Make an Inexpensive Threaded Headstock

To create your own threaded headstock, mount a piece of hardwood at least 1″ thick to your metal faceplate. Turn the stock round and use a pencil to mark concentric rings until you’ve found dead center of the auxiliary faceplate. Drill an 11/32” hole 1” deep into the auxiliary faceplate. Epoxy a 3/8″ x 2 1/2″ bolt or 3/8″ threaded rod 2″ long, into the hole and let the epoxy cure. Once the epoxy has totally hardened, use a hacksaw to cut the head of the bolt off so just the threading is exposed. Turn the lathe on and use a file to to create a slight chamfer on the end of the threaded rod. Then thread the workpiece onto the exposed threaded end