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Cmiles1985

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I was sitting here reading some very interesting threads on vendor inventories and shipping, while looking at kitless pens and messaging my surrounding Pass It Forward participants, then I remembered....

I was watching an ePay auction for a Beall Collet Chuck set that had 1 bid for $75. Then I got sidetracked.... Some lucky person got it, as that was the ONLY bid!

On a side note, what are you folks' thoughts on the collet chucks/sets available?
Consider nothing but Beall?
Woodriver set is ok too?
PSI set isn't bad?
Just buy a collet chuck that fits a drill chuck and a set of ER32 collets?
 
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I know the big advertisement to Beall that I've read is that it doesn't mar the workpiece. Maybe my ignorance is shining here, but wouldn't that be the same among any collet? Or is the Beall collet a different design than any old ER32 on the market?

...I guess I could break out my super Google skills.
 
It uses standard er 32 collets. The rest is marketing. You can buy just the collet chuck without the collets and buy a set off Ebay that has a better selection. A
Just as an FYI, I switched both my lathes over to 1-1/4" spindle size and replaced my Beall 1" chuck with a new 1-1/4" from Beall. It was 30 something($39 I think) +$12 shipping.
 
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I have an opinion - shocking. Lol.

I've owned and used both. Both work fine.

I've not measured runout to compare.

I will say that I did sell my psi chuck to buy a beall.

Why? Mainly the size. The psi chuck (and the apprentice) are substantially larger than the beal.

Also the possibility of my hand getting grated by knurling was less appealing then the smooth bodied smaller beal chuck.

As far as woodriver goes, putting a collet chuck in the taper and having to use a drawbar...let's just say I can't Imagine why I'd want to use that one. Well, one advantage is that you could use it with different lathes.
 
I have an opinion - shocking. Lol.

I've owned and used both. Both work fine.

I've not measured runout to compare.

I will say that I did sell my psi chuck to buy a beall.

Why? Mainly the size. The psi chuck (and the apprentice) are substantially larger than the beal.

Also the possibility of my hand getting grated by knurling was less appealing then the smooth bodied smaller beal chuck.
I bought the Beall...works great!

As far as woodriver goes, putting a collet chuck in the taper and having to use a drawbar...let's just say I can't Imagine why I'd want to use that one. Well, one advantage is that you could use it with different lathes.


On the down side of the Wood River design is that you can't move your material back through the Chuck and advance as you like.
I bought the Beall.....works great!
 
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Dan, that sounds like a superb reason to get the Beall!! I'll wait for the right time...maybe tonight... To order the chuck. I'll probably buy a more broad range of collets off of ePay.
 
To join the thread; If you have a choice, get a metric set rather than an imperial set of collets. The metric collets cover the entire range without any "gaps" in coverage so you can mount any size stock. The imperial sizes have narrow gaps in the range above 1/2". The clamping range of a collet is about 1/16", so if you have a gap of more than 1/16" in collet sizes, there will be some odd sizes you will not be able to tighten down on.
 
Have both Beall and CUSA CUSA unit fits 1-1/4 headstock threads and 1 inch headstock threads.

If you have of think you might some day get a big lathe, the CUSA is a better bet than PSI. The Bealle is better finish. Both have the same runout on my lathe.
 
I have the PSI set. It has worked great for me so far. My only complaint, is there sre not enough collets in the set.

Now I have to get a complete set of metric collets...... as soon as the funds allow.
 
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