Cup Drive #2 Morse Taper

The most friendly way I know to drive between center work is with this cup drive, quality made by Oneway Manufacturing of Canada.  This is the #2 Morse taper version.

This is my preferred way to drive work between centers.  This is wonderful for learning difficult tools or cuts--such as learning to use a skew chisel--and especially helpful for teaching children or anyone new to woodturning.  Historically this would be called a "dead cup center" but when mounted into the headstock it is a cup drive.   To use it, mark the center of the blank, place the center point on the mark and hit sharply with a deadblow mallet--not a hard faced hammer, rubber or rawhide mallet.   Mount the center into the headstock, crank the tailstock firmly to allow the piece to rotate.  Base the amount of drive you apply by your own safety concerns or apprehension!  As you become more confident you can tighten the drive.  If you are looking for even more drive you an sharpen the rim of the cup drive and file two or three notches (see skew articles on my site www.alanlacercom).   This drive works for even very hard end-grain woods--certainly for a modified version.