Half Point—Half points are cut away on one side to hold shafts with keyways, flats, or irregular shapes. They’re used only in dead centers.

Dead—Use dead centers in your headstock to support a workpiece when machining between centers. When friction isn’t a concern, you can also use them in the tailstock to support the end of a workpiece. Dead centers don’t spin freely, so they provide a fixed point that stabilizes your workpiece. They can handle heavier loads than live centers. However, under high pressure, they can become lodged in the tailstock. To remove them without damaging your equipment, tighten a hex nut (sold separately) onto the threaded end. Use a wrench to turn the nut against the tailstock and push the center out.