john brady
08-23-2020, 12:36 PM
Hello All,
First let me start off by defining what I mean by the term "GOOD" in my topic title... I need a chuck that will actually CENTER the bits when closed. You would think this would be a no brainer and ALL of them would do this, but apparently the do not. I bought the mini chuck sold by many of the woodworking suppliers (photo attached), but to be frank, it's a piece of JUNK! It just won't center the bits no matter what size bit I try to use. I took it apart to see if possibly something was out of place or missing, but it all seems as it should be (just jaws, springs and a pressure plate). The jaws close tight and centered, and seem centered when partially open. But when you install a bit (of any size) and tighten (no matter the pressure), one of the jaws will skew, causing them to not close together EVENLY, skewing the bit. So when I say GOOD, I just mean one that actually does what it's suppose to do and CENTER the bits (or as I tell my wife, it has to be one that's made for using, not for selling).
The included photo shows the style of the chuck (so the same one is recommended) as well as frontal views of the jaws-- closed, open and with two different size bits (1/16" and #60). It's a little hard to see in the photo's with the bits, but if you can look closely, you'll see how one of the jaws skews, causing the bit not to center no matter what size bit is installed.
I searched the 'net looking for a new one, but it's hard to tell if they all work the same way or not, and I don't want to waste another $15 (chuck and shipping). So I'm hoping someone else may have gone through the same process and found one that works properly. I want to use it with very small bits (#60 ~ 70 range), so a MICRO (with a smaller opening range) rather than the larger mini may work best. I want to use it in my drill press rather than a hand-drill so I can hold the work and drill a precise spot, but the drill press chuck will accept bits down to a 1mm, so I'm sure a micro chuck shaft wouldn't be smaller than that.
Thanks...JEB
First let me start off by defining what I mean by the term "GOOD" in my topic title... I need a chuck that will actually CENTER the bits when closed. You would think this would be a no brainer and ALL of them would do this, but apparently the do not. I bought the mini chuck sold by many of the woodworking suppliers (photo attached), but to be frank, it's a piece of JUNK! It just won't center the bits no matter what size bit I try to use. I took it apart to see if possibly something was out of place or missing, but it all seems as it should be (just jaws, springs and a pressure plate). The jaws close tight and centered, and seem centered when partially open. But when you install a bit (of any size) and tighten (no matter the pressure), one of the jaws will skew, causing them to not close together EVENLY, skewing the bit. So when I say GOOD, I just mean one that actually does what it's suppose to do and CENTER the bits (or as I tell my wife, it has to be one that's made for using, not for selling).
The included photo shows the style of the chuck (so the same one is recommended) as well as frontal views of the jaws-- closed, open and with two different size bits (1/16" and #60). It's a little hard to see in the photo's with the bits, but if you can look closely, you'll see how one of the jaws skews, causing the bit not to center no matter what size bit is installed.
I searched the 'net looking for a new one, but it's hard to tell if they all work the same way or not, and I don't want to waste another $15 (chuck and shipping). So I'm hoping someone else may have gone through the same process and found one that works properly. I want to use it with very small bits (#60 ~ 70 range), so a MICRO (with a smaller opening range) rather than the larger mini may work best. I want to use it in my drill press rather than a hand-drill so I can hold the work and drill a precise spot, but the drill press chuck will accept bits down to a 1mm, so I'm sure a micro chuck shaft wouldn't be smaller than that.
Thanks...JEB