I considering the purchase of a 14" Jet Mini. The headstock and tailstock both have a 3/8" passthrough for center boring the stock. I'm thinking of turning foam core blocks molded in 1-1/2" pvc and center boring them rather than trying to center the hole when I pour them. Does this make sence? If so, how could I arbor the 3/8" pass through to use a hand drill with 1/4" bit without wobbel?

I use a Turncrafter Pro which is pretty much the same lathe as the Jet (different color) It would be a LOT faster and easier to pour with a rod in the mold than bore it later. The 3/8" "pass through" is just the maximum size drill/mandrel that will go all the way through. To bore, chuck the piece of stock into the lathe (4 jaw chuck) and use a jacobs chuck in the tail stock with a long 1/4 bit and drill that way.. If you're going to do any kind of grip work, I would highly recommend that you get the bed extension. You should get plenty of suggestions, feel free to e-mail me anytime.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

When I make lamps I use one of these [www.packardwoodworks.com] But thinking foam you may think of a piece of steel tube - brake line? sharpened around one end and push it though? or cut 1" off the end of a drill and epoxy it in the I.D. of the tube. The drill will start the cut and cuttings will flow out the tube? Just Thinking here? Jay

Jay, your tube idea sounds interresting but I'm sure I'd mess it up :) Perhaps something along the line of a pilot tube that will fit the 3/8 pass through and have its own pass through that will fit the drill bit and keep it aligned? hmmmm

Mike, your description sounds like you're using the tailstock like a horizontal drillpress? The four jaw chuck, on one end only, will hold the handle steady enough? If so then all I'd need is the bed extension and proper chucks. This sounds like the simplest method.

I will try pouring with a rod in the mold again. I managed to make a shaped mold that works well except for the center rod part. I've got one core with a rod permenently bonded in it; a section of a busted rod blank that I coated with the Stoner but the foam found its way into the blank through whatever tiny cracks there were. I've got another that worked but it's off center and I'll need to turn it anyway.