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Longworth chuck
- Thread starter Rusty Nesmith
- Start date
Looks great Rusty. Question: is there any reason to need Cole Jaws if you have one of these? I have yet to use either but haven't felt like investing in any type of Cole Jaws. Have you made a steady rest?
PS it was 114° here in Vancouver, WA yesterday. Miserable outside.
Not sure Allen. I have never used Cole jaws. I made this because I couldn’t find cole jaws that went up to 16 inches. I made this 16 inches and will mostly use it to finish the bottom of bowls and segmented rings. A steady rest will be my next tool project.
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Cole jaws can let you fasten up odd shaped items - such as for offset turnings.. Longworth chuck pretty much just lets you get something relatively round centered up. I made my longworth and only real use has been for bowl bottoms, so far.. couple projects I been meaning to try out and find that cole jaws would be better, but I am looking at making my own jaws to bolt up to my existing (and only) 4-jaw chuck. (I'm too cheap)
Sure, sometimes only one or the other will work in a particular situation.
Also
Cole jaws will work in expansion where a Longworth will not.
As mentioned Cole jaws can mount a non-round piece, and could also mount a piece eccentrically (sometimes when you didn't mean to).
Cole can exert more force, which may not be a good thing.
Longworth has more mass so more momentum
Longworth is more fun to open and close
- Joined
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Actually, longworth can work in expansion if you have the right sized bumpers and your bowl shape permits it (not too sloped inside) I've used mine to hold a larger straight sided bowl that was too big otherwise to fit the "inside" of the chuck (Mine is only 11 1/2 inch overall diameter due to a *barely* 12 inch swing, so it can't really effectively hold a 10 inch bowl) I got a bunch of rubber bottle stoppers in different sizes (5-packs of 5/8" to 1 1/2" diameters) that I can use on my homemade longworth.. However, I would NOT recommend the longworth being the ONLY thing holding things in place - in either holding mode - (I always bring up my tailstock until the very last little bit of nub being turned away) as mentioned, the cole jaws probably have a better and firmer grip on things - when using the longworth, I've found a light touch is usually needed...
To need or to want? That is the question. I've done 36 years of turning and not needed a set yet.
Do you do any segmented turning? It is the fastest and easiest way to get the rings ready for glue up. What do you use to finish the bottom of your bowls?
Nope a drum sander is quicker and far superior
I use my Longworth to align and hold segments while glue sets. I use the Cole for bowl bottoms.
If you can afford one and have room for it. I should have stated faster and easier than just sanding.
