question for taige users

[scotties22]

Really I guess it is for anyone that uses a mini lathe for stem work. A while back I bought an old Craftsman mini lathe to use for stems. It has a 1/2 spindle and I am wondering how to support the rodstock properly since it won't slide through the bore like on my wood lathe. What do you do...special chuck do you have? Should I take some pen jaws to my local machinist and have them make me a set that is longer? Steady rest under the rod?

[caskwith]

Standard practise is to use a live centre in the tailstock.

[scotties22]

How bout when you drill?

[caskwith]

Rod stock generally doesn't need support when drilling as the forces are coming along it's axis, its off axis turning forces that cause problems and require support.

[scotties22]

Aaaahhhhhhh....I see. Thanks

[wmolaw]

I got a Taig a few months ago in a trade. Haven't really worked much on it, but I know that Tyler Beard has a set of videos out that show him drilling/shaping stems on his Taig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXZPp8WpGM

[WCannoy]

Here's my taig in the first part of this video. I only use it for very short stems. I have a much larger lathe for longer stems so I can turn the tennon very close to the chuck.




And a longer stem on the big lathe: