Chucks & Collets Question

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I found a set of collets and a Morse Taper chuck that seem reasonably priced.

What is the advantage to a Beal Chuck vs the Morse Taper Chuck?

It seems that the one I found goes on the lathe like a mandrel and
the Beal Chuck screws onto the lathe.

I know some guys have bought collets off eBay...my question is
why wouldn't/doesn't the Morse Taper chucks work on the lathe just as well as the Beal?

Thanks for your input

Guy
 
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The MT collet chucks do work just as well and there is no difference in accuracy when used within their capabilities, but there are four differences between them and the Beall or the Axminster that screw on the spindle.

The 1st difference is that you may have to use a drawbar to keep the chuck in the spindle, or for some of them the drawbar is used to tighted the collet.

The 2nd difference is there is no bottom to the Beall or Axminster when the diameter of the rod being held is less than the bore through the lathe spindel.

A 3rd difference is that the Beall uses the ER-32 collets which are available at a decent price in almost any diameter. The Axminster uses an ER-25 which are not as available, and the MT chuck from Woodcraft uses a collet I have never seen before.

The 4th difference is that the Beall accepts a 3/4" collet. All of the others are smaller, and some of them are a lot smaller.

Another thing to consider is that the ER-32, and the ER-25 are cut into 12 segments that are alternately split from either end. This makes them more flexible that the MT collets I saw at Woodcraft which were only split into 6 segments, 3 in each direction, and some of the other MT collets that are only split into 3 sectors from one end. The more splits, the better grip, and the more flexible. More flexible means a greater useful range for the collet.

These differences cost money, but they are a waste of money if all your only use for the collet chuck will be a more accurate way to hold a mandrel. There are less expensive way to do that than the Bealle.
 
What's a drawbar?

And what are those less expensive ways of holding a mandrell than the Beall system?

I do these weird Pelikan fountain pen refurbs and need a method for holding a whole range of mandrels.

(I get confused - is it mandrel with One L or Two? Coming from Music City USA - I always start thing Barbara and Louise and so I want to put 2 L's.)
 
Originally posted by jtate
<br />
And what are those less expensive ways of holding a mandrell than the Beall system?
Click to expand...

You can purchase a Jacobs chuck to fit your MT2 lathe at a much lesser cost than the Beall system (ER32 collets). I have both but the Beall is just a better way of holding round objects up to a maximum of 3/4".JMO

-Peter-[:)]
 
That's what I use - a Jacobs Chuck and I use the transfer punch set from Harbor Freight for mandrels. The punches seem pretty sturdy and haven't bent yet. Would they work with the Beal Collet set?

Do I need the Beall Collett Set? What could I do with it that I can't do with the Jacob's chuck?
 
Originally posted by RussFairfield
<br />.....A 3rd difference is that the Beall uses the ER-32 collets which are available at a decent price in almost any diameter. The Axminster uses an ER-25 which are not as available, and the MT chuck from Woodcraft uses a collet I have never seen before.....
Click to expand...

I assume we are talking about the Axminster Jr. chuck, here. If so, according to their web site, that chuck accepts ER20 collets not ER25 collets.
 
Randy, I looked at every listing for the Jr. on the CSUSA web site and couldn't find the ER size listed. Where'd you find that?

Julia, a draw bar is basically a long bolt that feeds through the headstock spindle and screws into the back of the MT2 shaft that a Jacobs chuck or other accessory is is mounted to. It will have a large washer (or other device) on the head end so that it can be tightened against the hand wheel. This secures the MT2 accessory to the lathe so it won't come loose during operation. Make sense?
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />Randy, I looked at every listing for the Jr. on the CSUSA web site and couldn't find the ER size listed. Where'd you find that.....
Click to expand...

Billy: I never found it stated explicitly anywhere either and that being the case, I just fired off an email to Axminster to get the absolute word.

That being said, if you go to the Axminster web site there are two very strong indicators of the collet type. The first is that they say the grip range of the chuck is 1mm to 13mm. That is exactly the grip range of the ER20 type collets!! Secondly, there is a note to the effect that purchasers of the chuck "also purchased ER20 collets....same kind of note you see on Amazondotcom. And note that the max grip of the ER20 collets...13mm...is nominally 1/2" and that is the largest size collet available for the chuck from CSUSA. I feel pretty confident that if larger collets were available, CSUSA would be offering them. ER25 collets max at 16mm which is nominally 5/8".

And finally, I have a vague feeling that this question came up several years ago and I contacted Axminster back then; but have to be honest and say I can't remember for sure?? We should here from Axminster shortly and then know for sure one way or the other!!
 
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