New Lathe Chuck Help

[Seer]

I bought a 4 jaw independant lathe chuck and since I have never used one is there a simple method to center anything on it? I have a good eye for centering but would like to know others views on it.
Jerry

 

[Robert Taylor]

for metal work you would use a dial indicator. for wood turning you could position your tool rest close and watch/measure to center. there is not much use for the 4 jaw independent chuck in wood turning. in most cases you will damage the project. btdt

 

[Seer]

I figure the damage is going to be on the waste part anyways I can always make a jam chuck to work with it if need be I feel. I am going to use it mainly for peppermills and offset turnings, might even be able to use it for pendants just keep a record of settings who knows.

 

[aggromere]

Well, when I ordered my metal lathe I bought a 4 jaw independent chuck. I came to the conclusion that getting something centered in it was way beyond my pay grade. I goggle it and read a lot of stuff, but there seemed to be no easy way to do it. I hope you have better luck. With that said, anyone want to buy a 4 inch 4 jaw independent chuck for a metal lathe? Will sell cheap.

 

[bradh]

A independent jaw chuck will never be perfectly centred. With this type, just do not rechuck.
The way I use to get a decent centre is to close the jaws into the centre so the jaws all are even, then count the turns out for each jaw.
i.e. turn jaw #1 5 turns, then 5 turns on each #2, 3 and 4. See how close to fitting and then work thru all the jaws again equally.
Hope this helps.

 

[Willee]

A independent jaw chuck will never be perfectly centred.

The whole idea behind the independent chuck is so you can dial it in to perfectly center the rotating piece or offset it as needed.

You need a dial indicator to help adjust your chuck to get the pen mandrel to zero run out as it is very hard to see a few thousands with your eye.

On something larger like a peppermill the scrolling self centering 4 jaw chuck would be a better choice unless you are wanting off center turnings.

 

[Seer]

I had not planned on using this on pens but for mills and larger items. I have been looking at a nova chuck but need to get the money together and thanks to all the replies

 

[aggromere]

I just got a 6 jaw self centering chuck for my metal lathe. I have used it to drill with and it works really well, so far, I think. Really, I guess the only way to chuck and unchuck the same piece of work and get the same results is with a collet, but I can't find one big enough to hold my blanks. Anyone know where you can get a 1 inch or maybe 15/16 collet or do they not exist?

 

[randyrls]

4 jaw independent jaw chucks are not intended for square stock. They are intended for round stock and are able to center a piece of stock as tightly as you need it to be. It is especially useful if you have to re-chuck a piece. You normally use a Dial Indicator to adjust and set the piece in the chuck. 4 jaw centering chucks are not normally used on metal lathes.

Finally, the nose thread on wood lathes and metal lathes are not the same, and adapters aren't common.

Added later. ER40 collet chucks go up to 1" but you are talking serious bucks...