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There are so many jigs and devices on the market today, many of which can be made at home with a little time and patients. Simple items can be made of Plexiglas, wood and the odd piece of steel.

• Finding the center of a log can be made a lot easier if you have a piece if clear ¼" - ½" Plexiglas the largest diameter that your lathe can turn. Simply cut the material to  circle the largest you can comfortably handle on your lathe, mark the center and drill a ¼", draw a strait line through the center point and mark off at 1" intervals. At each of these points mark with a permanent marker the size of ether the diameter or the radius.
  Place the Plexiglas on a flat surface and with a sharp set of points (dividers)  mark each circle at the 1" intervals. Take a fine permanent marker, and follow each scratch carefully, you will end up with something that looks like the annual rings of a tree. Place it on a log and centralize it, there is the center, also this will enable you to know the length you require just add 1" and cut the log.
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