[kiowakaykay]

So I have a WEN 3420T 8 in. x 12 in. Variable Speed Benchtop Mini Wood Lathe and the spur that came with it is absolutely TERRIBLE at driving itself into the wood, even when hit many times with a heavy rubber mallet. I’ve only ever managed to get it to stay inside of 1 piece of maple. I don’t know what the problem is. The 4 “Claws” (i’m not sure about the right terminology) won’t go in but the spike in the center will. What am i doing wrong?

Topic

[Joshua Farnsworth]

#2038068

So are you saying that the drive center stays in the lathe, but you can’t get the drive center’s spurs to hold the wood? On my lathes, I don’t have to whack the drive center into the wood. All I have to do is tighten the tailstock, and the spurs sink into the wood. Maybe you should get a “Steb Center”, rather than the “spur center” (with the 4 prongs). It is easier to get into the wood, and makes catches less dangerous. Here’s the one I have: https://amzn.to/2YdrdSD

Just make sure you get a steb center with the right “Morse taper” that matches your lathe’s spindle.

[kiowakaykay]

#2038069

i don’t know if this means I bought a bad lathe, but I can’t really tighten the tail stock much. I don’t know if tightening it pushes the wood back onto the spur, because if it did it’s barely noticeable. Plus the manual was very unclear in my opinion. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind though.

[Mike in TN]

#2040598

One old trick is to saw grooves into the end of the stock that will match the spurs. Have fun.

[James Hale]

#2079963

Mike in TN wrote:

One old trick is to saw grooves into the end of the stock that will match the spurs. Have fun.

Oh this worked well bro.

cuphead

[Author]

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