Which lathe has 32x1.5mm pitch spindle thread?

In my collection of things that seemed a good idea at the time, I have a lever operated 4 jaw chuck that has an integral thread which seems quite fine in comparison to most lathes I know of.

The chuck is German, made by Niles, so I assume it a metric thread 32x1.5p

Does that size ring a bell with anyone?

Ian P

Is the thread for a spindle nose mount, or in the operating part that moves the jaws ?

Power operated chucks have fine pitch threads in the part that moves the jaws for a connecting tube running through the spindle to the hydraulic or electric actuator mounted on the back of the spindle.

Nigel B

Definitely not a power chuck!

Its quite lightweight and unusual in that the the (reversible) jaws are inserted from the centre bore outwards.

Ian P

Possibly a woodworking chuck?

I thought that too, but its a fine pitch thread and not like woodworking lathes I've seen.

Ian P

Lots of wood lathes have a 16tpi thread, but usually smaller diameter and not lever operated, which is also less common for this diameter. Perhaps made as part of an engraver general fitting pack where a large diameter might be wanted but minimal force.

This is where having thread gauges in inch and metric would come in useful. 1.5mm pitch is 16.933 tpi and that would be relatively easy to gauge, but not easy to measure an internat thread.

Edited By old mart on 14/02/2023 13:48:27

Old Mart,

Surely you have heard of screwing a softwood block into the chuck to take an impression of the thread, so much easier to measure later with decent light etc.

Regards Brian

I borrowed a thread gauge so now I know it is 1.5mm pitch.

Still looking tor what it might fit and find someone that wants to buy it.

Ian P

I have done a (small amount) of digging on this, mainly because I have a bit of a "DDR fetish".

Googling the visible model number on the picture above gets several pictorial hits in German, most being obsolete sales listings. Obviously used examples are frequently heavily sawdust encrusted & there are couple that are shown attached to woodworking lathes. This listing includes a picture of the original chuck box, with pictures of turned wooden objects & also a picture of the chuck that I think I can see an adapter bush fitted into the back of the chuck - the faceplate alongside has a much smaller mounting thread.

So it may be that the M32x1.5 thread is provided to make the chuck a "universal" item, being adapted to fit the lathe spindle nose with a bush (M32z1.5 outside, lathe spindle thread inside) as required.

Nigel B.

To see the pictures, click on the greyed-out image that says "geloescht" & the original pictures appear. Scroll through to get to the chuck packaging etc.

Edited By mgnbuk on 14/02/2023 16:29:57

You did better than I did Nigel! and it confirms it is a woodturning chuck.

Ian P

The only thread that size that I was able to find is the er25 collet nut thread, not quite the best mount for that chuck. 33mm is the closest I could find, but the pitch is much coarser.