Small chuck with small dovetail jaws

[Ron Vasser]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a chuck for turning small boxes with dovetail jaws that will tighten down to about 1 1/4 inches. I have a hurricane HTC 100 and he doesn't offer jaws like that. Appreciate any help. I found this ( https://www.amazon.com/1-1-TPI-Self...&pd_rd_r=bb86774d-f3b7-4ce5-9913-93bee85fbd2e ) but it only goes down to 1 5/8 inch.

 

[Steve Eure]

Have you looked at the Technatools Nova G3 chucks? They have a large selection of jaws that might suit your needs. I do know that they have a 25 mm set that might work.
https://www.teknatool.com/product/nova-25mm-chuck-accessory-jaw-set/

Or maybe their 35 mm jaws would work.
https://www.teknatool.com/product/nova-35mm-spigot-chuck-accessory-jaw-set/

 

[Richard Coers]

Vicmarc long nose jaws go down to 30mm or 1 3/16" https://vicmarc.com/index.php?optio...t_id=138&virtuemart_category_id=18&Itemid=449

 

[Dean Center]

I have a set of Nova 35mm spigot jaws. They go down to about 1 1/8" in compression on a tenon per my ruler. They are moderately long, with a straight, serrated inside and the typical bump on the lip/sorta dovetail in expansion. They also have a 35 mm bowl jaw set, which they say compresses from 0.31"-1.22", according to Nova specs. (On the picture, it looks like a pretty small opening in compression, so you might have trouble getting a good bite on a >1" tenon)

 

[Dennis Weiner]

https://www.axminster.co.uk/interactive-catalogue

You may wish to look into the axminster O’Donnell dovetail jaw set(25mm 35mm 50mm) page 267. Merchandise was received in less than a week from Great Britain.

 

[Guy Scronce]

Have you considered the micro barracuda chuck? It has straight jaws, but if you are doing small work the chuck is really unobtrusive. It is about 2.5 inches in diameter. The largest jaws that come with it clamp from 7/8ths to 1 3/4 inches. I bought it to use with my treadle lathe where weight is a factor, but I’ve found it to be a go to chuck for small projects. https://www.pennstateind.com/mm5/me...=CSC500K&Category_Code=barracuda-4-jaw-chucks

 

[Dan Bevilacqua]

The Vicmarc VM100 with standard jaws will get you close.

 

[Doug Freeman]

PSI has a set of “alligator” jaws, 2 sets of jaws in the set, that fit the “C” series Barracuda chucks. The small set goes down to 3/4”. They are taller (1-1/4”) and are serrated not dovetail, I have them and never had a holding issue, or any issue at all, and the 2 sets are only $40.

https://www.pennstateind.com/mm5/me...LJAWS&Category_Code=c-series-replacement-jaws

 

[William Rogers]

https://www.axminster.co.uk/interactive-catalogue

You may wish to look into the axminster O’Donnell dovetail jaw set(25mm 35mm 50mm) page 267. Merchandise was received in less than a week from Great Britain.

I just bought the O'Donnell jaws for my Axminster SK100 chuck, but haven't had a chance to use them. I bought the chuck from Lee Valley and the jaws directly from Axminister. No shipping problems and they arrived within a week. I really like the chuck and Axminister has a large selection of jaws.

 

[robo hippy]

I have the small Vicmarc chuck, minimum jaw size when closed is about 1 1/4 inch. I do have a bunch of plastic pipe sections that I turn to true top and bottom, and then cut through so I can go smaller and they also work for grabbing the box for reverse turning the bottoms clean rather than using a jam chuck. I prefer the thin stuff, but the thicker works as well. Some times I true up the inside and outside of the plastic pipe because it isn't high tolerance material.

robo hippy

 

[JeffSmith]

Oneway Talon chuck with #2 smooth jaws (dovetailed)

 

[Ron Vasser]

Thank you, guys. I did run down all the leads you sent and almost ordered the Vicmarc VM 100 with the long nose jaws.

You may wish to look into the axminster O’Donnell dovetail jaw set(25mm 35mm 50mm) page 267. Merchandise was received in less than a week from Great Britain.

Thank you. You must have got the last of the O'Donnell jaw sets but I did order an Axminster SK 100 with the A jaws for 25mm,57mm dovetail, and a 100mm rebate. They're supposed to send me an email as soon as the jaw set is available.

 

[Hy Tran]

You can also make your own jaws. Close your HTC-100 chuck, take off the existing jaws and measure the diameter for where the mounting screws are. Then, make a round block of hard wood (such as hard maple). Drill holes to accommodate the mounting screws. Mount on the lathe, and carefully drill using smaller than your 1 1/4 desired final diameter (1" or 1 1/8"?). Label the four quadrants, and cut the block into 4 pieces in your bandsaw. It won't be as strong as metal jaws, but should hold well enough for finishing cuts on a small box. (And it won't mar your box like metal jaws would).

 

[hockenbery]

I have a set of the flat jaws for the strong hold.


These are flat plates with three holes for screwing or bolting to wood.
Then you can turn any shape jaws you can also construct the blanks with wood glue ups.

I mount using screws And drill through holes in the wood for the attaching the flat jaws to the chuck.

If I used bolts I would try to get them out of the way by counter sinking the nuts.


For small stuff
A quick wooden jaw is to turn a disc with a tenon, drill a hole in the middle and cut a band saw slot from the side to the hole. Closing the jaws closes the hole to hole to grip a tenon the size of the hole.
The hole can be turned too. Also the hole can be drilled off center for some multi center work.