https://www.haascnc.com/haas-tooling/lathe_workholding/live_centers/04-0178.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=US&utm_term=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAiKuOBhBQEiwAId_sK1tFuDjcuMzWUIfuJQgwS00B1FOfSrBCLkgMtGHluSm_OwFaXDU6OxoCrDYQAvD_BwE

 

Here is a link to a 4 morse taper but youbwill have to measure to find the size of the opening and then shop for the right size live center.

The attached pictures show the tailstock with the spur center in place, with it removed, and the spur center. I hadn't gotten around to trying to unscrew the spur center from the tailstock, and I didn't realize that is what it is until I cleaned it better. So, thanks for the question/suggestion Steve.

The rim of it has some roughness, so it may not allow for smooth operation. The threaded shaft of the spur center is 5/16" plus threads, or 3/8" with threads. Are any live centers made that would screw into the tailstock? I haven't found any but I did find a website with a similar discussion that included a link to instructions for making a live center (http://www.rocky-roost-woodturnings.com/wood-turning-blog/home-made-live-center.html), though that still requires a tapered hole. So, I'm wondering if a simpler adapter could be made that would allow a commercial morse taper to be used. Would a 3" or 4" piece of pipe threaded over the tailstock, and with an insert that would keep the narrow end of the taper aligned properly, allow a morse taper to be used? Since it is not the powered end of the lathe would that be sufficient to hold it properly? Any suggestions are welcome. 

If you can check the inner, and outer thread sizes, and pitch you might be able to find something on ebay such as.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274667191733?hash=item3ff370bdb5:g:xDcAAOSwoqZfam6r

Thanks for the link to the ebay ad, Larry. That style didn't come up in my search and it would be better than a cobbled-together live center. The seller is checking on whether he has one that would fit on the GE Workshop.

8 hours ago, Paul W said:

Thanks for the link to the ebay ad, Larry. That style didn't come up in my search and it would be better than a cobbled-together live center. The seller is checking on whether he has one that would fit on the GE Workshop.

I noticed he had them listed for a few different brands of lathes but that he wasn't listing them by size.

Being that the G.E. Workshop uses a dual thread tailstock tells me that it's not Morse Taper. 

4 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

I noticed he had them listed for a few different brands of lathes but that he wasn't listing them by size.

Being that the G.E. Workshop uses a dual thread tailstock tells me that it's not Morse Taper. 

Looking at the pictures I wonder if the tailstock set up was more like a collet design vs MT? Just typing out loud here??

Buy a live center and knock out the tapered shaft then have a machine shop make a threaded shaft to fit the lathe.

Amazon has this with a M12 thread.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Center-Rotation-Multipurpose-Lathe-Accessory/dp/B08BLLGQZX/ref=sr_1_2?gclid=CjwKCAiA8bqOBhANEiwA-sIlN_Dm1cae0gtR0U_WwVK2kPSjat1GVeT3wpDgIngtqHMMjAgAjFMm-xoCR9wQAvD_BwE&hvadid=397161093026&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015419&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=410900416097464451&hvtargid=kwd-351412769453&hydadcr=15277_10334856&keywords=threaded+live+center&qid=1640991686&sr=8-2

Edited December 31, 20214 yr by HandyDan