Small Live center

I needed a small live center to work on small diameter pieces on my lathe. I had bearings and an old morse taper #2 laying around. Since the bearings don't have good thrust, I dropped a hardened ball into the pocket before inserting the bearings. See the parts before and after assembly.
Attachment 17062

Richard

That ball is a better thrust bearing than many; of washer or bearing type. Near zero friction, and if carefully set, near zero endplay. I've built firearm cleaning rods with exactly same arrangement, but the bearings are spaced apart within the length of the handle. Spacing improves axial alignment. The rods are 01 tool steel, hardened and polished in contact the ball. Couple drops of gun oil and ready to go. Smoothness helps cleaning process, as fouling can be detected by feel.

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

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-small-live-center-2"> <img src="/uploads/167389/homemade-small-live-center-2.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-small-live-center-2">Small Live Center</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/richard+meidl">richard meidl</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/centering'>centering</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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