Live centre question...

[Davyc]

60° live centre or Steb centres....
What is the benefits of steb centres?
Been offered the chance to either update my live centre or invest in a pair of steb centres, my question is, why steb centres over live centre? Also, what diameter of stebs get the most use. Guess this question is aimed at people who have steb centres..
Looking forward to your replies.
Cheers.

 

[NFav]

Ha ha, I had to google 'steb centre', it seems to be what I've known as a crown centre.
The main advantage that I'm aware of is that the crown stops the actual centre sinking too far into the work piece.
I think my crown centre is about an inch dia

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Stebs are great drive centres as they leave little marking. If you're try to be very accurate a very small shallow pilot hole for the centre and it won't drift. You can take the blank off without stopping the lathe, but I've not felt inclined to put it back on with it running with the exception of very small items. The live steb tail centres? I've been tempted but haven't got one ........... yet. Good for work that has to be reversed, and work that's been bored as the teeth would still grip without the centre spike. There are ones around now much cheaper than Sorby stebs.

 

[NFav]

I got mine from Charnwood tools
Wouldn’t be without it now
Just had a look, you can pretty much get 2 Charnwood ones for the price of one Sorby one.

 

[Turner Tim]

Chronos also do them....
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/sct-crown-drive-centre-mt2-shank-1-head-diameter-spring-loaded/
Cheers Tim

 

[Linus]

Steb/Crown centres are less likely to split your work when you apply a bit of pressure.

RDG tools do them as well, competitively.

https://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/Wood-Turners-Drive-Centres.html

 

[Stigmorgan]

I got mine from Charnwood tools
Wouldn’t be without it now
Just had a look, you can pretty much get 2 Charnwood ones for the price of one Sorby one.

I've broken 2 of these from Charnwood, it seems there is a weak point in the shaft just behind the bearing retainer.

 

[Chisteve]

I’ve got the RDG ones pleased with them work well would recommend

 

[pryere]

The other benefit of a steb drive center is that if you get a catch, the work will stop revolving.
Great for learners.

 

[Davyc]

Sorry for not getting back on this, life seems to get in the way a bit....cheers for all the help guys.
Still not made my mind up which to get but I will soon.
Cheers again.

 

[Chisteve]

Sorry for not getting back on this, life seems to get in the way a bit....cheers for all the help guys.
Still not made my mind up which to get but I will soon.
Cheers again.

The RDG is not like that

 

[Davyc]

@Chisteve , sorry, I am not sure I understand what you mean.
Probably just me being thick....
I had a quick look the other day at thier website and will be investigating further.
Cheers.

 

[Sideways]

I asked a similar question on someone's thread recently.
You are asking about the tailstock end so the value of a steb centre as a drive is irrelevant.
Linus answered the Q further up.
The ring is less likely to drive in and split the wood under heavy pressure.

I see no real benefit of a steb centre at the tailstock vs a ring centre because you are not driving with it and both spread the load and reduce splitting. Ring "points" are available for some of the interchangeable point live centres like the Axy Evolution.
Notionally, if you had identical drive and tailstock steb centres you could flip a workpiece end for end with the least marking.
But, I would want the smallest appropriate steb or ring at the tailstock end for use on small pieces and for best access. I might want a bigger steb at the drive end for more torque depending what you are turning.

 

[Chisteve]

Opps sorry both my useless fingers I meant the post above if you get a catch with the RDG centre it keeps turning for the ones I have anyway

 

[Robbo3]

There are occasions when a live (revolving) serrated centre in the tailstock is ideal, eg for off centre turning where the centre is placed close to the outside edge. You could of course use a live ring centre but the serrated centre has slightly better grip (IMHO).
Steb (serrated) centres also cope well, at both ends, with out of balance wood.
These are examples that are somewhat specialised rather than every day turning - unless you are a masochist .

 

[Stigmorgan]

My new live centre arrived from RDG this morning nicely packaged in a little plastic container in a padded envelope, can't wait to use it