Widening a chuck

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goose_man
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:18 am

I like to use my drill press as a half-lathe, but this seems like it would work better if my chuck didn't have a maximum diameter of 1/2". Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make a new chuck (or an equivalently functioning peice) that I can fit in the old chuck and would accept larger diameters. I'm thinking like a removeable chuck with a 1/2" shaft running straight up from the top.

Help very much appreciated!

-goose_man
Gepard
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:24 am

What you trying to hold? And what size?

If you can hold it from the inside then you can use two blocks of wood and clamp a piece fo rubber between them. Then if you tighten it the rudder will hold the piece whilst the wood should take up the force.
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goose_man
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:03 am

I want to use it as a generic thing to have that is adjustable, so I can quickly change between a length of pipe, and end cap, a wooden dowel, etc.

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Gepard
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:26 am

Some drills you can unscrew the chuck and screw on a small lathe chuck.....

Dunno which ones though.
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williamfeldmann
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:03 pm

I bought a lathe chuck and just put the spindle part of the lathe chuck in my drill press chuck. The parts for small or midi lathes are under 1/2 inch so they will fit with no problem.

The only issue is that the spindle is round and therefore doesn't clamp in very easy and will become loose if you experience higher resistance. I am working on fixing this, either by grinding flat faces on my spindle or makind a intermediary piece. Grinding will probably be easier.
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goose_man
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:23 pm

williamfeldmann wrote:I bought a lathe chuck and just put the spindle part of the lathe chuck in my drill press chuck. The parts for small or midi lathes are under 1/2 inch so they will fit with no problem.
Can I buy one locally or do I have to get it off the net?

-goose_man
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williamfeldmann
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:36 pm

Midi lathes are sold at most if not all big box home stores like Lowes, Menards, Home depot etc. Many of the stores also carry the assecories or additional parts like the chucks.

If your store does not have the extra parts like replacement chucks it will be cheaper to find a woodworking specialty store. They are everywhere, you probably haven't had a reason to know that. Hit up the yellow pages. Specialty stores are able to sell certain tools like midi lathes pretty cheap because they go through the things. They will definetly have the chucks and they will sell them for cheaper than you could get the part off a site like Amazon.

A Midi lathe itself is not that expensive, but you need about 2 foot of solid bench top or work surface to devote to the tool. If you have the space in you shop/basement, it would be a good idea to just buy a lathe. It would be easier to use than your drill press due to the angle of work. Big midi lathes can handle turning something almost 4 inches in radius so a three inch tee could spin on the thing. If you want to do 4 inch or such you will need a big tool, even your drill press is going to experience difficulty.

For instance I have a freind with a professional, BIG lathe that I am using to work on my 6 inch tee. I had to mount it on the outboard side and run it at the slowest speed to keep the heavy cast iron base sitting level on the floor.
Trying to figure out how to make a SCUBA first stage regulator work for portable charging station. If only that pesky job thing didn't keep eating up all my time...

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
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goose_man
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Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:58 pm

I'm going to go to Home Depot to look in a few days. Thanks!

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