Bullnose Live Center

A live center is the best way to support the end of a long piece held between centers in a lathe, but sometimes the piece may have a hole in the end that is too large in which to index a standard live center. The bullnose live center will support parts or tubing with an open end as large as 1-5/8″ diameter. Its solid steel bullnose center turns on two preloaded ball bearings. It is fitted with a #0 Morse taper to fit the tailstock spindle. Rather than turn a sleeve to size down a hole, this special live center can be fitted up in seconds when needed.

NOTE: The bearings are pressed in at the factory. Preload on the bearings is adjusted before the nose piece is installed. Once assembled, the Bullnose Live Center is not considered user-serviceable.

The bullnose live center on the left is cut away to show the two preloaded internal bearings.