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How to make a lathe draw bar
Download a printable PDF version of this page HERE
Phil Dart
August 2020
Morse taper attachments mounted in a lathe headstock are prone to work themselves loose whilst under power if unsupported by the tailstock. A draw bar is a method of keeping the attachment seated by clamping it in place. The draw bar screws into a female thread that’s often present on the small end of the tapered arbor of the attachment, and presses on the revolving hand wheel or bearing that’s at the opposite end of the headstock spindle to the lathe bed. Since every lathe is different, a draw bar isn’t something you can generally buy, but they are simplicity itself to make.
For a printable PDV version click HERE

Gallery - Mistral fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint and pencil kits |
All the pens and pencils in this photo gallery are made by our customers using Mistral fountain pen kits, Mistral rollerball pen kits, Mistral Ballpoint pen kits and Mistral pencil kits |
Mistral Photo Gallery |
Gallery - Leveche fountain pen and rollerball pen kits |
All the pens in this photo gallery are made by our customers using Leveche fountain pen kits and Leveche rollerball pen kits |
Leveche Photo Gallery |
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- Cap tube length = 46mm. Recommended drill size = 15/32
- Nib barrel tube length = 65mm. Recommended drill size = 25/64
- The cap finial and cap centre band have the same diameter. If using bushes, the twolargest ones are identical and can be used in either cap position. The two remaining bushes have different diameters - the larger of the two is for the nib connector and the smaller one is for the nib barrel finial.
- Press the accent cabochon into the cap finial as the first job. Please also see the notes we’ve produced regarding the cabochon, which are on a separate sheet.
- The nib is supplied separately to the kit. In the interests of grain alignment, gently screw the nib assembly into the section as the second assembly job. Doing so after pressing the kit together could result in the nib lined up in a place you didn’t intend.
- Also in the interests of grain alignment, note that the cap thread starts in either of two opposite positions.
- When assembling the 3 metal components on the centre band, note that the supplied accent ring has a small chamfer to one side on its inside surface. The accent ring should be fitted with the chamfer nearest to the fixed ring, which will maintain the contour of the assembled centre band and ensure that its two grooves are of equal width. The other loose small ring should be fitted so that its groove is adjacent to the accent ring, not the cap barrel.
- By design, the clip gasket is a snug fit on the cap finial, to ensure it does not spin on the assembled cap. Push it on to the finial tenon by hand a short way, and once you are happy with the their alignment on your cap barrel, the two can be pressed home in one operation.