Internal Cat Head Lathe Center

US $480

Alamosa, Colorado, United States
Jun 12th

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This listing is for one morse taper #3 internal cat head, and four sets of four each 5/16-18 bolts. One set is 3/4" long, one set is 1" long, one set is 1 1/2" long and one set is 2" long. There are also four locknuts included. An internal cat head is an invaluable tool if you are machining tubing or pipe. Most pipe and tubing is either too rough or not round enough to run a steady rest on, without first machining a smooth, round spot for the steady rest. The cat head can be used to support the work piece from the inside while you machine a spot for the steady rest or any other machining that you need to do on the O.D. without using a steady rest. While supporting the work piece with the cat head, you can also face the end and cut a center for a bullnose if you want to use a bullnose later. Cutting pipe threads with a taper attachment or just straight threads on the end of a pipe or tube is much easier using the cat head because you don't have a bullnose interfering with the threading tool as you cut the thread. Using a dial indicator and a 1/2" open end wrench, the work piece is set true by loosening one bolt and tightening another, just as you would when indicating a work piece in a four jaw chuck. When you have the work piece indicated, you tighten the lock nuts to insure that the bolts don't move. If you choose not to use the locknuts with the 3/4" long bolts, the minimum I.D. of the tube that this cat head will fit in is 3". If you use the lock nuts on the 3/4" long bolts, then 3 1/4" I.D. is the minimum. Using the 2" long bolts, the maximum I.D. of the work piece is 6 1/4". The photos show a 4" PVC pipe being faced and chamfered using the 1" bolts in the cat head. The face of the cat head can be used to start a die straight when threading with a die in the lathe. I included a photo of this also. While this may not be a tool that you would use daily, it will prove this to be a great addition and asset to your lathe accessories if you do much lathe work.