Necessary Fixture-Making Tools

As an alternative to manufactured faceplates and other accessories, with the following tools you will be able to create just about any kind work holding jig or fixture that you might possibly need.

• 7/8-14 right hand, carbon or high-speed steel machinist tap -- for making inboard headstock accessories.
  
  
• Morse Taper #1 finishing reamer -- for making headstock fixtures that will hold objects having Morse Taper shanks (e.g. pen mandrels, drill chucks).
  
  
• 3/4-16 left hand, carbon or high-speed steel machinist tap -- for making outboard headstock accessories.
  
  
• hot melt glue gun and high-strength glue sticks -- for making wooden glue blocks that will hold workpieces without your having to use a tailstock.

The examples of the jigs and fixtures that I will describe in subsequent articles have been created using one or more of the above.

If you have the time and patience, the right hand taps especially can be found quite cheaply on eBay (two or three for the price of one). The left-hand tap and finish reamer are not so cheaply obtained, in which case it is good to cultivate friends who are seriously into souping up cars, ATVs or dune buggies.

Canadian Source of Parts and Accessories

N.B Hyperlinks updated as of 21-Sep-2010.

U.S. Shipping info added 25-Oct-2010

Busy Bee of Canada stocks a number of 7/8-14 RH and 3/4-16 LH headstock accessories as well as Nova and Oneway scroll chucks, accessory jaw sets and standard Morse Taper tooling. Since the 46-140 was manufactured in Ontario it makes sense you'll be more likely to find parts and accessories there. Their web site says that they now ship to the U.S. and generally internationally, which formerly had not been the case, however it is necessary to phone them to find out the shipping costs involved.

• 6-inch faceplates (already threaded for 7/8-14)
  
  
• 8-inch faceplate (unthreaded) and required 7/8-14 spindle adapter (for inboard turning) or required 3/4-16 left hand spindle adapter (for outboard turning)
  
  
• 6-inch, 4-jaw independent chuck (for holding square and irregularly shaped objects) and required 7/8-14 spindle adapter or required 3/4-16 left hand spindle adapter (for outboard turning)
  
  
• 6-inch, 3-jaw independent chuck (for holding square and irregularly shaped objects) and required 7/8-14 spindle adapter or required 3/4-16 left hand spindle adapter (for outboard turning)
  
  
• 7/8-14 insert for Nova scroll chucks
  
  
• Cole jaw set for Nova chucks
  
  
• No-name brand scroll chuck and required 7/8-14 spindle adapter.
  
  
• Accessory pin jaw set for no-name scroll chuck, above.
  
  
• MT#1 live tailstock center

Tailstock Accessories

While the standard "dead" (i.e. non-spinning) tailstock centers are sufficient for most spindle turning work, if you do a lot of turning you will probably want to invest a few dollars in "live" (i.e. ball bearing) centers. Any center having a Morse Taper #1 shank will fit. They are quite inexpensive and well worth the money.

My first one was from Sears (item# 00925356000, model# 25356). It has withstood a fair bit of abuse. I still use it.

My newest one is from Penn State Industries (item #: LCENTLT1).

I also have a 1/2" drill chuck. I picked mine up at a garage sale somewhere.

Penn State Industries has them in 3/8" (Item #: TM21) and 1/2" sizes (item #: LDC1MT)