Ejector for Short Tapers in Tailstocks

[Frank S]

I can't say that I have had this problem on larger lathes with the #5 taper some of the lathes I've been around with #3&4 had the key slots in the tail stock quill like found on drill presses were not short or tangless taper friendly even had the problem on a drill press once when I used a short taper dead center as a means of centering up on an existing hole to solve this I made a secondary key with a protrusion on 1 side and not as tall as the key so I could insert the one with te4h nub facing the end of the taper then drive the regular key in above it that was the only way possible to remove the dead center as there was no shoulder to bump against.