Gunsmithing If you have a lathe that has a chuck that threads onto the spindle please help!

[BenY 2013]

So my grandfather had an old craftsman lathe, lately I have been getting more and more interested in metal working and slowly learning with this machine. It has the 3 jaw chuck installed on it, but I have used 4 jaw chucks and much prefer them! The chuck is threaded on and that is where it threw me for a loop. Anyone know if it is a right or left hand thread holding it on? What is the best AND SAFEST(for me and the machine) way to remove that chuck and install the 4 jaw? I appreciate any info, and take it easy on me, I am still very new to the machining world. Taking classes at my local community college to fix that though!

Thanks again!
Ben

 

[deadly0311]

If its an old Craftsmen its a regular right hand thread. Lock the gears of the lathe and use a little can of man and it will spin off.

 

[scudzuki]

Seriously?
Think about it... if it were a LH thread, it would spin off during a heavy cut.

Joe

 

[BenY 2013]

Ok thanks for the info. I know, I had a brain fart....like I said still very new at all of this.

Ben

 

[me124704]

Lock the gears, then if you cant just spin it off, put something long in between the jaws of the chuck that will give you leverage.

 

[cal50]

Place a piece of plywood or similar over the way's (lathe bed) to protect it before removing the chuck.
If you have a piece of hex stock to chuck on and a wrench give it a good rap with a dead blow hammer and it should break loose.

 

[McLarenross]

Your lathe has a 1 1/2" x 8tpi RH spindle nose thread. I just got rid of my 10" Atlas with the same spindle nose. Great little machines to learn metal working on but you will soon find that serious gunsmithing will exceed its capabilities.

 

[dinc]

Don't lock the gears and then pull against them. You'll crack some teeth off. It's happened many times. Sooner or later you'll break them if your knocking chucks off.

Start by putting some Kroil or other penetrating oil as close to the threads as you can get. Close the jaws most of the way and get a long crescent wrench to grab one of the jaws with. Have someone hold the belt and give the wrench a couple of whacks. Lefty, loosey. If grabbing the belt won't hold it enough get a strap wrench and wrap around the pulleys to hold the spindle. It will free eventually. Make it a habit of backing the chuck loose at the end of the day. Checking that it's tight should be part of your startup checks.


Check Yahoo Groups for operating tips for your lathe. They have cult followings for about every old lathe.

 

[BenY 2013]

Awesome! Thank you for the info!