Reply To: Lapping a Unimat 3-jaw chuck

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

Hello:

Posted by old mart on 17/01/2023 18:54:44:

… a good time to think of a replacement chuck, small ones are not expensive …

Depends.

I had a very hard time finding a 4-jaw chuck for my Unimat 3, prices were all across the board with very little options to choose from.

The fact that used OEM Emco 4-jaw chucks for DB/SLs as well as U3s are still going for absolutely silly money so many years later means that suitable after-market alternatives have never really become available for U3 owners and a thorough on-line search confirmed it.

Sherline markets a really very nice looking one which would have set me back a cool US$131.00 plus shipping which in my case would have been a total of US$175.00 + import taxes on that.

On the other end of the spectrum were the rather shabby looking ones from Asia (India?) available for ~US$65.00 which I decided not to risk my money on.

There was nothing in the middle as other OEMs, who manufacture good quality chucks for very competitive prices (eg: San Ou), do not make the type of chuck the Unimat 3 needs.

I finally found an OEM Emco on eBay for a total of ~ US$150.00.

Thanks for your input.

 

Posted by bernard towers on 17/01/2023 20:25:21:

… made the petal plate when the original article was published …

Good to know it works well.

I am now seeing about getting one laser cut in 1/4" hot rolled plate, just have to make sure the dimensions are correct as this is for an OEM Unimat 3 chuck which is a small thing as chucks go.

Next comes the Dremel holder tool.

Thanks for your input.

Best,

JHM

Edited By Julius Henry Marx on 18/01/2023 11:21:31