Vacuum Chuck Adapter...

[John Grace]

Does anyone have a source or video on how to make their own vacuum chuck adapter? I have the Oneway vacuum chucks themselves, the gast pump, hosing...but what I don't have for my new lathe is an adapter to connect it to the outboard spindle.

I recently purchased one of the Nebula lathes and didn't really consider it would be a problem to find a vacuum adapter for the outboard spindle. Unfortunately, Teknatool decided to use a M28x3 LH spindle for the outboard and nobody, and I do mean nobody makes either a vacuum adapter or a spindle adapter for it to one of the conventional sizes. Even Teknatool says not only are they not making a vacuum adapter they're not evening going to be offering a spindle adapter to one of the more common sizes. I found a company who is willing to mill me a 'one off' spindle adapter but that's $265 alone plus I'll still have to purchase another company's vacuum adapter. So to that end...does anyone have any spiffy (i.e. easy) plans by which I can fabricate my own? THANKS...

 

[Gary Beasley]

If you could concoct the swivel joint a connection can be plugged into the recess in the center of the handle. The connector could be plastic or wood with o rings in place to seal the insert.

 

[hockenbery]

If you have the ONEWAY adapter - I’ve rigged a few wooden adapters for demos. One I remember was for an old style jet that had the little cylinder where the handwheel belonged. We just turned tight fits then wrapped the ONEWAY adapter end with teflon tap and screwed the adapter on ( have a filter going into the pump but no tape came through)
It works fin3 for a demo and you could finish a few bowls while….

At a fraction of your quote-
There are several all thread vacuum adapters. Have to check that the all thread would go through the spindle.
Simple but a minor pain to set up.
You cut the all thread to you spindle length. There are seals on each end and the outboard end spins.
The inboard seal allows chucks to be screwed on.
Found this one. Just shows outboard end

This shows the whole kit you would cut off the right side that sticks out

 

[Bob Slocum]

Robust also makes an outboard adapter that may work.

Vacuum Adapter – Robust Tools

 

[Tom Gall]

@John Grace Stay tuned...
Questions: 1) Is your spindle hollow? 2) If so, do you know the ID of your spindle? 3) Do you have a steel/metal hand wheel?

I have two different types of homemade rotary unions. Both use the spindle as the vacuum tube. No rods or tubes needed.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Check on Rubber Chuckys site. They have them to fit just about any lathe.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

I made my own following instructions in Doc Green’s book Fixtures and Chucks for Woodturning. He has instructions for making the adapter for various lathes, though not yours, although I’m sure it would be easy to adapt from what he shows. I’d photograph the pages, but think I’d be violating copyrights. In any event, it’s a book I’ve found packed with other useful info, so worth buying.

 

[Brian Gustin]

I’d photograph the pages, but think I’d be violating copyrights. In any event, it’s a book I’ve found packed with other useful info, so worth buying.

May be helpful to others to locate the book if you can check the back or inside cover pages for the ISBN Number... Far easier to find books that way than by trying to keyword search.. Just a suggestion..

 

[Lou Jacobs]

May be helpful to others to locate the book if you can check the back or inside cover pages for the ISBN Number... Far easier to find books that way than by trying to keyword search.. Just a suggestion..

here it is Brian, if this is helpful. I just did a quick title search on eBay and about 18 copies available there and on Amazon, with used as low as $11 (plus $4 for shipping). I’m sure more searching (Powell’s, etc. will turn up more).
,

 

[Jeff Jackson]

May be helpful to others to locate the book if you can check the back or inside cover pages for the ISBN Number... Far easier to find books that way than by trying to keyword search.. Just a suggestion..

I made my own following instructions in Doc Green’s book Fixtures and Chucks for Woodturning. He has instructions for making the adapter for various lathes, though not yours, although I’m sure it would be easy to adapt from what he shows. I’d photograph the pages, but think I’d be violating copyrights. In any event, it’s a book I’ve found packed with other useful info, so worth buying. View attachment 60074

It's also available on Doc Green's website at https://www.docgreenwoodturner.com/rotaryadapter.html

 

[Lou Jacobs]

It's also available on Doc Green's website at https://www.docgreenwoodturner.com/rotaryadapter.html

Thanks for showing that Jeff! I wasn’t aware of the website. So much for copyright issues!!

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Here’s mine made to his design. Mine only has one sealed bearing and I’ve been using it for several years with no sign of leakage. I use an o-ring to seal it against the hand wheel. I bought a package of about six when I made it, figuring they’d flatten out and need to replaced over time. Still on o-ring #1. He mentions providing strain relief. I did something similar to his, but instead of a bolt and wing nut, I just use a spring clamp. Makes installing and removing take no time at all.

 

[John Grace]

Robust also makes an outboard adapter that may work.

Vacuum Adapter – Robust Tools

Thanks...tried that, wrong size.

 

[John Grace]

Check on Rubber Chuckys site. They have them to fit just about any lathe.

Bought and returned this one too...wrong size, won't work with my spindle/hand wheel. thanks...j

 

[John Grace]

@John Grace Stay tuned...
Questions: 1) Is your spindle hollow? 2) If so, do you know the ID of your spindle? 3) Do you have a steel/metal hand wheel?

I have two different types of homemade rotary unions. Both use the spindle as the vacuum tube. No rods or tubes needed.

Spindle is hollow, spindle ID is approximately 15.75mm, hand wheel is metal.

 

[Dean Center]

Do a search on this forum, too. I believe this has come up before, but possibly years ago. At that time, lots of people were making their own.

 

[Tom Gall]

@John Grace This diagram by Carl Ford should give you a starting point. Your spindle ID should allow you to use a short piece (2-3") of lamp rod (or other tubing covered with vinyl (or other tubing) - just slides in & slides out. Minor adjustments can be made by adding layers of tape or even sanding. Or devise a way to add a couple of O rings. For my mini lathe (small spindle ID) I made a prototype rotary adapter using magnets to attach to the handwheel.
I'll try to add some photos from my phone ... no promises!

 

[Tom Gall]

Photos… maybe ? OK they posted.
#1& #2 - Made from Dymondwood (resin infused wood) Tape is covering a hairline crack ... not pretty but works great.
#3 - E-Z Vac Adapter - my first rotary union in 1994. My version works better - runs truer.
#4 - Prototype for mini lathe with magnets to attach to hand wheel. MDF (must be well sealed - as for all wood types)

 

[Tom Gall]

A few more.
#4 - Shows the magnets, a nylon spacer to adapt to the handwheel, foam washer to seal against spindle, metal item fits in spindle to center the whole contraption.
#5 - A few others (not finished) that were made for a vacuum chucking workshop.
#6 - Close up showing bearing and brass fittings.

 

[Clifton C]

It all depends in what you have in your "20 year can". That's the old coffee can full of non throwawayable parts and pieces collected over the years...
These look similar to most of the others. The bearing is a 6001LU, but I believe any sealed bearing will work. In this case, the threads on the brass compression fittings needed just a bit of filing, some pipe dope and a little clamp action to press fit into the bearing. The bearing interface is really the heart of the system, the rest is just adapting the bearing to the lathe.
The first two pics are for a Powermatic 3520. Slides into the hand wheel side and is held in by friction. The plastic is cutting board scrap. The 3rd and 4th pic are for a Jet 1642, made spur of the moment, texturing/coloring optional...again, held in by friction
Some things to consider, plan the order of operations to maintain concentricity of the bearing pocket and the pipe (or tenon).
I ground a small cutter so the o-rings would have a perfect, snug fitting, round bottom groove and quickly found out O-rings like square, flat bottom grooves... My experience anyway, ymmv as the saying goes.

 

[John Grace]

Thank you for all of the excellent ideas, suggestions, and thoughts on my problem. Painful as it may be to the wallet...I ended up going with the most expensive solution (...of course it's the most expensive) as it fits my vision for how I want it to work. Again, thank you one and all.