Bought a small old lathe that has a solid tailshaft instead of one with bearing. No name on it, so no help there. I was wondering how I might convert it to use a tail pc with a bearing? I probably could lube it but want to update it a little on that end. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. If I can't convert it, I probably will need to use it as a boat anchor or loan it to a small town museum.

can that shaft be removed and replaced with one that has a stub tennon on it? If so size that tennon to accept the cone end and bearing of a live center.

 

Pictures might help, too.

20 minutes ago, lew said:

Pictures might help, too.

 

Agree with Lew, pictures would be a great help. I have my Dad's old lathe which is probably 1930's vintage. It also had a one piece tail stock but was in a morse taper so it can be swapped out with a live center. Are you sure the tail stock on your lathe doesn't have a morse taper as well. On my Dad's lathe I have to completely remove the shaft from the tail stock to eject the center.

 

Steve

Common live centers like the one shown have a Morris taper shaft cut to fit a bearing on the end and a cap made to fit over the bearing.  Buy one and remove the cap and bearing and take them and the tailstock to a machine shop and they can make an adapter to fit your shaft. That is the best I can do without pictures.  Pictures are always a big help at getting the right help.

 

 

 

 

 

I don 't have picture, but it has no morse taper: Just a threaded dead center all made into one piece.

Sorry my post was to show a picture of a live center.  You can remove the tapered shaft from the bearing and have the machine make a threaded adapter.