Need help choosing a lathe chuck

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

My choice would not be from epay – as per Stuart Smith 5 earlier.  There are always rejects among these cheaper items – and some may well be sold by ebay sources with little or no chance of recompense if not to specification.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Have you considered German suppliers?  I live in France and have bought a lot of tools from Germany.  No problems with customs duties or currency conversion charges.  You could ask Seig-machines.de or even look at amazon.de as they have a very good returns policy.

Russell

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The C1 is a micro lathe, so do not fit too large a chuck of any type, because the overhung load will over load the bearing behind the chuck, and shorten its life.

And a big chuck takes up bed space in what is already a small lathe

Also, the inertia of a large chuck chuck will call for a lot of power from the an already small motor to accelerate it up to speed.

Also with only a 150 watt motor there is not the power to handle large work in a large chuck

60 mm and 2.5″ 4 jaw chucks were available, but I would advise against going beyond 80 mm.

At least with a 4 jaw independent, one set of jaws can be reversed (Although I always use them in the same slot in the chuck body)

So it can be possible to work with one or more jaws reversed, relative to the others, if need be.

With self centering chucks, whether 3 or 4 jaw  they can only be used in the same slot whether using the internal or external jaws.

It would seem likely that most UK suppliers would be prepared to ship to Finland, at a cost. ASK!

HTH

Howard

 

[th1980Participant @th1980]

Thanks a lot, what a helpful society this is! Soba it is then. I shall heed the warnings and will order from UK. Shipping is £31.68 from Cronos and probably some fees at the customs. I’ll look at the options and decide.

[Howard Lewis]

On Howard Lewis Said:

The C1 is a micro lathe,

60 mm and 2.5″ 4 jaw chucks were available, but I would advise against going beyond 80 mm.

 

Are you mixing it up with the C0?

The C1 came with 80mm chuck as standard as the spindle PCD is 66mm

[Clive Foster]

On Clive Foster Said:

Hafta disagree with Dave (SoD) about the desirability of standard 4 jaw chucks compared to light duty (aka low profile) ones.

…

Standard 4 jaws are sized for getting a firm grip on awkward, often hefty and ill finished components for industrial rates of metal removal, often with interrupted cuts, where you really don’t want the job making a bid for freedom. Not so good at the precision setting thing.

I may have used the standard duty 4 jaw twice in 20 years!

Clive

We’re not disagreeing!  It was me who noticed that one of the chucks is low-profile and explained why that might be good or bad depending on what the lathe was used for. I agree with this Clive posting:

As ever it’s down to what you intend to hold and selecting the appropriate compromise. Much of the time it won’t matter which you choose as the capabilities overlap.

Happens that standard chucks are a better fit to my needs, which is why I recommended one.   Clive’s experience takes him the other way!  I hope now he’s read the discussion that th1980 is informed enough to decide for himself.  Only he knows what he does on his lathe!     Have to admit now I understand how small the XWS003 is, that a light low-profile chuck is likely the best choice.  It’s titch, not a Colchester!   The Soba should be fine.

Dave

[th1980Participant @th1980]

I wonder if this ->

Soba 4 Jaw Chuck on Mounting Plate for 4 inch Table

… is the same chuck with some more bits included? If so then it would be a better deal, for just £3 more I could get those extras. I don’t need them atm but there are never enough tools!

[teamrickyParticipant @teamricky]

It’s an interesting one ……

 

A 4 jaw independent doesn’t need to be high end for most jobs you will do with it ,

You will gain concentric turning by clocking in the work-this is big because most of the money if you buy expensive chucks goes into repeatability and generally applys to self centring chucks !

As long as the grip of the jaws and the grind are good you won’t really know or experience any significant improvement spending a lot more except the feel and finish….

The best upgrade for most is a good quality 3 jaw that repeats well and has been set up specifically for your lathe by matching the registers and tapping in the chuck on its studs/bolts , But that’s a whole other rabbit hole chasing microns lol

 

Cheers R

[th1980Participant @th1980]

The Soba chuck is now on the way to me by the relative express. I should be getting it in about two weeks.

[th1980Participant @th1980]

I have the chuck now. The quality of the finish is not spectacular but for the price it was expected. It needed to be cleaned thoroughly although there was not too much of grease in it. In fact there is some rust in a few places. Nothing I couldn’t live with. The surprice was that it came with just one set of jaws which are reversible. I contacted the seller and they told that the manufacturer has just recently made the change. I think I would have preferred the 2 sets of jaws but it is what it is. The curvature of the jaws would be opposite when holding a hollow piece from the inside but I suppose it doesn’t matter too much?

 

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Why were you expecting two sets of jaws, not usual for a 4-jaw independant chuck surely? Normal for scroll operated. chucks.

[Clive Brown 1]

On Clive Brown 1 Said:

Why were you expecting two sets of jaws, not usual for a 4-jaw independant chuck surely? Normal for scroll operated. chucks.

I expected them because that is what the advert and the pictures said.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Though I have a scroll chuck with reversable jaws so one set does all.

[Author]

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