Dead centre temper.

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

I've made a few dead centres for my watchmakers lathe but I can't seem to find any information on the right temperature/colour for tempering.

Can anybody help?

Steve

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

What material have you used to make your centres?

Brian

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

For a carbon (silver) steel Tubal Cain recommends 200C, which is pale yellow – the first hint of colour when tempering.

HTH,

Rod

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

I'm using silver steel.

Thanks Rod. That's harder than I thought.

Steve

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Hard as you can get it for the dead centre. Either soft or about 30HRc for the live (headstock) centre, so you can turn it concentric when needed.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

A kitchen oven is good enough for that, as long as the thermostat is accurate (or you know the error!).

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

Thanks all! Gas mark 6 it is then – if I can get the lid off my Fray Bentos pie.

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