Shamus

Hello everyone! I'm newly registered but have been reading for some time now. I have a restoration business and focus on wood related projects.
We are working on a turn of the century home, specifically the foyer. The stairway ballasters need some attention.
I'm thinking it would be easiest to sand these old spindles to remove the varnish and some of the nicks acquired over the years. I want to do this using a wood lathe, and the process should go pretty quick.
The problem is the center in the drive spur is smaller than the old center hole in the spindle. Is there a way (jig, shim, ?) I can make that will allow me to use a lathe for this task?
The spindle hole is a bit over a ¼”.

The woodsman

Yes that would be easy.Drill a hole so that it will be round,then squirt a little glue down there,then get a dowel rod an tap the rod in it pretty good,beings it old wood be carefull you don't get carried away with the hammer an split it.Then find the new center and center punch it and you are ready to roll,er ah spin You shouldn't have to drill the hole more than an inch deep at the most as the glue will hold the rod in place.Drill the hole just a little bigger than the whole thats there.You want the dowel to fit in snug.Let it dry 15 min or so.

Shamus

Now that I hadn't thought about. I was fixed on building up the spur point with something.

I'll give it a try, sounds like it should work fine.

Thank You!

coffeetime

Have you thought about putting a 1/4" or 5/16" screw in the center of a face plate and just screw the spindle on it?

Mike

Shamus

Mike,

That was the other optioin I was thinking of but I wasn't sure without trying it. The screw would hold the spindel tight enough and I know it shouldn't move with the live center pushing the piece into it. I'm not removing material, just sanding.

I do have a few weeks before we get them all removed and back to the shop.

Maybe I'll try both as see what works best.

Richard