How to Cut a Taper on a Barrel

Place a dead center in the jaws of the spindle and then tighten the dead center in the jaws with the spindle wrench. A dead center is a cone shaped lathe accessory that secures to the spindle and allows you to turn metal between two centers. The dead center spins with the spindle and does not have a bearing that allows it to “free spin.”

Press the live center into the hole in the end of the tailstock. Tap against the end of the live center with a rubber mallet to seat it in the tailstock. The live center is a cone shaped lathe accessory that has a bearing in it. As the spindle spins the barrel, the live center spins freely with the barrel.

Place one end of he barrel over the tip of the dead center. Slide the tailstock towards the spindle until the live center rests in the hole on the other end of the barrel. Lock the tailstock in place with the tailstock lock.

Slide a carbide turning tool to the turret and then tighten the cutting tool in place with a wrench.

Adjust the settings on your lathe to an RPM of 150 to 300. Use the levers on the control panel to set the RPMs. Set the feed rate to a slow speed via the levers on the control panel. The exact process will vary per manufacturer but the control panels are clearly labeled with the RPM speeds and the feed rates.

Adjust the tailstock angle with an Allen wrench to create taper. When you adjust the tailstock, the end of the barrel that rests against the live center spins in an oblong. Therefore, when you cut the barrel, the end against the live center cuts smaller than the end against the dead center. This will create a consistent taper down the length of the barrel.

Turn on the lathe and then adjust the cutter with the turret handle until the cutter just touches the spinning barrel. Adjust the turret handle in until you reach your desired diameter and then engage the feed lever. Pull up n the feed lever once the carbide turning tool runs the full length of the barrel.

Stop the lathe and then manually crank the turret back towards the live center with the carriage handle.

Measure the diameter of the barrel at each end with dial calipers. Determine how much you need to take off to reach your desired diameter. For example, if the barrel measured .750 inch at one end and .700 at the other and you need it to measure .725 inch at one end and .675 inch at the other, you need to take off an additional .025 inch. Turn the torrent handle .0125 inch. The dial is numbered so you know how much you turn it. You always turn half as much as you need since the tool is removing material from both sides.

Turn the lathe on, engage the feed lever and allow the tool to remove material as it runs down the length of the barrel. Lift up on the feed lever once the cutter completes the cut.