I need a collect chuck but I know not why?

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Lenny

Lenny

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Joined
Jan 6, 2009
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Location
Searsport, Maine
Ok, I know that I absolutely must have a collet chuck and plan to order the PSI model. My question is what are my reasons for needing one .... just in case I get interrogated. :eek::eek:

1. Drilling pen blanks on the lathe ... check
2. :confused:
3.:confused:
4.:confused:
would love to know what you use yours for .... pics help me a lot if you got' em!
Thanks! :)
 
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Yes, yes you must have one.
just order now and ask forgiveness later.:wink:
I have a Beall and the PSI and the PSI is a great deal with the collets it comes with and all good quality+.

Uses, you got the drilling blanks....how about:
>holding "rods" to turn closed ends
>holding small pieces to turn custom finials and the like on the ends
>hold chuck for bottle stoppers
> hold rods to turn custom centerbands.. and part off

It's one of the accesories I wouldn't want to be without.
You'll ask yourself why didn't I do this sooner after you get it and have a chance to play.

John
♣
 
My "other(better) half" does not know what one is or that I have one so I must go hide it now that shee saw this thread.





 
Lenny, I think rather than boring you with reasons why, I'd just like to say that I haven't had my Beall collet chuck off of my Jet mini lathe in months for any reason.

I made several pens both kit and kitless, did all the drilling, turning, sanding, applying CA finishes and polishing. I guess you can get used to doing anything a certain way and I really believe that I have created several short cuts, introduced more accuracy into my pen making and basically enjoy my time at the lathe more now so for me, that's what it's all about.

I think you'll enjoy using the collet chuck.
 
+1 on never taking it off the lathe. I use mine for everything.

If you use medium CA for finishing, stick a piece of masking tape over "springy" part of the collet when finishing. I big messy CA splash can glue the collet to the chuck body. DAMHIKT. :)
 
Lenny said:
My question is what are my reasons for needing one .... just in case I get interrogated.

1. Drilling pen blanks on the lathe
Click to expand...

I'm glad you brought this up Lenny -- I've been 'soul searching' about this, too. I can see how useful the collets would be.

A question about drilling blanks -- how accurately must the square blank be turned round, to use in a collet? Can it be out say, 1/16" from one end to the other, for a 3" blank? Out 1/8"? How close does it have to be?

And is it true that you can use anything in a collet that is now used in a drill chuck (as below)? (drill bits, pen mills, etc)?

Thanks
Steve

images
 
I don't keep my collet chuck on the lathe at all times but I do use it more than any other type of chuck. It is very useful for small turnings. Now if you turned only larger items, bowls, platters, etc. I wouldn't see much use for one.

Steve, not sure I understand the questions above. You can put anything in a collet chuck you can in a drill chuck provided you have the correct size collet. I don't use a drill chuck in the headstock side. You really need both.
 
If PSI is out. Contact www.woodzone.com in Columbia, SC. They are PSI resellers and good people and the last time I was in there they had a few in stock. You will probably have to call them on the phone for it as it is not listed on their website.
 
If your not in a big rush you can watch Amazon . They run it on sale for as low as $74.99 with free shipping but not all the time so you gotta watch for it .
 
Lenny,

Beyond the set you are looking at purchasing, I would suggest you consider ordering two more individual collets.

Keep in mind that the largest cylinder you can chuck in the 3/4" collet is indeed .750". Anything, even a hair larger, say .758" WILL NOT fit into the collet and seat properly. I found a place that sells collets larger than 3/4" and provided the link below. Have a look at the "Clamping range" column on their sizing chart and you will see the benefits of ordering a few extra collets.

I ordered the 20mm and 13/16" collets which give me the best overlapping coverage over .750". Ordering the 25/32 is not necessary since the 20mm range is wider.

Now, I can clamp up rods that are as thick as .813" using my er-32 collets. This is important since many times the pre-rounded acrylic blanks you will find for sale are a hair larger than .750 and won't fit in a 3/4" collet and most ebonite rods are wider than .750 as well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ER-32-HI-PRECIS...m&pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item4836b371d4
 
islandturner said:
A question about drilling blanks -- how accurately must the square blank be turned round, to use in a collet? Can it be out say, 1/16" from one end to the other, for a 3" blank? Out 1/8"? How close does it have to be?
Click to expand...


I believe these are ER32 collets. If so you can get a complete set that will cover the entire range of sizes from 1/16" to 3/4+" or about 1mm to 20mm. Each collet will cover about 1/16" or about 1mm. Try for a set of metric collets; they cover the entire range. Imperial collets have a few "gaps" in clamping size. The metric collets come in a complete 18 piece set covering the entire range

PS. Don't try to insert a large piece into a smaller collet or you will "spring" the collet.
 
Texatdurango said:
Lenny,

Beyond the set you are looking at purchasing, I would suggest you consider ordering two more individual collets.

Keep in mind that the largest cylinder you can chuck in the 3/4" collet is indeed .750". Anything, even a hair larger, say .758" WILL NOT fit into the collet and seat properly. I found a place that sells collets larger than 3/4" and provided the link below. Have a look at the "Clamping range" column on their sizing chart and you will see the benefits of ordering a few extra collets.

I ordered the 20mm and 13/16" collets which give me the best overlapping coverage over .750". Ordering the 25/32 is not necessary since the 20mm range is wider.

Now, I can clamp up rods that are as thick as .813" using my er-32 collets. This is important since many times the pre-rounded acrylic blanks you will find for sale are a hair larger than .750 and won't fit in a 3/4" collet and most ebonite rods are wider than .750 as well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ER-32-HI-PRECIS...m&pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item4836b371d4
Click to expand...

Thanks George! I like that he sells them individually. I think those sizes would be used quite a bit.
 
ldb2000 said:
If your not in a big rush you can watch Amazon . They run it on sale for as low as $74.99 with free shipping but not all the time so you gotta watch for it .
Click to expand...

Thanks Butch,
I had read your advise about watching Amazon in a post you made on another thread. I have been watching (for a very short while) but I guess I'm not very patient. :tongue:
 
I can see that I would, in all likelihood, need the additional collet or two. Will this collet system work with square blanks (drilling) or would I need another piece of equipment to drill my blanks?

Dan
 
dankc908 said:
I can see that I would, in all likelihood, need the additional collet or two. Will this collet system work with square blanks (drilling) or would I need another piece of equipment to drill my blanks?

Dan
Click to expand...

Dan, Collets are designed to clamp around cylinders. I always just stick a steb center into the headstock side and a live center in the tailstock end to turn blanks round. You can modify a morse taper steb center so it fits into a collet. That way you never have to remove the collet holder at all. :)
 
Texatdurango said:
Dan, Collets are designed to clamp around cylinders. I always just stick a steb center into the headstock side and a live center in the tailstock end to turn blanks round. You can modify a morse taper steb center so it fits into a collet. That way you never have to remove the collet holder at all. :)
Click to expand...

Can you describe how you modified it? ... Is a metal lathe involved?:confused:
 
Lenny said:
Can you describe how you modified it? ... Is a metal lathe involved?:confused:
Click to expand...

Lenny, Have a look at post #69 in this thread.... http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?p=958046#post958046

It describes how I took a standard Sorby steb drive and cut it down to fit into a 3/4" collet. I also took some #3 morse taper dead centers, cut them in half and turned them into a cylinder so they too would fit into a 3/4" collet.

Yes, I used my metal lathe to trim both the steb drives and dead centers.

I would be happy to modify them for you but everything is boxed up for the summer.
 
I remember that thread now...:)
I will keep that in mind for down the road ... I'm all for things that make it quicker/easier/less hassle. :)
 
Texatdurango said:
Lenny,

Beyond the set you are looking at purchasing, I would suggest you consider ordering two more individual collets.
<snip>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ER-32-HI-PRECIS...m&pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item4836b371d4
Click to expand...

George, or anyone else who has ordered from Discount-tools, I tried to purchase three collets with the buy now option and it didn't give me a choice to change the quantity. I have paid for the one collet through paypal but attempts to email or message the seller have gone without a reply so far. :confused::frown:
I even called a number listed and left a message. Someone called me back later and said they haven't ever listed anything on ebay and I must have the wrong number (possible I guess) :confused:
I really hope this isn't another bad ebay deal for me ... seems like they are getting more common.
 
Lenny said:
George, or anyone else who has ordered from Discount-tools, I tried to purchase three collets with the buy now option and it didn't give me a choice to change the quantity. I have paid for the one collet through paypal but attempts to email or message the seller have gone without a reply so far. :confused::frown:
I even called a number listed and left a message. Someone called me back later and said they haven't ever listed anything on ebay and I must have the wrong number (possible I guess) :confused:
I really hope this isn't another bad ebay deal for me ... seems like they are getting more common.
Click to expand...

Don't know what to say, I ordered two collets and if memory serves I made two seperate transactions since it was free shipping. They did come in one box though.

Their website is: http://www.discount-tools.com/er-collet-indexmain1.htm

I have ordered several tools from them for my metal lathe, never a problem yet but these days a business can turn on a dime!
 
Called again to day and got him. Worked the whole thing out in less than a minute. I think I had dialed the wrong number before :redface::rolleyes:

I really like my new collet chuck! Thanks again George and all the others who have helped twist my arm and steer me in the right direction! :)
 
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