Chuck: To buy, or not to buy?

[JDPens]

... that is the question. Oh yeah, what kind too?

Background:
After winning the Closed-end Pens DVD from AZ during the Birthday Bash, we are looking and getting into that sometime in the near future. We have a drill press (so don't necessarily need a drill chuck) and a ShopFox VS mini-lathe with a 3/4"x16 tpi headstock.

What kind of chuck should we get? We would like to get the best for our money without spending all our money if you know what I mean.

Preferably, the chuck can also be used for future projects we might attempt. For example: bottle-stoppers, tops, small bowls, ornaments, etc. I would like to be able to carry out multiple projects with the same chuck. However, closed-end pens is what we're looking at right now.

From what I can tell, there are 3 main types of chucks; drill chucks, collet chucks, and jawed chucks. My knowledge on what the various specialties of each chuck are is limited, so an elightening in that area would be helpful as well.

Sorry for the bit of ramble, but what's your opinion?

Thanks in advance,

 

[Dario]

Jacobs chuck will work for what you described. You can get some pretty cheaply on eBay if you are savvy enough.

For the money though, I will buy the Beall collet chuck myself. You can use it on other stuff but best of all the accuracy it offers on making pens is amazing!!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

There are Jacobs-style chucks aplenty at reasonable prices.
There are also Jacobs-style chucks made especially for holding round wood dowels. They look just like drill press chucks but the jaws are different for a better and more accurate grip in wood.
The Beall is held in high esteem, but to my way of thinking, a made-for-wood Jacobs-style will do just as well for a fraction of the cost.

 

[DocStram]

I'm a big fan of the OneWay Talon Chuck .... but, like Dario says .... it sounds like a Collet Chuck will do just what you need. However, here's where my opinion differs ..... if moola is an issue (and when isn't it?) I would go with the WoodCraft Collet Chuck. It's only $79.99. Yeah, it's a MT 2 and you'll maybe want to use a drawbar with it ... but, it's a heck of a lot less cheaper than an overpriced Beall CC.

"Just my opinion, mileage will vary."

 

[Randy_]

Originally posted by JDPens
<br />...Preferably, the chuck can also be used for future projects we might attempt. For example: bottle-stoppers, tops, small bowls, ornaments, etc. I would like to be able to carry out multiple projects with the same chuck. However, closed-end pens is what we're looking at right now......

Each of those chucks has a specific application for which it is best suited. But the only correct answer to your question is a scroll chuck. A Jacobs chuck or a collet chuck will do most of what you want; but neither be suitable for "small" bowls' unless, by small, you mean about 1" in diameter or less.

PSI sells some modestly priced copies of the well-known brands and they are not bad for the money according to the IAP members who have them..

 

[Randy_]

Originally posted by DocStram
<br />.....if moola is an issue (and when isn't it?) I would go with the WoodCraft Collet Chuck. It's only $79.99. Yeah, it's a MT 2 and you'll maybe want to use a drawbar with it ... but, it's a heck of a lot less cheaper than an overpriced Beall CC.....

Not sure I agree with Al on this for a bunch of reasons??. The Woodcraft unit will cost you $80 for the collet and 8 collets. You can get a Beall chuck and and a set of eleven generic collets for $110.

Woodcraft collets are ER20s and only go to 5/8" in diameter. The Beall chuck uses ER32 collets which go up to 3/4".

For safety, chucks based on attachment with a Morse taper should be retained with a draw bar. The Woodcraft ad does not indicate that its chuck is threaded for a drawbar and even if it is, you will have to purchase that as an accessory which will add a few more dollars to the cost.

Additionally, since the chuck uses a MT attachment, you will not be able to use pen mandrels in an "adjustable length" mode as there is no through hole like there is with a Beall chuck.

For the above reasons, I think the Beall chuck is a much better choice than the Woodcraft unit.

 

[Russb]

Like Randy says all the chucks you mentioned are great for certain purposes. The scroll chuck is the only chuck mentioned that would be useful for bowl, boxes, platters and could be used for bottle stoppers and other small scale turnigs with the correct set of jaws. A small scroll chuck like the Vicmarc 3 1/2", or the Oneway Talon would be great. There are cheaper chucks available that are copies of these.

 

[mrcook4570]

For closed end pens and bottle stoppers, I use a Jacobs chuck. You can often find these in the $20-$30 range. You can also use the jacobs chuck to drill on the lathe. A bowl can be made with a face plate, waste block, and glue, but using a scroll chuck is quicker.

One other thought - If you have any plans of buying a larger lathe, you might consider just saving for now. Most larger lathes have MT2 headstock and either 1x8tpi or 1-1/4x8tpi spindles. Your accessories for the shopfox will not work on the larger lathe, with the exception of scroll chucks which use threaded inserts to attach to the spindle. Then you would need only a different threaded insert to continue using the scroll chuck.

 

[tseger]

Originally posted by DocStram
<br /> Yeah, it's a MT 2 and you'll maybe want to use a drawbar with it ...

"Just my opinion, mileage will vary."

could someone explain what a drawboard is and how it,s used. I have a MT 2 Jacobs chuck and wonder if that will help me. Tim

 

[txbob]

Hi Tim,
A drawbar is a threaded rod that screws into the back end of a Jacobs chuck. This rod goes through the headstock and out the left end. On the left side is a nut that allows you to tighten the drawbar, which in turn keeps the Jacobs chuck from coming loose. It allows you to hold something in the chuck without bringing up the tailstock to put pressure keeping the chuck in the headstock.

I make mine from a piece of all-thread rod and a homemade wooden knob with a threaded insert that matches the rod. Note that not all Jacobs cuucks have a threaded hole on the back end. If yours doesn't, you may have to tap the hole or find another way to attach the rod.

Happy turning,
txbob

 

[JDPens]

Wow, thats alot of information! [:0]

I realized that I also forgot to mention that our headstock has a #1 MT.

I've done some research of my own as well as researching the various suggestion given.
It seems that the best way to go would be either a drill chuck or a scroll (jawed) chuck.

As far as drill chucks go, the best one seems to be either this one:
http://arizonasilhouette.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1443
or this one [(B) #1 MT 1/2" Keyed Chuck]
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=3975

As far as scroll chucks go, I hardly know anything about it, but I have a couple of question first:

• Can you use it like a drill chuck? <br />
• Can you use the AS closed-end/cap mandrels with it? <br />
• Can you use the AS bottle stopper mandrel with it? <br />
• Could you use mandrel shafts with it and turn it into an adjustable mandrel setup?
  <br />
• Would you be able to use it to turn yo-yo's, tops, etc.? <br />

With all that taken care of, what seems to be the best option is something along the following:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcm34.html
or
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/c4x.html
I also looked at this one, but it seems kind of pricey:
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5185

With that information, now what would your opinions be, and why?

We plan on keeping our lathe for a while, so there's no issue right now of upgrading. Please also keep in mind price, we don't really want to spend more than about $100.

 

[KenV]

On the drive side, you can find drill chucks with a 3/4 by 16 mount that will thread onto your headstock (Ebay. Threaded connections will have less runout (error) than a morse taper. For the tail stock, threaded is generally better than MT also. MT1 drill chucks are less rare, but a bit harder to find than larger sizes. It took me several months to find a 3/4 by 16 machinist 4 jaw chuck with 3/4 inch capacity at a moderate price.

Beall chuck from wood chips is handy, but I suspect you will be looking at the scroll chucks. They are available for 3/4 by 16 threads. I use a talon by oneway, buy have heard some good reviews of the Penn State Baracuda and the Grizzly knockoffs. Scroll chucks assist in bowlsm christmas ornaments, truing up FOG wood, and other tasks. They also include opportunity with woodworm screw mounts and cole chucks for mounting bowls to finish the foot.

No wrong answers here -- just more things to try.