XMAS BULBS AMER.WOODTURNER

Re: XMAS BULBS AMER.WOODTURNER

John Lucas

>Dennis

I would probably turn them between centers and just carve off the bottom and top nubbins that would be left.

You can make a compression chuck out of wood. Mount a blank on a faceplate and turn it down so it's about 1 inch at the tip. Drill the end to fit the dowel. Now slice slots in the end. You can tighten it with a screw clamp.

I think there will be a tip on how to make a wooden collet chuck in the next issue of American Woodturner.

Re: XMAS BULBS AMER.WOODTURNER

Fred in NC

>Poor man's collet (my own version):

Turn a 1" thick disk to fit your jaws. Chuck it up. With a drill in the tailstock, drill a 1/4" hole in the middle.

Mark a spot in the disk and jaw so you can chuck it up again in the same position. Take it out of the chuck and cut a slit from the hole to the outside of the circle. Put back in the chuck in the same position (marks aligned).

If the compression is not sufficient, you can continue the slit on the other side of the hole, about halfway through.

Inexpansive collets *LINK*

Phil Joines Krum, Texas

>Little Machine Shop carries collets from 1/8" to 1/2" for #2MT for $9 each and a set for $50. They can be used for pin chucks by using appropriate sized rods.

They run a lot truer than any of my chucks.


Collet set

Re: Inexpansive collets

Barbara Gill, Remlik Virginia

>Showing my ignorance: What does "# 3/8"-16 drawbar thread" mean and how do the collets tighten? Do you "drive" the wood and collet either with a mallet or tailstock so that the morse taper compresses the collet?

Re: Inexpansive collets

Rusty Miller

>Barbara,

The drawbar thread is at the back end of the collet. A 3/8" threaded rod is inserted through the hole in the spindle.The rod is threaded into the back of the collet. A hand wheel or a nut and washer is threaded onto the threaded rod that is sticking out of the back end of the spindle. When the hand wheel is tightened it pulls the collet against the taper of the spindle in turn tighting it.

Much easier to see than to explain.

Rusty-Tye,TX

GREAT link Phil!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>

Thanks for posting this! This one is going right into my "bookmarks", under "Woodworking->Lathe Supplies"

I was thinking of buying Axminster collet chuck that CSUSA sells. But these make much more sense.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: GREAT link Phil!

old griz

>I opted for a totally different system than shown in the magazine... I purchased some 1.

5" maple dowels from cuecomponents (http://www.cuecomponents.com/mahadobx18.html) cut them to a length that allowed me to put a tenon on one end.. I held them in my pin chuck and cut the ornament, using the tailstock for support until the very end..

I use NGR dye for the bodies, burnished that with a piece of brown paper bag and finished with CA and friction polish and then use a metallic sharpie pen for the top...

The pic attached is from the first lot of 6 I did.. I modified the shape a little after that, but those are already on display at my Christmas craft booth at our local farm market... I ended up turning over 50 for the craft fair.. they are selling well.. may have to get more dowels before Christmas..

Using the maple dowels really made the turning quick and they sanded real smooth making the finishing process a joy... I was able to get 5 ornaments from each dowel.. making my wood cost $0.80 ea.. they are selling for $5.00 and took no time to cut once I got into the swing of things..

To cut the "screw rings" I ground a masonry nail into a round nose scraper shape and used that instead of trying to cut accurate coves with a spindle gouge and it worked like a dream..

Morse taper collets

Fred in NC

>I have some comments on these collets. I have some of them.

First of all, I have dealt with LittleMachineShop and their tools, prices, and service are excellent. No affiliation.

These collets are made for metal work and tolerances. These collets can compress just a few thousands of an inch, maybe .005 at most. They do run absolutely true. Because of the way they are made, the ones with a larger opening, having thinner metal, can compress a little more. A 1/4" collet will compress very little.

That said, the spindle opening must be absolutely clean before you insert a collet. This is extremely important, since you will be pulling it with the drawbar. The collet can only go so far into the spindle. If the dowel is very loose to start with, you will not be able to secure it in the collet, no matter how hard you pull it in !!!

Besides, commercial dowels are not cut to very precise sizes. Your 1/4" dowel could be 1/32" smaller. Soft wood of course will give, and make it harder to secure in the collet even if it is sized right.

I am saying all this because I have heard of cases in which the collet was pulled in so tight that it could not be removed from the spindle without dismantling the headstock. And it can cause damage if it is overtightened.

I use these collets to secure metal mandrels in my lathe. For example, mandrels to make pens. Other people use metal mandrels to make flutes. The hole is bored first, and then the blank goes on the mandrel and turned. This makes a true hole easier.

By the way, LittleMachineShop has another collet based on a Morse taper that does not expand, and is very similar to the Beall set.

Remember, the Beall set was designed for wood to start with.

Re: Morse taper collets

Don Evans

>Fred:

I think if you search out collets, the "ER" series of collets for metal working are the same as the one's Beall uses.

The ER's are used mostly in CNC I believe but not positive about that. There isn't any reason they cannot be used for other than CNC though.

I think the statement that they were invented for wood working is incorrect and the ER's have been around longer than Beall's collet system.

They apppear to just purchase ER collets and then adapt them with different adapters to make it more convenient for woodturning use.

Don

Re: Morse taper collets

Don Evans

>I should have specified ER-11 as there are so many different types of ER series.

Don

Re: Morse taper collets

Arch

>I cut steel tubing of various external. and internal diameters into 1-1/4" lengths and cut a narrow slot lengthwise. Compressed in a scroll chuck or Jacobs chuck according to the size tenon being held they are adequately true as 'collets' for woodturning. Also 1-1/4" lengths of various diameter brass rod can be precision drilled and slotted for holding tenons. When I'm in 'elegant mode' I cut two slots a little less than half the collet's length, 180deg. apart.

For 3/4 X 16 lathe spindles don't forget about using 1/2" plumber's compression fittings as collets. For other lathes, I think the fittings could probably be held in a chuck.

Turn to Safety, Arch