Question for the mates in the UK.

[EdK]

(10-11-2014, 06:47 AM)stevec Wrote: Aside from facing I've run into problems just turning a smaller diameter due to toolholder size.

[Highpower]

(10-11-2014, 06:47 AM)stevec Wrote: Aside from facing I've run into problems just turning a smaller diameter due to toolholder size.

Same here Steve. In fact that is how I gouged the original live center that came with my lathe in my "early years". 
Working on the end of a small diameter shaft, and being so focused on not undercutting the shaft I completely forgot about not running the right side of the tool into the center as the lathe was running. 
Lesson learned! 

I had to make a special "stud" the other day and really wished I had that half center. Basically just a long 1/4" rod with different threads at each end. (20/24 TPI) In order to get the length of thread I needed I had to have quite of bit of rod sticking out from the chuck due to the width of my tool holder. The resulting spring back was a pain to deal with while threading. Having a half center to support the end of the rod (with needed clearance) would have made the job much easier. I "cheated" on the 1/4"-20 end and finished it with a threading die to save time. Couldn't do that on the 24 TPI end though...

[stevec]

Now the quest for a "live" half centre begins.

[Highpower]