Tips on Keeping Chuck Jaws Clean?

[jschelin99]

After cleaning the screw threads and jaws on my lathe chuck for what seems like the hundredth time this year, I was wondering if anyone has a method for keeping the chuck threads clean for an extended period of time.

I'm not a noob, so I don't need the run-of-the-mill, smart ass answers, such as "blow out the debris and lube it". (Then again, sometimes its funny to see just how funny some people think they are!)

If you have the miracle cure, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!

 

[JoeyInCali]

If you use it to sand cues, grab a plastic coffee can lid.

Drill a hole big enough to fit the mandrel, then let that coffee lid cover the jaws.
Bob Flynn gave me that idea.
He calls it the knuckle saver.

 

[Vahmurka]

great idea. But does the lid hold well while rotating?

 

[aphelps1]

I prefer to use the Maxwell House "Freshness seal" lid. At my age, I need that.

Alan

 

[conetip]

If you use it to sand cues, grab a plastic coffee can lid.

Drill a hole big enough to fit the mandrel, then let that coffee lid cover the jaws.
Bob Flynn gave me that idea.
He calls it the knuckle saver.

You can also use cardboard for a one off.

 

[scdiveteam]

Hi,

I don't come from a machining background in my past careers but here is what I have observed and how I maintain my chuck.

I have a 3/8" dowel pin and a 2" piece of wood round stock that I keep with my tools. When ever I am done turning wood on my big lathe with a six jaw buck chuck, I put a 1 1/2" vacuum hose in my spindle bore at my back chuck and chuck up the 2" piece in the lathe. Then I turn the lathe on at 1500 rpm with the vac on also. I use 110 psi air and blow the chuck aiming toward the vac. Caution, You should not spin your lathe with an open chuck.

After that, I change to the 3/8 pin so the chuck Jaws are tight at a different set location. This keeps the 6 jaws clean and they don't freeze up.

About every 30 to 60 days I disassemble my jaws from the chuck and clean the chuck and the jaws very carefully. I oil them at this time but I am very careful to remove all of the oil with clean rags and Q-tips before re assembly.

What I have learned is never oil your jaws when working with wood. It always gums up the works. High pressure air works very well for me.

Rick