Arbor adapter/drill chuck cocked.

Drill bit off center in the drill chuck(stuck between jaws).

I leave out the headstock chuck since I assume it is used for the initial turning.

Perhaps a pix of your setup will yield clues.

[masonsailor2]

I have tried that method ( using a chuck ) several times and have never been able to make it work. I have watched several of the YouTube turners do it that way but the wobble seems inherent in trying to turn a long spindle like object held at only one end. Here is the method I use. After drilling the 1 5/8 shallow hole in one end and then the 15/16 through hole I use a 15/16” jam chuck at the end that has the 1 5/8 and 15/16 hole and a live center cone at the other and turn just the lower body. That makes it simple because you are doing spindle work between two centers. I use another jam chuck at 2 1/8 to turn the top and use a screw through the 7mm hole to hold it on the chuck. To make that work I drill the top blank with a 2 1/8 hole 1/2” deep and then finish with the 7mm bit. This method also makes it quick and simple to fit the top to the lower body because you can remove the lower body quickly to test fit the shoulder you turn on the lower body to fit the 2 1/8 hole you drilled in the top piece. Once you have them fitted put the top piece on the lower body, use the 15/16 jam chuck at one end and then the cone live center in the 7mm hole and finish the turning. Hope this all makes sense. Once you have the two jam chucks made it all goes very quickly.
Paul

[newportcycle]

Little off topic but maybe helpful. Here is a link to a video by Mike Peace, in this video he covers all manners and methods of supporting work for turning. Somewhere in this video may be an answer for you on how to better work with your selected chuck. It's a long video, but well worth the time to watch.

https://youtu.be/aUXil-5dEeo

[JPG]

Let's see, you are using a jam chuck to hold/turn the work piece that you are attempting to drill with a forstner bit.

You are asking why it wobbles and drills off center??

Never mind, you were asking about using the barracuda chuck.