• Beware of Counterfeit Woodturning Tools (click here for details)
  • Johnathan Silwones is starting a new AAW chapter, Southern Alleghenies Woodturners, in Johnstown, PA. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Paul May for "Checkerboard (ver 3.0)" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 25, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Jam or Vacuum chuck sealant

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
1,621
Likes
577
Location
Houma, Louisiana
I was wanting to make some jam chucks like those I saw in a class I took last month and gave it a try. David Ellsworth uses shelf liner and contact cement to adhere to the face of his chucks, but I had less than great results with that (as shown in the first photo).

So I bought a can of Plasti-Dip at Lowes and gave it a try. It works really well. I mask of the outside and then just spray about 5 coats over a day or so onto the chuck. So far the results have been very good: no transfer to the work piece, and it has pretty good gripping quality. Also, it has the benefit of providing a seal for vacuum chucking.

This may be old news but it's new to me, so in case anyone is interested... :)

photo.jpg
 

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
1,621
Likes
577
Location
Houma, Louisiana
Neat idea Mark. Did you seal the wood with shellac or anything first?

Doug

Doug,

Thanks. No sealer. In fact, I left the interior alone after turning. I was unsure about adhesion so sprayed directly on the wood.
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
For jam chucking, I have used some textured kitchen drawer liner which is thicker and has better traction than regular liner material. I also have liner material for roll around tool chests which has great gripping and can be used for vacuum chucking because it is closed cell. There was also an AW article on vacuum chucking with a sealant made by mixing clear silicone caulk and corn starch. Mineral spirits can be used as a thinner. Acrylic paint can be added for color. The article is on page 21 of the April 2013 issue. The material is called Oogoo and is a homemade substitute for Sugru, an expensive commercial product. Unfortunately, the AW article misspelled Oogoo as Oogloo. More information can be found by Googling Oogoo. John Lucas, innovative guy that he is, has also used Oogoo as a decorating material on some turned items.
 
Last edited:

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
1,621
Likes
577
Location
Houma, Louisiana
For jam chucking, I have used some textured kitchen drawer liner which is thicker and has better traction than regular liner material. I also have liner material for roll around tool chests which has great gripping and can be used for vacuum chucking because it is closed cell. There was also an AW article on vacuum chucking with a sealant made by mixing clear silicone caulk and corn starch. Mineral spirits can be used as a thinner. Acrylic paint can be added for color. The article is on page 21 of the April 2013 issue. The material is called Oogoo and is a homemade substitute for Sugru, an expensive commercial product. Unfortunately, the AW article misspelled Oogoo as Oogloo. More information can be found by Googling Oogoo. John Lucas, innovative guy that he is, has also used Oogoo as a decorating material on some turned items.

Thanks Bill, that sounds like a better solution. Thicker and more flex. And cheaper too.

Note to self: Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo...

:)
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
........... Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo...

:)

Interesting chant.

Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo ...
 

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
1,621
Likes
577
Location
Houma, Louisiana
Interesting chant.

Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Google oogoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo, Oogle Googoo ...

Somebody hep me, I been hypnotized.
 

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
1,621
Likes
577
Location
Houma, Louisiana
I think that I remember saying something like that when I was a few months old. And, my parents though that it was only baby talk.

Little did they know you were just ahead of your time.
 
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
485
Likes
3
Location
Roseland, LA
just a comment about the thick shelf liner

Lowe's and I suspect most places now have the thick liner in an untextured version too.

I do admire you folks with your sophisticated baby talk. The first thing I said got my mouth washed out with soap!

Hu
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8,321
Likes
3,576
Location
Cookeville, TN
I'm not sure there is a perfect vacuum chuck sealant material. If the material is too soft the bowl gets out of alignment. If it's too stiff it won't always seal when a bowl warps a little. I'll give the spray on rubber a try. Vacuum chucks are like clamps in the shop, you can't have too many.
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
I'm not sure there is a perfect vacuum chuck sealant material. If the material is too soft the bowl gets out of alignment. If it's too stiff it won't always seal when a bowl warps a little....

You've touched upon a great truth that I'm sure many have recognized in their quest for the perfect sealant.
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,591
Likes
4,886
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
I'm not sure there is a perfect vacuum chuck sealant material. If the material is too soft the bowl gets out of alignment. If it's too stiff it won't always seal when a bowl warps a little. I'll give the spray on rubber a try. Vacuum chucks are like clamps in the shop, you can't have too many.

How true! Like many things in woodturning vacuum chucks have trade offs.

Fun foam on a chuck made from PVC is rigid, provides a good seal on round surfaces, and a solid feel when turning.

Thick neoprene on a chuck made from Sona tube (cardboard) is flexible, seals on near round surfaces, and has spongy feel when turning.

Both have their uses
 
Back
Top