Advice on Chucks and Jaws

[Big Al]

Having established the principles of pen-turning, just about....i feel that the one area that needs the most improvement for me is how to drill the blanks most effectively and efficiently, without drilling off-centre, or splitting.

I currently use a drill on a stand but the problem is that it doesn't drill true, i go in at a slight angle sometimes, if its a small blank and a wider drill then its "curtains"!

So looking at trying drilling on the lathe - many on here swear to it. but i am unsure of what to get on the 'blank' end - ie headstock, do i need a chuck and jaws, any thoughts? I only do pens.

I have a Draper Mini-Lathe WTL330A, MT1.

Any help welcome please, or any words of wisdom already on here?

Alternative of course is to invest in a good pillar drill..............

 

[Dalboy]

I use Robert Sorby patriot chuck and pin jaws as they are of more use to me than the dedicated pen jaws.

 

[buzz6]

I used to use a drill press but for Xmas I got a Record SC3 chuck and a set of pen jaws, makes it much easier to drill.

 

[silver]

Having established the principles of pen-turning, just about....i feel that the one area that needs the most improvement for me is how to drill the blanks most effectively and efficiently, without drilling off-centre, or splitting.

I currently use a drill on a stand but the problem is that it doesn't drill true, i go in at a slight angle sometimes, if its a small blank and a wider drill then its "curtains"!

So looking at trying drilling on the lathe - many on here swear to it. but i am unsure of what to get on the 'blank' end - ie headstock, do i need a chuck and jaws, any thoughts? I only do pens.

I have a Draper Mini-Lathe WTL330A, MT1.

Any help welcome please, or any words of wisdom already on here?

Alternative of course is to invest in a good pillar drill..............

I would go for a standard chuck like this one. they do one to suit your headstock thread.

RP2000 Compact Scroll Chuck 3/4" x 16 TPI Thread

Then buy a set of pin jaws or a set of pen turning jaws. shop around and should get set up for under £100.

 

[21William]

Best advise whichever jaws you use is to drill on the lathe. So many folks have problems trying to drill blanks on a drill press.

 

[Penpal]

If you use a drill press it needs to be set up properly in that the drill has to be at right angles all round to the base. I find using a vice with come and go movements using jaws with vee cuts in manufacture allows me to hold hand cut or regular blanks. Its bench drill for me.

Peter.

 

[Big Al]

Peter, Any chance of posting a picture of your bench drill setup? Would help me a lot, I’m a very visual person! Suspect that most drill presses will have movement problems and I’m not sure I want to keep swapping chucks and drills on and off my lathe.

 

[Big Al]

Peter, Any chance of posting a picture of your bench drill setup? Would help me a lot, I’m a very visual person! Suspect that most drill presses will have movement problems and I’m not sure I want to keep swapping chucks and drills on and off my lathe.

 

[Bigblackdog]

I would go for a standard chuck like this one. they do one to suit your headstock thread.

RP2000 Compact Scroll Chuck 3/4" x 16 TPI Thread

Then buy a set of pin jaws or a set of pen turning jaws. shop around and should get set up for under £100.

absolutely +1 on this chuck. I have it with the step jaws, but the pin jaws would equally do. It is a nice small chuck for a mini lathe. I have just bought a bigger one and it is a lot more weight for the lathe to spin.

 

[Bigblackdog]

I should add that I bought the other chuck for non pen stuff. If just for pens, then the rp2000 would do fine.

 

[Penpal]

Pics of my old Drill Press I gave it to a worthy mens Shed recently, prismatic jaws use two of,my ne second hand Drill Press it has a top class X and Y axis micrometer adjusting mech I only just managed to lift. It was a gift from a close friend.

Peter.

 

[Big Al]

Wow Peter, those are real bad boys!

Certainly you won’t get any travel or deviation from true on these. Would take my whole man shed up though! Will need to look at whether a desktop version will be accurate enough for me.

Thanks

Al

 

[silver]

Superb pair of pillar drills [MENTION=122]Penpal[/MENTION]

I like the floor mounted one, however Like big Al, my floor space is at a premium.

I think the common thread here tho is the sliding compound table, I looked at the ones in the link below a few years ago to use on the pillar drill and also the lathe bed but really couldn't warrant spending that sort of wedge especially when I already had a metal lathe to do most of the stuff on..

Axminster CT1 Compound Table - Accessories for Pillar Drills - Drilling & Milling - Machinery Accessories - Accessories | Axminster Tools & Machinery

But that's the difference for many, sliding mitre table. Costs for many negates that and the best option really is drill on the lathe for accuracy.

 

[Penpal]

But wait on your lathe an ultimate 120 dollar timberbits Vicmarc two jaw chuck,I leave it on my spare VL120 lathe.

Peter.

 

[21William]

I really don’t understand the fascination with drilling pen blanks on a bench drill when you already have the perfect machine - your Lathe. Unlike a drilling machine the blank will always be aligned with the drill bit using the correct jaws. You’d be a darn sight better off buying a set of dedicated chuck jaws than buying a compound table and vice for your bench drill.

I should add that I have a floor standing milling machine in my shed which obviously has a compound table and I’ve never been tempted to drill a pen blank on it.

 

[Penpal]

With excellent alignment for turning on my pen lathe the very thought of taking off the equipment to then drill blanks would put me off turning. If you have space restrictions fair enough. Make do with the lathe.

Peter.

 

[AllenN]

I have quite a small lathe and use the Axminster 80mm chuck with standard C jaws to drill. Works fine. Axminster have recently introduced a pen blank jaws for this chuck which I may invest in in due course. I of course use the Axminster for much of my ‘normal ‘ turning too.

 

[21William]

I have quite a small lathe and use the Axminster 80mm chuck with standard C jaws to drill. Works fine. Axminster have recently introduced a pen blank jaws for this chuck which I may invest in in due course. I of course use the Axminster for much of my ‘normal ‘ turning too.

Yes, I’ve found the C jaws work well for this. Axminster also sell what look like “Engineering” jaws for their woodturning chucks which could also work well for drilling.

 

[Lons]

Hmmm.. I think there is a key point here i.e.

I currently use a drill on a stand

So let's put it in perspective.

IMO you haven't a hope in hell of consistent results with that set up. Power drills have end float and a degree of side play, doesn't matter how good the drill is that's what they are and the stands are pretty flimsy as well.

I different story if you have a good quality drill press but to buy that, even second hand along with a vice or a home made one will cost several hundred pounds. Some of the cheap ones aren't too bad but it's pot luck and having originally had a couple they are imo a waste of money.

I have a Meddings drill stand but then I use it for all kinds of projects wood and metal, great bit of kit, rock solid and accurate and that's what I used for dilling pen blanks originally having made a wood clamp/vice. It works well, no problems however after buying a set of pen blank jaws I wouldn't use anything else. Dead accurate even when the blank is twisted or out of shape, just need to be set up properly. I find it quicker and certainly just as safe.

You only make pens but that may change if you buy a chuck and you will find other uses. I polish brass cartridges in the chuck, I recently turned some "bakelite" type door handles for my sons house to match for some additional doors and lots of useful DIY stuff and of course bowls, clocks, etc. You can make your own holding devices but once you have a decent chuck you wouldn't be without it.

There are very different opinions on this subject so I recommend you look at past forum threads and decide what's best for you.

Out of interest, I have the little Record Nova G3 chuck with a set of pen jaws and also the Axi SK100

 

[21William]

Out of interest, I have the little Record Nova G3 chuck with a set of pen jaws and also the Axi SK100

That’s a coincidence, I have the Record SC3 and the Axminster SK100. Very different chucks but I like them both.