Shop-Made Chucking Devices

Presentation by Dick Lukes, 7/9/06

Why bother to make a wooden chuck to hold your turning?

   Advantages:

·        Shop-made chuck may be the only way to successfully hold the work

·        Manufactured chucks are expensive

·        Accurate sizing—manufactured chucks and jaws may not fit work

·        Wood to wood contact may be less damaging to the turning

   Disadvantages:

• May not be as strong as a manufactured scroll chuck

• May not retain accuracy as the wood dries and moves

Types of shop made chucks and tips on making and using them:

   Glue Chuck/Faceplate alone:

• For faceplate alone you can use double face tape or hot melt glue
• If using hot melt glue you can pre heat the faceplate with a heat gun
• If using double face tape, apply pressure with tailstock for a minute or two

   Glue Chuck/ Faceplate or Screw Chuck with wood disc attached :

• Mark concentric rings with the tip of a skew chisel to aid in centering
• Can fasten work with double face tape, hot melt glue, glued paper joint or  CA
• Both faceplate methods are good for turning discs and small hard to hold parts

   Spigot Jam Chuck:

• Good for holding bowls with recess in base, boxes and peppermills, etc
• Turn spigot with parallel sides, sharp corners and sawdust groove at bottom
• If spigot too small, use water to swell wood grain or tissue to enlarge for snug fit

   Recess Jam Chuck:

• Turn recess jam chuck to hold bowl top while finishing bottom of bowl
• Can also hold a spigot turned on bowl bottom for holding bowl for hollowing
• If recess too big, use water to swell wood grain or use paper or tissue to enlarge
• Drill a hole in the chuck for a dowel, etc. to aid in removing your work

   Between Centers Mandrel:

• Turn very slight taper in a cylinder to hold a ring shaped turning
• Too much taper and the ring will not run true and will wobble

   Wedged Mandrel:

• Held on one end by screw chuck, etc with split sawed down length for a wedge
• Make wedge long enough to pull out. Can drill hole to use lever, etc.
• Also used for ring shaped turning.  Holds very securely

    Gripping Chuck:

• Use retaining ring or hose clamp to tighten chuck
• Make index mark on chuck and faceplate so it runs true for reuse.
• Cover hose clamp with tape to protect your fingers

    Expanding Chuck With Tapered Pin or Plug:

• Tapered pin hard to remove-I used a chuck on faceplate with a bolt into T-nut

    Tapered Cone Chuck for Square Work: (balusters, etc.)

• Used for turning perfect pommels. Make sure work piece is perfectly square