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Spindle and MT adapters versus replacing chuck adapters and live center and jacobs chucks

H

Holmes Anderson

Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
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Location
Atkinson, NH
I'm upgrading to a new-to-me lathe. My existing tooling is for 1-1/4"-8 RH (inboard) and 1-1/4"-8 LH (outboard) and 2MT tailstock. I need to switchover to M33-3.5 RH (inboard and outboard) and 3MT tailstock. Spindle and MT adapters to bridge the difference would be less expensive than new chuck adapters for every chuck and vac adapter plus a new live center and jacobs chucks but I wonder whether the additional fittings and distance from the headstock and tailstock would cause so many problems that I would end up regretting trying to save a few dollars. Anyone been here before?
 
Most of the adaptors I've seen that change 1/ 1/4 to M33 do not have a hole in them for vacuum. You can easily get #2 morse taper to #3Mt for the tailstock.
 
The problem with adapters is that they move the mounting point farther off of the headstock tower. This leads to vibration issues on bowls, especially larger ones. A tailstock will stop some of this vibration, but not all of it. I replaces my inserts. I do keep one small chuck for my mini lathes.

robo hippy
 
I went through that when I got my Oneway. I got new adapters for my chucks, replaced a couple of faceplates and replaced the Jacobs chuck shank with a #3 MT/#33 Jacobs. I do have a Oneway 33mm to 1 1/4" threaded adapter and a #3/#2 MT adapter for some accessories that I still want or need to use but I prefer to keep the overhang and potential runout minimized. As John Lucas said, my spindle adapter doesn't have a through hole for vacuum, though I could bore one. I have a bowling ball vise with a 1 1/4" stud, so I also got a 1 1/4"/33mm threaded adapter which I can join to the other one to serve as a 3"+ spindle extension.

To minimize the pain (or prolong it. depending on your perspective), get a spindle and MT adapter now and replace/adapt your accessories over time. You'll probably want the adapters anyway.
 
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