Bull Nose Lathe Center Made

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I always am turning a chunk of pipe or something with a big hole in it and needed a bull nose center. I don't like to buy anything i can make so i made one with 2 bearings from the farm store and a couple chunks of steel. First i turned an arbor with a #2MT on it then turned it to fit the bearing bore. Then i turned the nose taper then bored the hole for the bearing OD. Works great on a chunk of rusty 2" black pipe. And it was only 20 bucks and some time...Bob Attached ImagesBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:Couple more pics...Bob Attached ImagesBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:Good Job!Nothing like making your own stuff.. We have the same thing but the tailstock ends come with the taper..Same thrust bearing but the center has a bronze bushing thru it instead..Goes frrom 3" to 25" but there are several that fit on the same shaft.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Looks great Bob, thats been something on my to do list for awhile. Is 1018 good enough for all that?Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....
Reply:All our homemade ones are plain 'ol Cold-Rolled.. A few of the bought ones are cast steel..But 1018 is good.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Looks good. Those come in real handy for supporting larger pipe & bores.Now all you gotta do is make a new std. live center.  Looks like someone got that one good.  Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:1018 is a pretty soft steel; easy to turn, but hard to break a chip and get a good finish on.  If heat treat isn't an option, look for some 4140/4150ht- it's around 30rc or so.  I like the home-made center, but what about a bearing for the axial thrust load?  Ball bearings won't handle that.
Reply:Here is a bull nose that only uses a flat brass bearing that would be easy to make...Bobhttp://www.kinzers.com/don/MachineTools/lathe_projects/Bob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:Hey,Nice work, my only discrepancy with the piece is its size.  Realistically a centre that is not "live" should be machined after each use in order to maintain a true centre.  Its not a necessary process, it just depends on the required tolerances for your work piece.  I’ve actually got an idea I’m throwing around right now for a live centre made from some tool steel (D2), the only issue is that my lathe is currently out of commission.  Anyhow have a good one,Paul