Looking to get a new chuck; "Set-tru", 6-Jaw or Collet type?

Jr's Farm

Jr's Farm

Be inspired!
Silver Member
Hey gang,

I'm looking to upgrade my current set-up a bit.
Right now I have a Jet GHB 13x40 lathe with the standard 3-jaw, 6" with a D1-4 back, roughly 1-1/2" through.

If I futz with it enough I can get it to runout about .003 +/-, but I have to spend quite a bit of time getting it there, not to mention I'm always switching over to my face plate for another operation. I'm sure I'm not taking enough time and I'm confident I could zero it out, but I'm thinking there's an easier way.

Since it's my only lathe, it has to be many tools for me right now. I was hoping to make life easier for me with a "Set- tru" type adapter plate, but I haven't made up my mind on a 6-jaw or collet chuck yet. So I thought I'd ask around.

At first I thought I wanted a nice Burnerd collet chuck, but that's some pretty good coin for a hard to find piece.
Bison chucks look to have some pretty good specs. What do you guys think? If there's something as good as those I'd like to hear about them. And if someone has one laying around in a 6", D1-4 back, send me a PM.

Also, if I go with a collet chuck, I'm thinking 16C, as that would be about the right through size. Does that sound about right or should I consider something else?

Anyhow, those are my early inclinations. Seems like good stuff to me but I thought I'd toss this out there for some feedback. Thanks guys.

Regards,
Frank
 
I have a 6-jaw Bison Set Tru. I can get the runout down to .0002".
I can reverse the jaws and hold a 3-inch diam. piece if needed.
They have gone up in price heavily the last 3 years I think.
 
Jr's Farm said:
Hey gang,

I'm looking to upgrade my current set-up a bit.
Right now I have a Jet GHB 13x40 lathe with the standard 3-jaw, 6" with a D1-4 back, roughly 1-1/2" through.

If I futz with it enough I can get it to runout about .003 +/-, but I have to spend quite a bit of time getting it there, not to mention I'm always switching over to my face plate for another operation. I'm sure I'm not taking enough time and I'm confident I could zero it out, but I'm thinking there's an easier way.

Since it's my only lathe, it has to be many tools for me right now. I was hoping to make life easier for me with a "Set- tru" type adapter plate, but I haven't made up my mind on a 6-jaw or collet chuck yet. So I thought I'd ask around.

At first I thought I wanted a nice Burnerd collet chuck, but that's some pretty good coin for a hard to find piece.
Bison chucks look to have some pretty good specs. What do you guys think? If there's something as good as those I'd like to hear about them. And if someone has one laying around in a 6", D1-4 back, send me a PM.

Also, if I go with a collet chuck, I'm thinking 16C, as that would be about the right through size. Does that sound about right or should I consider something else?

Anyhow, those are my early inclinations. Seems like good stuff to me but I thought I'd toss this out there for some feedback. Thanks guys.

Regards,
Frank
Click to expand...

Frank, I have use both a six jaw chuck and a Pratt collet chuck. They both work gret with pros. and cons. The six jaw is quicker and easier to use. The collet chuck is very accurate and I wont bust my knuckles on that one. However centifical force will rotate collet nut off when I start up the lathe. Stick with a six jaw. Now if you are going to dial in your chuck make sure if you remove the chuck that you mark the jaw locations so that you can mount back in the same spot. Make sure the spindle nose is clean, and use a cheater bar to snug up the locks when you put chuck back on lathe. Use an indicator on a ground rod as close to your chuck as you can and spin by hand. Do this befor and after the cheater bar and you will see what I mean.

good luck, JIm.
 
I do like the idea of eliminating the knuckle buster, but so far I've been lucky.

When I first swapped out my chuck for the faceplate I forgot to mark it's location. This last time I've taken it off and rotated it 1 spot, that seemed to help.

Now that I'm done with the faceplate operation for awhile, I think I'll take the time to properly zero it out. A combination of the cheater bar, rotating the chuck, and possibly regrinding my jaws to my standard delrin collet size might get me where I want to be.

If not, I quess it's time to get my 4-jaw out of the oil wrap and start using it.

I guess the next question would be, which chuck mfg's should I consider?

-Pratt/Burnerd
-Bison
-Buck
-Other?
Anyone have one they don't need anymore?

Thanks again for the feedback!

Regards,
Frank
 
I have a spare Bison 6 jaw w/ d1-4 mounting plate. I'd like to get $500 + shipping out of it.

I don't have a 4 jaw so we could talk if you want to add yours into the deal.
 
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dchristal said:
I have a spare Bison 6 jaw w/ d1-4 mounting plate. I'd like to get $500 + shipping out of it.

I don't have a 4 jaw so we could talk if you want to add yours into the deal.
Click to expand...

PM on the way.
 
Jr's Farm said:
Hey gang,

I'm looking to upgrade my current set-up a bit.
Right now I have a Jet GHB 13x40 lathe with the standard 3-jaw, 6" with a D1-4 back, roughly 1-1/2" through.

If I futz with it enough I can get it to runout about .003 +/-, but I have to spend quite a bit of time getting it there, not to mention I'm always switching over to my face plate for another operation. I'm sure I'm not taking enough time and I'm confident I could zero it out, but I'm thinking there's an easier way.

Since it's my only lathe, it has to be many tools for me right now. I was hoping to make life easier for me with a "Set- tru" type adapter plate, but I haven't made up my mind on a 6-jaw or collet chuck yet. So I thought I'd ask around.

At first I thought I wanted a nice Burnerd collet chuck, but that's some pretty good coin for a hard to find piece.
Bison chucks look to have some pretty good specs. What do you guys think? If there's something as good as those I'd like to hear about them. And if someone has one laying around in a 6", D1-4 back, send me a PM.

Also, if I go with a collet chuck, I'm thinking 16C, as that would be about the right through size. Does that sound about right or should I consider something else?

Anyhow, those are my early inclinations. Seems like good stuff to me but I thought I'd toss this out there for some feedback. Thanks guys.

Regards,
Frank
Click to expand...

I have both. A 40" jet with a J-2 collet set-up and an Enco with a Set-tru. Although the collet gets a lot of use and certainly nice to have it's not nearly as handy nor used as much as the 6-jaw. I would never consider having this set-up as my main usage lathe.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
I have both. A 40" jet with a J-2 collet set-up and an Enco with a Set-tru. Although the collet gets a lot of use and certainly nice to have it's not nearly as handy nor used as much as the 6-jaw. I would never consider having this set-up as my main usage lathe.

Dick
Click to expand...

That's the kind of feedback I was looking for. I have been hesitant about the collet type just because it might not be as easy to utilize.
If I can get near the same accuracy with a nice 6 jaw I'll probably go that route, at least until I get a 2nd lathe, then I can have one set up with a collet chuck. Great......more money to spend :rolleyes:

Thanks,
Frank
 
Jr's Farm said:
That's the kind of feedback I was looking for. I have been hesitant about the collet type just because it might not be as easy to utilize.
If I can get near the same accuracy with a nice 6 jaw I'll probably go that route, at least until I get a 2nd lathe, then I can have one set up with a collet chuck. Great......more money to spend :rolleyes:

Thanks,
Frank
Click to expand...

To build cues you need one good lathe. To build cues efficiently, you need more than one lathe. After attaining your first lathe you now are in business and making chips. Now you can be much more choosy and pick up bargains on e-bay, Craigslist, auctions and the newspaper at your leisure.

Dick
 
i have the Hardinge/Sogern collet chuck with Hardinge j-2 collets and it is very accurate.i like it b/c of the non knuckle busting factor.also Jacobs makes a nice collet chuck setup and can be had pretty cheap if you look around.


true they aren't as handy as the 6 jaw and probably not quite as inherently accurate,but they are plenty accurate for cue building.
 
I use a 3 jaw griptrue which is like a set true.
My lathe came with it and I have liked it for 20 years now.
I also have a dead length collet chuck for it, but I do not use it that often.
My collet chuck is not as accurate as a hardinge spindle collet.
I also have softjaws for the 3 jaw chuck.
The 4 jaw is only used holding stock to ruf round.
Neil
 
6 Jaw Buck is what I have an it works perfect. cost a little than the bison but I think is worth it.
 
I use a set true bison 6 jaw chuck and man its the nuts.. I can get it to run within .0001 - .0002 with little effort.. Needless to say its the best investment I have ever made..
 
IF you can dial in a 6 jaw bison chuck to 4 places you are missing your calling - you need to hire out to the machinists in your area RIGHT NOW you will make millions . . . LOL
 
pfd studios said:
IF you can dial in a 6 jaw bison chuck to 4 places you are missing your calling - you need to hire out to the machinists in your area RIGHT NOW you will make millions . . . LOL
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well my bison set true chuck has repeatable accurace of four tenths of a one thousandth (.0004) and with a little fittling I can get it to where the needle does not even move.. And if you dont believe me pm j2pac on here and ask him for yourself.. He has seen it with his own two eyes..
 
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making millions

pfd studios said:
IF you can dial in a 6 jaw bison chuck to 4 places you are missing your calling - you need to hire out to the machinists in your area RIGHT NOW you will make millions . . . LOL
Click to expand...

At my work , I regularly indicate parts to .0001 inch, but they are round to that to start with. You can't indicate a part that is .001 out of round to .0001, just will never happen.
As for the millions, I get told I am lucky to have a job
 
JBCustomCues said:
I use a set true bison 6 jaw chuck and man its the nuts.. I can get it to run within .0001 - .0002 with little effort.. Needless to say its the best investment I have ever made..
Click to expand...

I also have the Bison 6 jaw set true on my metal lathe.

With 6 jaws you get the same holding power as a three jaw with half the pressure.
However, I still use delrin collets to hold wood in this chuck to spread out the pressuer area and help protect the part.
If it is finished wood I also use a few layers of masking tape.
I normaly get less than 20 thousands run out and that is easly shimed out with a few scrap pieces of post-it note paper between the jaw and collet.
I shim for .001" or less run out whenever I do any joint or ferrule work and doubt that I could measure .0002" on wood due to the grain.
Sometimes the set up part takes longer than the cutting part.
 
WilleeCue said:
I also have the Bison 6 jaw set true on my metal lathe.
I normaly get less than 20 thousands run out and that is easly shimed out with a few scrap pieces of post-it note paper between the jaw and collet.QUOTE]


I use delrin collets as well that I made .. When I use them I usually get about .00075 - .001 run out and I mess with it until i get .0005 or less..
Click to expand...
 
JBCustomCues said:
WilleeCue said:
I also have the Bison 6 jaw set true on my metal lathe.
I normaly get less than 20 thousands run out and that is easly shimed out with a few scrap pieces of post-it note paper between the jaw and collet.QUOTE]


I use delrin collets as well that I made .. When I use them I usually get about .00075 - .001 run out and I mess with it until i get .0005 or less..
Click to expand...

I have come to terms with being a half a bubble off, but now you tell me I am also a few tenthousands out of round? :eek: LOL
Click to expand...
 
JBCustomCues said:
... four tenths of a one thousandth (.0004) and with a little fittling I can get it to where the needle does not even move..
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, what type of indicator are you using ?

Dave
 
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