Chucking tip
Keith Tompkins
>Some of the pieces I make require chucking from each side. I have come up with a method that might be interesting to try. To turn one of my suspended pieces, I formerly used a glue block on the 8/4 x6 x6 square stock to save material.
I came up with an easier way. I mount the piece between centers, and true up the face (tailstock side). I then cut a ring about 2" diameter and 1/4" deep with a parting tool. I widen the groove to accommodate my chuck jaws. I can now expand or contract into the groove. I don't remove any material except to form the groove. In other words, I form a tenon, but don't remove the wood around it to expose it.
I mount the piece in the chuck, form the contour I want, and cut another 2" groove in the THIS side. I now grasp this groove in the chuck and finish the other side, completely removing the original ring.
To complete, I make a jam chuck to hold the finished side, and hollow the remaining side, removing the last ring in the process. The whole while, the four "wings' are just a blur.
I observed quite a few posts about chucking methods, thought this may be of some help.
