KenV
Member
I am working with a Jet Midi in Tucson and missed having a collet chuck. Craft Supply recently added an "Apprentice Collet Chuck" to the list if items it was selling. The chuck appeared to be using the ER32 standard collets I have been using for some years on other lathes. I did want to stay with ER32 because of the range of sizes and past success with good holding ability and low runout.
Other ER32 chucks considered were the Beall, and PSI. I looked at the WoodRiver Chuck at Woodcraft, and noted that it does not use the ER32 Standard for collets.
The Chuck was additionally desirable because it came with the headstock threading of 1-1/4 by 8 with an insert for 1 by 8 threads. The Big Lathe in Juneau is the larger size while the Jet Midi here in Tucson (snobirding) is 1 by 8. The catalog also has a 1 by 8 thread with 3/4 by 16 insert. While the flexibility comes with an expectation of a thousand or two additional runout, the ability to buy for the midi and also have the larger size thread for larger lathes seemed worth it.
The chuck arrived packed in a blown plastic case in a box in a box (well packed). The chuck has "tommy bars" for tightening and loostening the closing ring. The Tommy bars were a close fit. Five Collets graduated by 1/8 inch increments were included from 1/4 to 3/4 by 1/8 increments. The collets only have a 1/16 or 1 mm range of action so there are gaps, which can be filled as needed by purchase of additional collets.
My experience has been that other than the 5/16 or 8mm collet, I do not use many of the intermediate sizes. That one is mostly used to hold the "B Mandrel". 1/4 inch holds the A-mandrel, 1/2 inch holds jam chucks such as used for refrig magnets or rods for minature turning, 3/8 holds a bottle stopper mandrel, 3/4 holds rounded blanks for pen drilling. The 1/4 and 3/8 collets hold finials for detailed turning too.
Finish is good, but not polished. At the $90 plus shipping (rounded) I did not expect polish. Knurling was good, and not too sharp. ER 32 collets are mounted into the closer ring and the assembly threaded onto the collet body. The collets fit into the closer ring with a soft snap and the assembly threaded ont the body nicely. The closer tightend down nicely without the use of the tommy bars for the 1/2 inch jam chuck I was ready to use.
I do not have the dial indicators here in Tucson, but the tool rest test with feeler gage shows expected runout with the insert of a few thousands. Certainly less runout in comparison to the drill chucks (they have normall runout of 0.005-0.007).
I am satisfied I got good value and will be using this in the coming weeks.
Key question is will I pack it back to Juneau? Time will tell.
Other ER32 chucks considered were the Beall, and PSI. I looked at the WoodRiver Chuck at Woodcraft, and noted that it does not use the ER32 Standard for collets.
The Chuck was additionally desirable because it came with the headstock threading of 1-1/4 by 8 with an insert for 1 by 8 threads. The Big Lathe in Juneau is the larger size while the Jet Midi here in Tucson (snobirding) is 1 by 8. The catalog also has a 1 by 8 thread with 3/4 by 16 insert. While the flexibility comes with an expectation of a thousand or two additional runout, the ability to buy for the midi and also have the larger size thread for larger lathes seemed worth it.
The chuck arrived packed in a blown plastic case in a box in a box (well packed). The chuck has "tommy bars" for tightening and loostening the closing ring. The Tommy bars were a close fit. Five Collets graduated by 1/8 inch increments were included from 1/4 to 3/4 by 1/8 increments. The collets only have a 1/16 or 1 mm range of action so there are gaps, which can be filled as needed by purchase of additional collets.
My experience has been that other than the 5/16 or 8mm collet, I do not use many of the intermediate sizes. That one is mostly used to hold the "B Mandrel". 1/4 inch holds the A-mandrel, 1/2 inch holds jam chucks such as used for refrig magnets or rods for minature turning, 3/8 holds a bottle stopper mandrel, 3/4 holds rounded blanks for pen drilling. The 1/4 and 3/8 collets hold finials for detailed turning too.
Finish is good, but not polished. At the $90 plus shipping (rounded) I did not expect polish. Knurling was good, and not too sharp. ER 32 collets are mounted into the closer ring and the assembly threaded onto the collet body. The collets fit into the closer ring with a soft snap and the assembly threaded ont the body nicely. The closer tightend down nicely without the use of the tommy bars for the 1/2 inch jam chuck I was ready to use.
I do not have the dial indicators here in Tucson, but the tool rest test with feeler gage shows expected runout with the insert of a few thousands. Certainly less runout in comparison to the drill chucks (they have normall runout of 0.005-0.007).
I am satisfied I got good value and will be using this in the coming weeks.
Key question is will I pack it back to Juneau? Time will tell.
