Joshua Dinerstein
02-25-2010, 5:31 PM
I have been thinking my way thru the details on a few projects. After numerous trips to the local library I have found a great deal of information and the idea of wooden jaws has come up a couple of times.
In an older book from the late 70s there was a picture and a 2 line explanation for that picture. The picture was of a set of "step jaws" made out of wood. mounted onto the chuck in some undisclosed way. The 2 lines basically said that the author had found these extremely useful for gripping things for turning at different diameters. And that the set as shown had been in use by the author for about 10 years. They had that slightly worn patina that wood gets thru years of use and abuse and so it was quite possible.
From a more recent era we have David Reed Smith's website which talks about wooden jaws. He shows a jig that is used for making small pieces but is re pleat with warnings not to go to big. His specific comment is:
Please keep in mind that the mounting power of wooden jaws is less than that of metal jaws. A serious catch can break a jaw away from the mounting screws.We also have Bob Hamilton's website and videos often showing his large and deep wooden jaws. Bob has posted that his are mounted onto metal flat jaws from OneWay mfg. In a recent posting Bob talked about the weakness of screws and the worry of them shearing off.
Also Darrell Feltmate, on his site aroundthewoods.com, shows how he made his out of plywood with no metal backer jaws. His has no warnings per se and just pictures and details of construction.
Now my hopes for creating some wood jaws focus around a number of ideas, I want to turn some small objects, rings bracelets etc..., as well as potentially create some of these bowl bottom jaws.
This has left me wondering if it is safe enough, what kinds of woods to use for the jaws, and wether or not I should get some metal backer jaws or just screw right into the slides on the chuck a la Darrell Feltmate and the unknown author.
Anyone have any experience or words of wisdom that they would like to share?
BTW, I know that almost all of these things are available in a machined metal format. "Raffan Step Jaws" for my Vicmarc chuck, Cole Jaws galore for basically every chuck, etc... What intrigues me about the process of turned jaws is the chance to alter the size of the gripping surface when needed and to grip "finished" pieces of various sizes and shapes without marring the finished surfaces. And cole jaws/bowl bottom jaws of much larger sizes than the 10" max cole jaws I currently own.
Thanks!
Joshua
In an older book from the late 70s there was a picture and a 2 line explanation for that picture. The picture was of a set of "step jaws" made out of wood. mounted onto the chuck in some undisclosed way. The 2 lines basically said that the author had found these extremely useful for gripping things for turning at different diameters. And that the set as shown had been in use by the author for about 10 years. They had that slightly worn patina that wood gets thru years of use and abuse and so it was quite possible.
From a more recent era we have David Reed Smith's website which talks about wooden jaws. He shows a jig that is used for making small pieces but is re pleat with warnings not to go to big. His specific comment is:
Please keep in mind that the mounting power of wooden jaws is less than that of metal jaws. A serious catch can break a jaw away from the mounting screws.We also have Bob Hamilton's website and videos often showing his large and deep wooden jaws. Bob has posted that his are mounted onto metal flat jaws from OneWay mfg. In a recent posting Bob talked about the weakness of screws and the worry of them shearing off.
Also Darrell Feltmate, on his site aroundthewoods.com, shows how he made his out of plywood with no metal backer jaws. His has no warnings per se and just pictures and details of construction.
Now my hopes for creating some wood jaws focus around a number of ideas, I want to turn some small objects, rings bracelets etc..., as well as potentially create some of these bowl bottom jaws.
This has left me wondering if it is safe enough, what kinds of woods to use for the jaws, and wether or not I should get some metal backer jaws or just screw right into the slides on the chuck a la Darrell Feltmate and the unknown author.
Anyone have any experience or words of wisdom that they would like to share?
BTW, I know that almost all of these things are available in a machined metal format. "Raffan Step Jaws" for my Vicmarc chuck, Cole Jaws galore for basically every chuck, etc... What intrigues me about the process of turned jaws is the chance to alter the size of the gripping surface when needed and to grip "finished" pieces of various sizes and shapes without marring the finished surfaces. And cole jaws/bowl bottom jaws of much larger sizes than the 10" max cole jaws I currently own.
Thanks!
Joshua