Lathe Centering Roller

by Frank Ford
(Palo Alto, CA (USA))

Here's one little tool I made that I find very useful. It's nothing more than a ball bearing mounted on the end of a hunk of steel stuck in an AXA tool holder. I use it to center work held in the chuck. Here I'm pressing lightly against a loosely held disc, and once the disc is running true, I stop the lathe and tighten up the chuck. It's almost easier than using a chuck "spider."

The tool can also help center longer pieces that stick out from the chuck, for example, when I'm setting up to center drill the end. Then, I press against the slowly rotating stock from the side until it runs true.

I have this and many other projects illustrated on my personal Web site: www.homeshoptech.com