I just got a new to me lathe, and it didn't come with a revolving center. I need to get a new one, and I don't want to spend a ton of money. Does anyone have experience with this live center? I know Turners Select is Craft Supplies house brand, but I can't seem to find any reviews of it beyond what's on the website. https://woodturnerscatalog.com/coll...lti-tip-revolving-center-w-2-accessory-points
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Turners Select Multi-Tip Revolving Center
- Thread starter Matt Friedman
- Start date
Not familiar with that one, but for a little bit more Nova makes a great one with lots of accessories. You might want to check it out, I’d recommend it as I’ve seen several others on here do as well.
Never seen them called revolving centers. Live centers around here. As always you buy cheap and you will be buying another one, buy quality and you only buy once.
I have this one from axminster.
I have that live center from Craft Supplies (or possibly its predecessor) - it has stood up well over the years - I think I bought it about 15 years ago - the only thing I have had happen to it is the center point of the smallest diameter cup center has chipped away. I don't remember how it happened and it was probably something I did. After I got a Robust live center I use this one a lot less but occasionally I need a smaller diameter live center for one thing or another and this one serves well. One thing it seems to work exceptionally well for is turning finials.
I usually call them live centers but I've seen them used interchangeably. haha
Good to know!
Most live centres are ok even the Chinese, these days I generally buy one with a large tapered point and if needs be I will turn up an extension as needed. I find with the multi head centres most of the parts lie in the drawer and rarely get used.
For years I've used the Nova live center system, seen on this page .
It's not the be-all/end-all of live centers but it's very versatile. I especially like the "tower point" - see upper left-hand point in the photo on that web page. It gives the turner extra space between the live center and the end of, for example, a handle. The stepped cone and the hollow cone also come in handy. If you get into spindles, especially with skew work, the Axminster ring center set is fabulous, but not as versatile.
It's not the be-all/end-all of live centers but it's very versatile. I especially like the "tower point" - see upper left-hand point in the photo on that web page. It gives the turner extra space between the live center and the end of, for example, a handle. The stepped cone and the hollow cone also come in handy. If you get into spindles, especially with skew work, the Axminster ring center set is fabulous, but not as versatile.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I love the Nova live center. The various points that come with it use a short #2 taper. This makes it very easy to make custom adaptors like cup or cone centers.
Add my vote for the Nova live center.
Sounds like the nova center is the way to go. Thanks, everyone!
Knockoffs tend to be bad news here, but this oneway knockoff has worked for me for7-8 yrs, replaced brgs recently. The cones are useful for a lot of things, and paired with a Robust drive center with threads, creates all kinds of combinations. Also, either thread wood with 3/4-10 or buy 3/4-10 nuts, epoxy into wood or whatever, and you have an endless supply of drive and live centers to choose from.
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The NOVA has all the add on trinkets imaginable....or at least I think it does. A little more expensive agreed but it's all I've used without ever needing anything else for years now.
another vote for the Nova system
I made this gadget for my Nova live center. Put 3/4" x 8 tpi on it and it has a removable point and a cone on the end so it won't split the blanks and I can use other accessories from other companies. I got the morse taper with a machinable end from Amazon and cut the morse taper to the short length to fit the Nova. As others have said the Nova is pretty versatile.
