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cue-healer

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If I buy a matal lathe, do I need a 6 jaw chuck ($600-$1000) for cue building? Will I then need it machined to my lathe for added accuracy? Of the cuemakers who use metal lathes what kind of chucks do you use? Can you post pics of them please?
Thanks
John
 
cue-healer said:
If I buy a matal lathe, do I need a 6 jaw chuck ($600-$1000) for cue building? Will I then need it machined to my lathe for added accuracy? Of the cuemakers who use metal lathes what kind of chucks do you use? Can you post pics of them please?
Thanks
John
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I use a set-tru 6 jaw chuck (600-1000) on my general lathe. It is not absolutely neccessary for cue making or repair but it does make life simpler. Much easier to get things to run truer than a standard chuck and with the six jaw, as opposed to the three jaw, not as much pressure needs to be applied to keep parts from slipping in the chucks jaws. For facing joints and fitting shafts to joints I use another lathe that has a J-2 collet system on it. It runs exceptionally true.

As far as needing a chuck machined to fit your lathe goes without saying. All chucks need to be fitted when installed. It would be criminal and probably dangerous to not have it fitted. It's not difficult at all to fit one perfectly or at least as true as the chucks capability.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
For facing joints and fitting shafts to joints I use another lathe that has a J-2 collet system on it. It runs exceptionally true.

Dick
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I'm not familiar with the collet system you mentioned. Can you give more info? Pictures? Web site?
 
Bill the Cat said:
I'm not familiar with the collet system you mentioned. Can you give more info? Pictures? Web site?
Click to expand...

It's just a collet system similer to a C-5 but with larger collets. J-2 stands for Jacob's # 2 collets. Mine was made for a Harding lathe. It consists of a collet closer mounted to the lathe spindle and a set of very accurite collets. My collets run from .25" to 1.375" in .061 incraments.

Dick
 
Dick, another question please

What size spindle center hole do you need to accomodate the J-2 collets and closer?

Hu



rhncue said:
It's just a collet system similer to a C-5 but with larger collets. J-2 stands for Jacob's # 2 collets. Mine was made for a Harding lathe. It consists of a collet closer mounted to the lathe spindle and a set of very accurite collets. My collets run from .25" to 1.375" in .061 incraments.

Dick
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ShootingArts said:
What size spindle center hole do you need to accomodate the J-2 collets and closer?

Hu
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I am not sure on the size requirements for the J-2, but there are collet chucks available for lathes with about any spindle size and type. I got a 5-C type for my lathe because then I can share the collet set with my mill, and my spin indexes. Collet chucks are very accurate, but do have some limitations. If you have any equipment that already has a collet chuck, it might be cheaper to stay with the same type, so that you can use the same collets on all of your machines. Here is a link that explains when to use a collet chuck vs a scroll chuck- http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/050203.html
 
ShootingArts said:
What size spindle center hole do you need to accomodate the J-2 collets and closer?

Hu
Click to expand...

The thru hole makes no difference because the closer and collets are on the end of the spindle. You need at least a 1.375 hole, of coarse, to be able to use that size collet but other than that it makes no difference.

Dick
 
desert1pocket said:
I am not sure on the size requirements for the J-2, but there are collet chucks available for lathes with about any spindle size and type. I got a 5-C type for my lathe because then I can share the collet set with my mill, and my spin indexes. Collet chucks are very accurate, but do have some limitations. If you have any equipment that already has a collet chuck, it might be cheaper to stay with the same type, so that you can use the same collets on all of your machines. Here is a link that explains when to use a collet chuck vs a scroll chuck- http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/050203.html
Click to expand...

Only thing wrong with 5-C collets is that they aren't large enough as the largest thru hole is slightly smaller than an inch. Now a days since everything is going CNC there are fewer and fewer collet systems being made that will fit a manual lathe. The lathe I have the collet system on is a 12X40 Jet. I put on a 5-C chuck and collet system and after a short while I decided to go with the larger J-2 because of the C-5 limitations on size. The mount I used is a D1-6 which is pretty large and heavy but I got it for about a nickle on a dollar from what a new one would cost. You could expect to spend around 2500 for a new one, if they are still available.

Dick
 
thanks

I'm using 5-C on a lathe and some other set-ups now but as you mentioned the collets are just a little small for some things. Wonder how much a J-2 spin indexer would cost me if they make such a thing? Rhetorical question there, I can dig for myself.

Hu



rhncue said:
The thru hole makes no difference because the closer and collets are on the end of the spindle. You need at least a 1.375 hole, of coarse, to be able to use that size collet but other than that it makes no difference.

Dick
Click to expand...
 
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