Pipe center DIY

**Cascao** · Sep 11, 2017, 07:45 AM

Had a round 5" laminated steel laying around and decided to make a pipe center....

For the axle, used a drill chuck arbor MT02 to JT4. Machined Jacobs taper to 25mm the internal diameter of my bearing.

The bearing used is from a car front wheel. It's a double row angular contact ball bearing. It can handle axial and radial loads, It's preloaded (no free play), has good seal and it is cheap. The one I used has 25mm internal diameter, 55mm external and 45mm long.

Machined the 5" steel with 4 jaw chuck since this is the biggest I have. First back side was made with bearing case. Pressed bearing and axle. So, I machined most of the taper (35º).

***Now comes the odd part***
For the two finishing pass, I mounted the pipe center in tailstock and driven it by a threaded bar (see pics) This way I ensured best concentricity.

**Frank S** · Sep 11, 2017, 09:41 AM

nice I made one similar to that a long time ago but it was only 3" diameter

**Ed Weldon** · Sep 11, 2017, 06:39 PM

Cascao - Turning a workpiece in a tailstock bearing mount is really cool. We think of a lathe as a tool that transmits power through the workpiece mounting. But the main purpose of the mounting(s) is to achieve circular and runout accuracy under cutting forces. How you get the rotational power to the workpiece is whatever way is convenient and won't produce unwanted torsional or lateral vibrations in the system.
If you are faced with cutting a circular or cylindrical or even tapered surface on a very large or unwieldy work piece think out of the box and consider the very basics of the cutting process. And th same line of thinking can be extended to other shapes or straight lines.
This isn't my original thinking here. I base what I say in a past read of the ideas of a real machinist. Seems it might have been in one of Guy Lautard's Machinist Bedside Readers; but I'm not sure. By the way, Lautard's readers, essentially collections of fascinating essays on unusual machining experiences make fascinatin reading. I highly recommend them. Ed Weldon

**LMMasterMariner** · Sep 11, 2017, 09:33 PM

Very simple approach to fabricate bull nose live center. I would make it the same way now when I saw what you did, but already bought one 60 mm diameter made in China and they call it umbrella live center. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards
LMMasterMariner

**DIYer** · Sep 12, 2017, 07:09 AM

Thanks Cascao! We've added your Pipe Center to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: Cascao's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Pipe Center by Cascao

tags: arbor

**Hans Pearson** · Sep 12, 2017, 10:10 AM

Thanks for sharing your unique idea of turning in the tail stock. I made a similar center using an old sliding gate wheel which did not go to a point but can take over where a conventional live center no longer fits.

**Cascao** · Sep 12, 2017, 02:47 PM

Threaded bar screw into pipe center. This hole can be used to remove the axle in future.
The photo doen't show but during tailstock turning, there was a nut holding the threaded bar in the pipe center. Otherwise the bar will screw into pipe center.

**Jon** · Sep 15, 2017, 01:12 PM

Congratulations Cascao - your Pipe Center is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

There were a few very nice entries this week, but you won this one on uniqueness. Some other good picks: a Vernier Scale Carriage Stop by ChrisB257, a comprehensive Cement Mixer Recovery by Frank S, a Worm Gear Hob by LMMasterMariner, a Torch Plate Bevel Attachment by oldtimer, and a Concrete Tamper by Frank S.

You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, Giftrocket, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

We've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:

Congratulations and well done!