Taper

[johnp]

Can anyone tell me what the taper would be for a 1" propshaft?

[fredrosse]

Standard taper is 3/4 inch per foot on diameter (1/16 inch per inch) of the shaft. If setting a lathe tool post for cutting this taper, it is set at 1.79 degrees, so in traversing one inch along the shaft, the tool will traverse 1/32 of an inch on the radius.

[Lopez Mike]

Correct numbers there from Fred.

From having cut many, many tapers over the years I can tell you that setting up your compound or a taper attachment to the correct numbers will not be close enough.

The only successful setup that has worked for me is to rough set the lathe up and then do light test cuts and keep making small changes in the angle until you get it spot on. Only then do you start cutting for the right length of taper.

I keep some cut off tapers from old shafts around. I also have a hunk of round stock that has a 1 to 16 tapered hole in it for test fitting to shafts as I zero in on the right angle.

You'll know when the angle is right when the prop or test stock tends to get stuck. I good fitting taper doesn't even need a key. There is a reason that you need a puller to get a prop off.

Mike