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knuckle saver for chuck?

Posts

knuckle saver for chuck?

#1

knuckle saver for chuck?

Andy in Raleigh

>I know one answer to this question will be to buy a better chuck and that is on the "someday-when-the-budget-increases" list (it's a *really* long list, BTW). But for the time being, I own and use a cheap 4 jaw chuck that whirs 4 pieces of steel (rounded, but I am sure contact would still be memorable) on the front and the tips of 4 bolts on the back. I am considering making a simple frame or collar of some kind to make incidental contact far less likely. Maybe an upside down U that slips into brackets or tracks on the motor housing. That seems like it would be easiest to make and to put on and take off. Do any of you do something like that or do you just maintain great care (or spend the extra $ for better chucks)?

I do also use a faceplate sometimes, but not for spindle work (boxes, goblets, etc) because of the end grain attachment problem.

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#2

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Bob Lemon - Sacramento CA

>Andy, how about a large rubber band over the extended jaws. This might help a little.

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#3

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Eric Kuehne

>Andy,

I have seen (in which catalog I do not know) an elastic collar with rainbow stripes that is specifically intended to prevent knuckle busting by improving visibility. Seems cheap and simple. Not having tried it I can't vouch for how well it will work in practice.

Or, I suppose you could try hockey gloves. ;-)

Good luck. Be safe.

Eric

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#4

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Tony - Memphis

>Maybe a good idea. Wonder if you could attach the legs of the U to the base with magnets? I've caught a knuckle and it ain't fun. Luckily just a scratch, but it made me more aware!

Tony

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#5

Re: knuckle saver for chuck? *LINK*

KWGeorge

>The item your looking for is sold be Lee Valley Tools.

I personaly use a wrist sweat band when my jaws exceed the diameter of my chuck.


Chuck Cuff

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#6

Re: knuckle saver for chuck? *LINK*

Randy Privett

>I'm like Ken and use a wrist sweat band, sure keeps the knuckles free from getting caught.

Randy


monster

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#7

Brad Vietje

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Brad Vietje

>These wristband thingies seem like a good idea...

Here's 2 more:

1. You could build some sort of guard attached to the headstock that flips down to cover the chuck. Frankly, this sounds pretty clumsy to me, and it would probably interfere with my turning.

2. Attach little flaps of masking tape to the end of the jaws, so they stick out about 1/2" or so past the end of the dangerous parts. In use, you'd feel the gentle flicking of the tape tabs when you were getting too close to the knuckle busters, warning you to move away before you got into trouble. I'll credit John Lucas' tips column in American Woodturner for this one submitted by a wise, 10-fingered woodturner.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#8

Dick Hines

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Dick Hines

>Come on guys, you have to give your body and blood for the team. I have not hit my knuckle lately but I did hit the end of a finger Sunday. How I have a big blood on the end if my middle finger. When I have to use it does give a lasting impresion though.

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#9

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

john

>I remember reading somewhere.....attach one end of a strip of tape (or strips of something) to each jaw slide, so they extend away from the chuck when it's spinning --- maybe an inch or two. When you get whapped by these tape straps, don't get any closer.

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#10

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Bob Hackett

>Yet another tip from the AAW journal is to grind a small radius on each corner of the removeable jaws.

It doesn`t interfere with the working of the chuck and makes it safer.You may still get whacked by a passing jaw but at least it won`t dig out a divot of flesh when it impacts.

Mainely,Bob

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#11

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

Tony - Memphis

>Neat idea! Simple yet effective!

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#12

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

� Joe Millsap

>Try a strip of bicycle or motor cycle tube streached over the jaws

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#13

this type of chuck

Andy in Raleigh

>I think some of the posts assume that I have a chuck with arced jaws that come closer to touching.


img

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#14

Re: this type of chuck

Andrew Hilton

>Ahhh, ok. I have this same chuck. My very first one, in fact. I think I got it at Grizzly. It's a 4 independent-jaw chuck. A heavy one too.

I use it now exclusively for making natural-handle canes still on the first lathe I ever bought. Those independent jaws are fantastic for this purpose.

Anyway, you've gotten some good responses but I'm not sure any are like what I use with that chuck. I made myself a 1/4" thin plywood shield. I don't have a picture of it handy though. It's basically just a piece of plywood standing vertically from the lathe bed (the plywood is attached to a block that rides on the lathe bed) and goes very close to the spinning chuck. The plywood has a hole in it large enough for the turnings to go through it while they're in the chuck, of course.

This gives a bit of separation between the spinning chuck and the piece of wood your working on. When I was first learning to turn, I used to slip or go too far towards the chuck and this plywood shield took the beating for my hands. It'd hit the spinning jaws instead.

Just another option.

Re: knuckle saver for chuck?

#15

Re: this type of chuck

Andy in Raleigh

>Thanks. I was thinking of possibly doing something similar to your suggestion. I have been using it mostly at one size. I turn a tenon to that size and back each jaw out a half turn, put the piece in and tighten them back. It holds quite well, BTW. Anyway, I could make one for each common size. An adjustable one would be nice, but I am not sure how that coul;d be easily done.