Barracuda 2 T/N Question

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Dan I am trying to find the picture of the pin chuck that comes with your chuck? I would not see why it wouldn't work as the Nova pin chuck work great. I am trying to learn the differences in these chuck myself.
 
I'm not sure about the pin jaws, but it looks like you got a set of #1 jaws with the set?

I use #1 jaw for all my pen drilling. The pen jaws you showed are interesting because it holds only 2 sides, which can be a plus at times and is longer... but don't think they are necessary.
 
Dan and Mike
I use my Barracuda 2 with pen jaws for drilling blanks. Clamp to corners.
The only "square" blanks I have seen are the ones I cut myself, no problem with that.
Also I use them with barrel trimmer, just clamp loose for off center holes. Do not start lathe till trimmer is in the blank and stop lathe before backing out. I use slowest speed. No blowouts since I stared this.
Jim
 
dankc908 said:
Will the pin jaw that comes with the Barracuda 2 T/N chuck work for drilling pen blanks or do I need to add the Pen Blank Drilling Jaws (http://www.pennstateind.com/store/CJAWPEN.html) to my tool inventory?

Thanks,
Dan
Click to expand...




Yes! I use them when drilling either round or square blanks and they work great. Those jaws were the primary reason I bought that chuck system, along with the other accessories and the cost. Just can't beat it.
 
Dan -- I use pin (or perhaps pen) jaws quite a bit. Square (or close) blanks hold fairly well with the jaws on the flats and the corners in the gaps. I let the blank bottom against the chuck body as many of the acrylics are pretty slick

These are outstanding for holding odd shaped pieces (distorted pieces etc) for lathe drilling if you start by turning between centers and make tenons at the ends -- need only be about 1/4 inch long tenon with a square shoulder. I align the tailstock end with the bit touching before locking down the jaws and drilling. Really hard materials or big bits really benefit from a small pilot start with a center bit.

By the way -- starting by turning between centers lets you drill the center of the pattern by making sure the centers are at the center of the pattern.
 
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i use the regular #2 jaws, the blank sit in, but it's hollow behind there on my Jet,
just take you time hand spinning it loosely clamped in till you get it to spin with the least amount of wobble, then drill. much better than a drill press, the hole will be center to whatever the shape of the blank. the when you turn down the outside it will be concentric.
 
those jaws will work fine for drilling blanks. And if you're worried about how
to drill blanks that aren't quite square, try this:

Open the jaws, put in your blank and then close the jaws till they're
ALMOST tight. You want to be able to move the blank, but not have it
move in it's own.

Put a piece of white paper on the table behind your lathe. Stand back and
look above the ways, but below the chuck. Make sure you can see the
paper there. (the paper is just for contrast so you can see better)

Now move your head so that when you look at the blank, it looks like
it is between you and the ways. Look at the top of the ways (with the white
paper behind them) and see that line. Now look at the bottom of the blank
and see THAT line. Move your head so that those two lines are almost
touching. If they are not parallel, adjust the blank position so that they are.
If they are parallel, then turn the chuck another 90 degrees and check or
adjust the blank again. When 2 or 3 sides are aligned with the ways, that's
as close to square as you're going to get. Tighten the chuck and start
your bit into the blank, allowing it to find the center. Drill away..
 
As stated the pin jaws will work fine as will the step (#1) jaws , but not very accurately unless your blanks are perfectly square and straight . The best way to drill accurately is to turn your blanks round , then the chuck can grip the blank evenly with no wobble . It only takes a few seconds to turn the blank round between centers and the advantages far exceed to time spent .
 
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