Flat Bowl Jaws

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Dvoigt

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Messages
280
Location
Fraser, MI
Why is it every time I turn a bowl and turn it around and put in on the flat jaws with the rubber stoppers to clean up the foot of the bowl the outer diameter of the bowl almost always is in between sizes.

As far as I can tell I need thicker rubber pins to help make up the difference. Anyone know of thicker ones that are compatible with the Barracuda 2 chuck.

Thanks!
Derek
 
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Why is it every time I turn a bowl and turn it around and put in on the flat jaws with the rubber stoppers to clean up the foot of the bowl the outer diameter of the bowl almost always is in between sizes.

As far as I can tell I need thicker rubber pins to help make up the difference. Anyone know of thicker ones that are compatible with the Barracuda 2 chuck.

Thanks!
Derek

Derek, make a doughnut chuck, you can attach it to a faceplate and solve a lot of problems. Keith Larrett has some instructions on his blog about making one, I have the same trouble with my flat jaws, they work OK on smaller bowls but not on much over 7-1/2 or 8 inches.
here is a link to his blog http://syzygypens.com/blog/
 
Derek: I had the same problem and what I did was use some thick rubber bands that Rockler sells. I would slip one or two on the rim of the bowl as a spacer. Worked most of the time but there were times the bowl would slip out, of course that also happened when I wasn't using the rubber bands. The doughnut chuck is the way to go, no danger of the bowl coming loose.
 
Derek,
I had the same problem with mine. Mine were Nova Cole Jaws. Called Tim Geist about it. Here's what he told me:
"Turn it over. Observe the little circles in between the threaded holes. Drill and tap these to 6mm threads."
It looks like there's not enough room, but there is. There's enough room for the 6mm threads and a little metal between holes. Then all you have to do is move the buttons to the right size... It works.
 
All this is assuming that you do have a SECOND CHUCK of course. This also will facilitate the centering in the Cole jaws of choice or, better yet, the doughnut jaws as is suggested.

Another "centering" suggestion is to get an MT threaded post to accept your particular chuck threads. Remount the bowl in this chuck combination and put the entire unit into the TAILstock and then position this 'unit' into the SECOND chuck that is now mounted in the headstock.
 
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I had the same problem. Found some thick-walled vinyl tubing at the local hardware store and bought a foot of it. I sliced it up and put it over the pins. Fast, easy + cheap.
 
Most of the chemical/lab supply stores carry rubber stoppers that are pre drilled in the center for 1/4 tubes. They come in sizes from 1/2 inch diameter and larger. They also come in different lengths. The price is not to bad .50 cents and up. I use 3/4 and 1 1/4 on my Cole jaws (home made) to hold just about any size bowl. The hole is tight enough that it holds the bolt and I turn the stopper in by hand. The larger size works when I have turned a bowl that is in the in between size (no need to drill and tap more holes). I use different lengths for bowls, platters and vases. Flip the stoppers over for inside hold.
Mark
 
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