some questions on tools that i dont know how to use

[Bigblackdog]

i have been having a play tonight- first pen tubes glued in...

A couple of questions. My drill chuck on the lathe has started to spin when i have backed off. It seems to seat ok, but the tailstock has to extend quite a bit (quite a bit more than when using a centre). It has a tang on the MT. Is this likely to be the issue, or what am I doing wrong? It is fine when going forward.

I have bought a barrel trimmer. Is this supposed to go in the lathe chuck, pillar drill or hand drill? The pillar drill is in pieces, so hopefully that is not the only option!

Thanks
Mark

 

[Phil Dart]

For myself, I use my barrel trimmer in a jacobs chuck on the lathe. Mine is the type where the central shaft is held in with an allen screw, and the shaft have a tendency to fall out on the pillar drill. If the shaft is horizontal, ie on the lathe, that doesn't happen.

As for your drill (jacobs) chuck, the tang makes no difference. It exists to locate in certain pillar drill tapers to stop it spinning, but it too is tapered, so should not be interfering with the quill your lathe. Giving the chuck a twist as you push it home in the taper will help, but if you are still having problems, retract the jaws so they are inside the chuck, then give the whole thing a gentle whack with a rubber mallet, which should hold it in place come what may.

Hope that helps.

 

[Indie Shed]

Hi Mark, I've just ordered my first barrel trimmer and you normally see them used on a pillar drill, but any drill should be okay because the barrel trimmer design makes the ends square, the drill type is unimportant. You could use a cordless/corded drill with the blank in the vice or clamp.


What Lathe have you got? can you press the chuck into the tailstock with a scrap piece of wood and use the tailstock wheel to get a better seat?

 

[Themackay]

I have found it best to hold onto your drill chuck when winding it back out keeping a backward pressure towards the tailstock as you do so,I use my barrel trimmer in my cordless drill

 

[Dalboy]

When you have the drill chuck in the tailstock does it become loose when you have withdrawn it right back if so it could be that when you draw the tailstock quill back in and right near the end the MT self ejects. This is what happen on my small lathe which is great as it saves finding a bar to knock it out.

 

[edbangeruk]

I just give my Jacobs chuck a twist as I put in in the tailstock make sure that the tailstock is is wound out far enough to take the morse taper and don't wind in back to far when winding the drill out as this will loosen the morse taper hold.

I always use my barrel trimmer in the Jacobs chuck on the lathe and just turn the speed down low and hold the blank in my hand and push it on to the barrel trimmer not sure that this is the safest way but it works for me

Ed

 

[paulm]

If you're using the correct shaft on the barrel trimmer it won't make any difference however you use it because it will stay straight, guided by the tube but if its slack then you need to ensure it goes in straight so either the lathe, a pillar drill or a very good eye and hand drill.

 

[Bigblackdog]

it isnt self ejecting. probably not seated as well as I thought- being a bit too gentle, and then not holding it as I withdraw. I have the jet 1014, and the self eject feature is handy, I must admit. when the drill is rebuilt, I may look at using that, because I think it will be quicker but it is still useful at times to drill on the lathe. eventually, I want to make some kitless pens, which look like they would be far better drilled on the lathe. I wish the jet mini had a graduated scale on the tailstock. It would help with accurate drilling depths, but that is probably being picky. So far it has been a fantastic lathe.

I have the timberbits trimmer with the grub screw. I will try it on the lathe and in a cordless drill. See which works best for me.

 

[Jim]

I don't use a barrel trimmer any more but when i did i used to use my hand drill ..

 

[Terry Q]

After I blew up my 2nd serpentine blank with a barrel trimmer I switched to sanding. It's slower but safer.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Lots of good advice. I drill on the lath and keep hod of the chuck at the same time.
Dependant on the blank I either use a barrel trimmer or sand, both done on the lathe.

 

[Lons]

If you do a search you'll find that the subject has been discussed at length and Walter put a tutorial on the forum which I'm sure you'll find interesting

 

[Penpal]

I NEVER use a barrell trimmer held in a machine only by hand I set mine in a handle. Better control no incidents. Morse tapers can let go from a knock sideways or withdrawing when drilling both on a drill machine or a lathe I prefer to use morse tapers with a thread insert always in the head stock and in my drill press, mill etc.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I posted photos of my sanding set a couple time, gave up on pen mills years ago.