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Tell Me about Collet Chucks

William Rogers

William Rogers

Joined
Mar 19, 2016
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Location
Haubstadt, Indiana
I did a search, but did not find much about collet chucks. I do turn finials and i was thinking these would be useful. The best price I have found is from Craft Supply apprentice set. Are they that useful and what set would you recommend.
 
image.jpg I also own the oneway “psudeo” collet set for the strong hold. It works but I prefer using the Bealle collet chuck which is sold to fit your lathes thread size. I optioned to purchase separately a set of 11 Shars E32 collets on Amazon for about 60 dollars. Not only can you use this for wood, but it can double for machining operations on your wood lathe. I often use it to connect my flex shaft chuck, d rilling and 1/4” diamond sharpening cone.
 
Several years ago I did a video about using collets In a lathe's tailstock. I inadvertently referred to the collet as a collet chuck...

A collet chuck is a device that holds collets. The video shows direct use of a collet, without a chuck.

I do have a nice Beall chuck that holds ER32 style collets for my wood lathe, and one that holds smaller ER25 collets for my metal mini-lathe and mini-mill.

I have a full metric set of ER32 collets, that have nicely overlapping sizes, so all size stock within the collet range can be held securely.

I prefer to use collets directly, without a chuck whenever possible, because of their low profile.

For those who might not be familiar with collets, here is the video about using one in the tailstock.

 
Thanks for the input. Alan nice video, all my forester bits are also 3/8". I need to look into getting that one and maybe a few more for the tail stock. I know the Beall system is nice, but the CS Apprentice is about 1/2 the price and also uses ER 32 inserts.
 
To update this thread, I was able to borrow the CS collet chuck from a fellow club member. It worked just fine, however it wasn't what I really wanted. I ended up buying pin jaws and for what I was wanting it was a better choice for me. Main reason is I can chuck a 3/4' square right into the chuck where you need a diameter to use the collet chuck. The pin jaws hold very well.
 
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