Thoughts on collet chucks......

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

mikeee12345

Collet chucks work fine, you can quickly and easily make wood collet chucks

that will work in an adjustable chuck, or you can also turn wood collet

chucks that have threads or tapers that will fit into/on your lathe head stock.

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

john lucas

They are wonderful. I use Morse taper collet chucks and you have to make your own draw bar, which I did. However Bealle sells a set of collet chucks that work great and some day I will invest.

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

Ken Vaughan

I like ER collet chucks and have several sizes. I find on the wood lathe, the ER32 size collets are flexible holding devices for round things between 1/8 inch (3mm) and 3/4 inch + (20 mm).

It takes a lot of collets to cover the range and the sets from Jerry Beall or CUSA cover the 1/4 inch basics (1/4 - 3/4 by 1/8ths) leaving gaps.

I went to EBay and got a metric set for under $100 to cover the range.

I can turn aluminum and brass on a wood lathe and lathe file steel easily with round stock.

Mostly hold wood, rounded between centers.

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

David Walser

I have two sets of collet chucks. One is a set of Morse taper collets from Little Machine Shop. The second is chuck from Craft Supplies USA that screws onto the spindle. I find them both to be very useful.

When drilling on the lathe, I prefer to use a collet in the tailstock's Morse taper. A collet holds the drill bit more accurately than a Jacob's chuck and I don't have to worry about the Jacob's chuck coming loose as I back the dill bit out of the work. I also like that the collet is much more compact (I have a short-bed lathe).

I also use the Morse taper collets in the headstock. However, the chuck from CSUSA is quicker to install. In addition, it allows me to mount a long dowel in the headstock and pull out just a little bit at a time. Very nice for repetitive tasks such as birdhouse perches or finials. Also, the CSUSA collets go up to 3/4", while the Morse taper collets max out at 1/2". So, while there are lots of times either version would work, they are not perfect substitutes for each other.

A downside to the CSUSA set is there is a fairly large gap (1/8") in size between the included collets. The collets only have a range of movement of 1/32", so it's fairly easy to make a tenon that's too large for one and too large for the next. I can solve that problem by buying more ER-32 collets. I've just not got around to that.

Beall

GaryG in MD

When going under one inch in diameter, if I don't want to use a small spur, I like to use my Beall collet chuck that screws onto the spindle. The standard set of collets covers the size range. Easy to use and very reliable. ...GG

Re: Beall

Hugh

I would put my vote in for the Beall collet chuck.

You can turn a small spigot to fit and mount a small piece of wood in the chuck very easily.

I use it for making duck calls. Very handy. And you can purchase different sizes of collets if needed.

I believe Sorby has a collet chuck also.......never used that one though.

Hugh

Re: Beall

David Walser

I'm sure the Beall collet chuck is well-made. However, in this case, I prefer CSUSA's Apprentice collet chuck. Not merely because the Apprentice version is $90 less, but because the Beall chuck requires the use of wrenches or tommy bars. The Apprentice chuck's body is knurled, making it possible to hand-tighten the collet. Beall's version is smooth, making it all-but-impossible to tighten without using the included wrenches or tommy bars.

Admittedly, this may be a bigger deal for some than for others. You can hand tighten the Beall chuck before using the wrenches to snug the collet the rest of the way. But, just as I prefer a Jacobs chuck that can be hand-tightened over one requiring a key, I prefer using the Apprentice collet chuck. YMMV.

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

roger lance

I have a preference for buying American over China made tools. So, I've been favoring the Beall collet chuck over the Apprentice.

However, I recently received a Beall spindle tap which was made in China.....just had the Beall name applied to it. There are an abundance of ER 32 collets on the market.....easy to get in a multitude of sizes both metric and standard.....and I'm assuming that Beall does not make their own collets but rather purchases them on the open market and therefore the collets they use could also be coming from China. So, we are really talking about the chuck bodies.....which Beall may make or have made here.

I quit like Mr. Beall.....he has enjoyable videos on YouTube and has a good sense of humor.....I'd like to help make him rich.....but, I also am concerned about my own limited wealth if there are no actual differences between these products.

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

Mike Peace

I did a video review of the Apprentice collet system which I really like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxM44TD0dRY

Re: Thoughts on collet chucks......

roger lance

Mike.....I've already watched your video with your grand daughter making a few appearances......I've been going to school on your videos.

Thanks for making them.