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Good and bad: a stuck chuck

Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

Joined
Feb 18, 2023
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Orange, CA
This is kind of embarrassing. And it’s funny also. Was turning a small olive hollow form with lots of cracks. Took it off lathe still on the Vicmarc 120 chuck and squirted in a bunch of thin CA into the cracks, then some thick, then accelerator. After that dried I used some epoxy with copper, figuring that would look good. What I didn’t realize was that the CA dripped through the cracks onto the chuck and when I later tried to take the piece off the chuck—I couldn’t. Poured some acetone all over it. No luck. Do I now soak it in acetone or set the wood on fire till it’s gone? The good is that it didn’t budge from the chuck as I hollowed. The bad . . . is obvious. The chuck doesn’t make a good stand for the piece.IMG_1865.jpeg
 
Gerald Lawrence said:
May be a matter of which is more valuable chuck or work piece> Try a chisel into the tenon and a sharp rap with hammer. Oh loosen chuck jaws as much as you can first.
Click to expand...
Don’t care about the piece. Can’t turn chuck handle at all. I guess I could part the piece off and then turn away whatever wood is left, then soak w acetone . . .
 
I would part off the piece and then place the chuck in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Heat is supposed to loosen both Epoxy and CA glue. Obviously oven mitts to handle the hot chuck. I shy away from solvents, if I can.
 
Loosened yet? I like Hughie's idea best.

Not worrying about loosening the grip for the moment, sit on a stool, set the whole works chuck-side-up in your lap, and insert the largest diameter wood dowel (soften the cut end of the dowel with a couple swipes of sandpaper), the start giving modest hits with a mallet or dead blow hammer. See if this helps to fracture the bond of the CA to the jaws. Uitilze some acetone soaking at the same time, and do this in a well ventilated area so the solvent doesn't zonk you.

One of two things will happen- success and saving your turning, or you'll punch through the bottom of your turning. If #2, then its wrecked anyway, use all necessary methods to break away the wood. If wrecked, don't be forceful enough with the demo to damage the chuck. Afterward, soak the jaws in acetone to release the remaining glue bonds.

Fingers crossed for a save!
 
Part the bowl off. Odds are the ca is gluing the inner jaws to the chuck. Set the chuck on its side so you can pour the solvent into the upper jaw. Let it sit for a few minutes abd then do the next jaw. After each application try adjusting the jaws. Worse scenario soak the whole chuck. After you get it moving diss assemble it and add some lricate.
 
Two part epoxy will break up at about 180 degrees F. Example: fishing rod handles break loose when left in a hot car.
Good luck. Soak and disassemble and lubricate might be best.
 
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