Id this part.

[Bob Coates]

It has been at least 20 years since I used the Sears lathe that I gave to my son. He has started to use it and wanted to know what this part is for. Don't think I ever used it, but seems I think it was use in combination with a faceplate.??

Thanks
Bob
460703

[John K Jordan]

That's a dog for turning between centers, typically on a metal lathe.

https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-lathe-dog-2-bent/h2990

JKJ

[Bob Coates]

Thanks John, so the tail stock held it in place against a face plate?

[John K Jordan]

Thanks John, so the tail stock held it in place against a face plate?

Held by a face plate at the headstock: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathe_dog

Allows turning metal between centers without gripping in a chuck. I have one but for the metal lathe I've always used a 3-jaw chuck. Potentially more precise than a chuck.

JKJ

[Brice Rogers]

A common faceplate for using the drive dog was a flat plate threaded onto the spindle, with a single slot for the drive dog to engage. Like John, I have a couple of these but either use my 3 jaw chuck or my 4 independent jaw chuck. And yes, they are usually used with a metal lathe.

I suspect that the drive dog approach was invented and used before good 3 and 4 jaw chucks became common and affordable. What is probably a substantial benefit is that you could "unchuck" or remove the part from the lathe and then check it for fit and easily re-establish the center if needed. Lantern tool posts (for metal lathes) were of about the same era.

[Dan Hunkele]

I have a tail stock on my metal lathe that can be moved side to side out of alignment with the head stock. Then with a drive dog and turned between centers a taper can be achieved.

[John K Jordan]

I have a tail stock on my metal lathe that can be moved side to side out of alignment with the head stock. Then with a drive dog and turned between centers a taper can be achieved.

Good way to make tapers.
Tubal Cain describes a precision method of realigning the tailstock after it is offset for a taper cut:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqjO4yPvhQs
He is probably my favorite to watch - he has 100s of videos on machining, casting, and other interesting things.

There are lots of videos about turning between centers with a dog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx-T9vWq228

This describes making the center and using the lathe dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my9ixtJogCg

Making and using a dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJrN3nGQ0pI

I like how this guy uses a nylon wire tie to secure the dog to the face plate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40KsZGiyewk

[Dan Hunkele]

I agree, there are lots of good videos on machining. I've watched many Tubal Cain videos and like to watch Joe Pieczynski and This Old Tony also.

[John K Jordan]

I agree, there are lots of good videos on machining. I've watched many Tubal Cain videos and like to watch Joe Pieczynski and This Old Tony also.

Joe is excellent. I haven't heard of Old Tony but I'll check him out.