Chuck key missing?

As a novice I was particularly pleased to see the front of the latest MEW, 257. The advertised article "Making a Chuck Key" was exactly what I needed and could probably cope with, a true 'article for beginners'. My joy has turned to sadness as I cannot find said article anywhere 😢

Hi Nige,

Keep digging you will find some more of these if you look,i have to say i was somewhat confused by the caption

on the photo bottom right on page 55 ,see top left page 54.

John

We had to hold it and Tom Senior over to the next issue, but the cover didn't get updated - sorry!

Neil

A 'Senior Moment'......?

I'll get me coat.

Edited By John C on 16/07/2017 10:19:46

Hi Nige,

Make two chuck keys for your 4-jaw. Being able to slacken and tighten opposing jaws at the same time makes it much easier to centre work.

By the way your 0.01mm run-out was good for a first effort. Took me a few sessions to get the hang of it and I'm still slow.

Dave

If making a key make it + shaped rather than T shape. The other end can be used for another chuck or for a hex for the tool holder screws.

Chuck keys are like that: they disappear as soon as nobody is holding them down. I even painted mine bright red and made a special clip for it to hang from right there on the lathe where I need it - and the b!@#$%y thing still can never be found.

H

Dave: Thanks, that was exactly why I was happy to see that making a chuck key was to be found inside the latest issue. I watched a great YouTube video on using the 4 jaw which used two chuck keys. I can manage the simple challenge of making a chuck key using hand tools though 😀

Nige

Shouldn't be too difficult. In the crudest from, take the bar intended for the Key, diameter such that it can be filed down to the size of the square (or hexagon - see later) , and cross drill for the metal intended for the Handle.

File, ideally mill, to the size of square that fits the socket for the chuck jaw, (round the corners a little before trying in the socket). Once the business end is the required fit,,preferably drill and tap the end for the Handle, to take a securing grubscrew. Fit the handle , tighten grubscrew, and you are in business.

The nice way to do it is to mill the square, if possible.

For a chuck with hexagon sockets, find a piece of hexagon bar of the right size, or using the flats as a guide, file down each flat in turn, to fit the socket, and put the Handle on in the same way.

Two Keys can be a big help in centering the work in a four jaw.

Howard

I disagree Nige. Hand tools are a complete waste of your valuable time.

The need to make a pair of chuck keys is the perfect justification for buying a milling machine, rotary table, collet chuck, collet set, clamps, machine vice, DTI, DRO and cutters. Go on, you know you want to...

Dave

Indeed, Keeping the commercial interests of the hobby alive means always buying more! stay well away from those simple curmudgeons your grandfather may have used and stick to modern technology. That way we can make £3000 out of you rather than £30.

Michael W

Damn, my plastic 3D printed chuck key has snapped! I had better invest in a laser sintering version

Just find a bit of already square bar of the right size aprox. Door handle bar is ok for a lot of smaller chucks. Does not need anything exotic, not a lot of force needed.

Get thee behind me Satan, or in this case Dave and Micheal W. I would spend the money if I had it but I don't so I can't I'm not even going to think about asking the "What Mill should I buy" question

My drill chuck key is fitted to a length of chain fixed to the machine itself,so no more hunting around for it. The mill tool for knocking out the morse taper sleeves is also on a chain,always to hand. Lathe keys clipped to the outside of the gear housing.

Now regarding centering work in the 4 jaw chuck,I came across a photo on the cover of a book by no less a man than Tubal Cain. He admits himself that when he saw the picture,he went into shock,thinking of all the time he had wasted over the years ! I tried it,and Bingo! ,it works ! Simple and effective.

A misprint surely! That should be 'Santa', not 'Satan'.

You deserve a treat, the more expensive the better. I have it on good authority that Neil's already ordered a Laser Sintering 3D printer. You can trust us, honest: I'm a doctor.

Mills available in all good toyshops, easy terms available; what could possibly go wrong?

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 18/07/2017 18:15:20