Nudger

[Bill Alston]

Those of you that also run a Metal working lathe may already be familiar with the humble Nudger. It’s simply a bearing race fixed to a holder. Mounted in a toolpost it’s used on a workpiece to get it to run true before final tightening of the chuck jaws. I have used this one once on an errant spindle turning to get it running right. Not easy though because it’s obviously designed for a metal lathe.
I’m going to make one for my wood turning lathe at some point to see how useful it may be. The orientation of the bearing will be different to the one shown so it can be used with a wooden handle. I may use hard rubber or plastic over the bearing.
I just wondered if anyone else has used something similar?

Edit: It’s often used on a piece that has already been turned but had to be removed from the chuck for some reason before re-turning.

 

[Bill Alston]

Fast forward to see this Nudger in action.

 

[bob elliott]

Ron Brown's Best has a similar tool, have never used one though. Centering Genie

 

[Bill Alston]

Thanks for that Bob. An adjustable two bearing Nudger is now on my to do list.

Edit: Pictute of the tool in Bob’s link above in case it’s of interest.

 

[John K Jordan]

Never used one. On metal lathe and milling machine, dial indicators or edge finders have always done what I need. At least so far.

One thing you might try on errant spindles held with a center on at least one end, especially if they are quite thin and developed a wobble in the middle due to "something" inflicted by the turner. I use a tool handle and with the lathe spinning, gently tap the spindle somewhere in the middle. If it was true before and something knocked it out of whack, tapping several times will eventually bump it just right and it will snap back into running true. This will work. In it's heart the wood wants to run true again.

I'd be concerned that a metal bearing would mark/burnish wood. Perhaps something like a nylon bearing would work.

JKJ

 

[Bill Alston]

Never used one. On metal lathe and milling machine, dial indicators or edge finders have always done what I need. At least so far.



I'd be concerned that a metal bearing would mark/burnish wood. Perhaps something like a nylon bearing would work.

JKJ

At the last count I’ve got three Dial Test Indicators and three Dial Gauges, all top brands. They’re perfect for checking work but obviously no good at all for adjustment, you need something like a hammer for that. The reason I started this thread is that I had a job the other day, a short section of 1” diameter of steel bar that needed to be turned. Placed in the chuck the runout was obvious. Slowly moving the Nudger against the piece whilst it was rotating trued it up in under 10 seconds. Tapping with a hammer and measuring with a DTI or Dial gauge would have taken very much longer. Give it a try, it takes no time at all to make one if you have a suitable bearing.

An example from another machinist.

Work nudger

Often after parting off a workpiece it is necessary to put it back in the lathe to do more work on it. If it is a thin circular piece then it is difficult to reset it up so that the front face runs...

mikesworkshop.weebly.com

When I trued up a piece of wood some time ago the bearing didn’t leave a mark, not that it would have mattered as the piece needed finishing anyway.
It’s a valid concern though, so as I mentioned earlier, hard rubber or plastic might be a better bet. Skate wheels would probably be ideal except they are quite large.

 

[Dave Haskett]

Got interested in this discussion because I’ve had a problem with centering remounted pieces. I whipped out a quick-and-dirty one using roller blade bearings. Surprise, it works!

 

[Bill Alston]

Got interested in this discussion because I’ve had a problem with centering remounted pieces. I whipped out a quick-and-dirty one using roller blade bearings. Surprise, it works!

Nice job!

 

[Dave Haskett]

Thanks. I have some thrust bearings left over from reworking my brand saw. I might try to use those to make a larger nudger to use for bowls and larger pieces.

 

[Bill Alston]

You can get skate wheels as small as 50mm Diameter, they might be good for bowls?

 

[Bill Alston]

Although I’ve used one lots of times on my metal lathe, I’ve only needed one once for wood turning. No excuse not to make one though.
Better to have it and not need it than vice versa. Made from bits I had in the the scrap bin. Fitted to one of my small interchangeable handles.

 

[Darryl Fective]

In a video way back, I saw a turner use the backside of his tool to center a spinning piece in a jamb chuck. I had remembered using a nudger in a machine shop where I worked as a kid, but hadn't really thought about it with wood before seeing it. Now I can't remember how he did it; seems like he used the tool rest/post as a fulcrum??