Norm I've got the article on the big bore conversion.
I was reading it last night, or some of it at least before little ones bed time came. It would be a handy mod, and plus I do have a fixed steady and a traveling steady that came with the lathe so it's then only figuring out the taper and actually having the balls and experience to go at it, and try and make a new spindle.
I'm pleased about the existence of the two steadies. Of course, have a go as there are a lot of very worthwhile additions which need a spindle of some sort.
As far as tapers are concerned, I would settle for the No2MT rather than the very limited No1 which presently fit the present spindle and tailstock 'poppet' on your lathe. I suspect that a lot of so called Morse Tapers are not Morse tapers but there is no reason why you shouldn't settle for your own and do a peg on the tailstock. Others may disagree!
Cleeve made his own and there is an article somewhere about him putting a piece of round carbide in one of his. My thoughts for what they are worth are that you cannot have too many centres. I suspect that I have males, females, halfs, rotating and square ones as well as jumpers from 1MT to 2MT and vice versa as well as Number 3's to go on the mill drill and the Sieg!
Of course, I've also got them to fit the Unimat and the watchmaker's turns.
Having a couple of good clock gauges does help to set tapers. I've got a set of Imperials and , like Cleeve, one in tenths.
Most people have little or no plans for 'interchangeability' and it seems OK to have stuff which can swop from machines mentioned but also to tool and cutter grinders.
Not everone agrees!:hDe:
Worth a thought or two, methinks
N