Craftsman Lathe Tailstock

Go to Sears and get a live center that has the appropriate taper to fit into your tailstock -- probably a #1 Morse taper (1MT). I got one a few years ago for around $10. Works great on my old mono-tube lathe.

woodslave wrote:

I was trolling through Ebay today and remembered seeing this. Might be what you are looking for.

If that doesn't work I searched for Craftsman Lathes Tail Stock and got 3 hits on Ebay.

Unless your a good machinist or know one, I'd be hesitant about making something up. The tailstock is designed to support the piece while turning, and apply some pressure to the piece.

Good luck, JD

look at "live center" on

see if anything looks right

if all else fails, drop me a note and I'll see how I can help. find my email at

** Posted from **

Any place that supplies lathe accessories should have what you want (that is, if I understand your question correctly)--it doesn't have to be Sears, specifically. The old monotube lathes (I have one) used a #1 MT (Morse taper) for both head and tailstock fittings. General woodworking suppliers will probably have them, and specialty woodturning suppliers certainly will. Try the usual suspects.

Originally, lathes in general and Sears in particular used "dead" centers in the tail stock (the center didn't turn--the wood bears against it and spins and a lubricant such as beeswax is sometimes used to mitigate burning). Most people (and newer lathes) use a "live" center in the tail stock (the center itself sits in a bearing which is mounted on the MT stub--the center spins with the wood). Thus, there is a brisk business in tail stock live centers for older lathes.

As others have said, you don't need a Craftsman part.. any center that fits your lathe will be fine..

I recommend this one:

it seems pricey, but I've been abusing it for 2 years of daily turning and haven't hurt it yet.. I love the interchangeable points and cups and the magnet to hold them makes changing them easy.. YMWV

Have a great time and welcome to the addiction..

"My name is Mac, and I'm a woodturner...."

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

go here

$24.95 for #1 MT live center

** Posted from **

Woops. Two tube may be a different story. I remember my dad bought one of those years after I left home (I don't think he ever did much with it). My recollection was that the centers (head and tail) were integral to the arbor in the headstock and the mechanism of the tail stock.

Although I didn't have a Sears monotube lathe at the time, I was well familiar with them and recognized the limitations of the design of the two tube (not necessarily the "tube" aspect--just that the whole design of the two tube was geared toward a lower price point, he said, delicately). At the time, I was in the process of or had already built a lathe and was well acquainted with the concept of the tapered inserts, which I don't think the two tube has.

If it comes to it, and you're unable to achieve what you want with that two tube (see "lower price point" above), AND you live in the Southeast, I can be persuaded to part with my surplus Sears monotube (and plenty of accessories) for a reasonable figure.