Are spindle adapters safe?

If taking the larger one down, try to find an example that is a beefy as possible over the spindle and behind the smaller thread.

Just found via web search to have a picture to look at, no affiliation:

Hi Mac, Chuck adapters are concentric with the chuck body and don't extend the chuck's overhang. Spindle reducing adapters do extend the chuck, faceplate or whatever device that's being driven. To the extent that the more the overhang the less safe, a chuck adapter is preferable to a spindle adapter, but both are useful and relatively safe.

That brayed, I have several homemade reducing spindle adapters for using old 3/4 in. and 1in. fixtures that seem safe enough to me. Also a spindle reducing adapter allows me to use much cheaper dies, nuts & bolts for shop made devices.

I think the important thing is to use steel instead of aluminum adapters and to be sure to secure them to the chuck or spindle.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

JD

I have been making and selling adapters along with faceplates

With anything that increases the overhang from the headstock, you will find increased vibration (potentially) -

you may find that the larger lathe warrants larger accessories - after I got a larger lathe, I have never felt the urge to put a chuck back on my Nova Comet - it does pens and stuff like that exclusively - I certainly wouldn't try to put faceplates on adapters just because they are so cheap (plug for my web site) - but it might be worth it with a more expensive accessory, or with light weight stuff - and in that case the best bet would be to adapte the 1.25 to 1 inch even though this maximizes the overhang

Well, I'll admit that I haven't seen the lathe that I'm getting in person, but if it's like my 2 Jets, I'd enjoy the chuck being a little farther from the headstock... and I have the scars to prove it.. ;-]

My gut feeling is that PSI isn't going to put their name on something that's going to break under normal use, but I would like to see if anyone has used one..

mac

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Thanks, Arch... I know from the years that I've had the jet mini and 1442 that 1" 8 tpi is very common and most tools come in that size... Being lazy, I'd rather screw an adapter on the spindle than get involved with the process of changing chuck adapters often... it's a PITA just doing it once when you buy a chuck..lol

mac

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Wow.. that must have been a sphincter check!

I've actually had that happen without an adapter.. just put the chuck on to do a bit of sanding or something and it didn't get that last nudge to tighten it down..

Any other problems with your adapter?

Is it to increase or decrease the spindle size?

mac

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No other problems. For increasing the size (3/4" to 1")

Good Luck

JD

OK, I don't have a Oneway, mine is a Woodfast Cobra and when I upgraded to it from a cheap pole lathe with 1" x 8 to the Cobra's M30x3.5 ( Cobra was sold in USA with 1 1/4" x 8 tpi.) the dealer simply replaced the 1" adapter in my Vicmarc chuck with the M30. No problems. In the unlikely event that I further upgrade to a Stubby I expect to get a screw-in adaptor to fit.

All the quality chucks I have seen have these adaptors available, this may be your best way to go. I make my own faceplates, weld a M30 nut on a steel circle, drill holes for screws, true with an angle grinder. Yours would be 1 1/4 nut instead of M30

For the bowl chuck, make sure the insert has the grub screw to latch it onto the spindle. Then you can reverse sand without activating the automatic chuck ejection feature.

I had the same quandary. I relegated the oldest one to buffing. The middle one sat in the way for a year until I gave it to my brother.

I noticed the comments on the link you gave--the adapter is not hollow all the way through. You would have to drill it out to use a vacuum chuck.

Can someone here post or reference info re the threads and diameters of the holes for inserted adapters in the bodies of some of the most used scroll chucks; Nova, Oneway, Vicmarc, etc.? So why do I care? Just that COCs like to know specs that are never listed or appear to be trade secrets. :)

Yes I can measure, but I don't have them all to measure and the threads don't seem to be 'standard' anyway. A grudging TIA :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Not sure, Bill, but I might add a Oneway Stronghold later, but I can't see needing it right now..

All of my vac chucks, mandrels and small accessories are 1/8 and I hate to have to replace/duplicate them..

I'm only moving up from 14" to 16", so no radical change.. just a nicer lathe with direct drive and digital speed..

I use my mini once a month, at traveling shows.. Other than that, it's for friends and students...

mac

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Hello Mac,

When I changed lathes from the Record Power lathes with 3/4" x 16 tpi spindles to a Nova 3000 several years ago, I purchased an adapter from Craft Supplies USA to convert the 1-1/4" spindle to 3/4" x 16 tpi and found it worked great. Eight or nine years later, I have one that goes from 1-1/4" to 1" x 8 and one that goes from 1" x 8 to 1-1/4" so that we can use chucks back and forth from the Nova DVR, the Oneway 1018, and the Vicmarc VL-100 without having to change inserts in the chucks. I have not noticed any run out on any of these adapters. Also, it is sometimes nice to have the chuck moved a ways from the headstock.

Fred Holder

Agree on the PITA changing adapters..

I'm ordering a 1 1/4 adapter for the talon, just in case, but I'd like to use either one on whichever lathe, because I have standard jaws on one and spigot jaws on the other and I'm too lazy to keep changing them..

mac

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I understand the adapter thing, Alan... my Oneway chuck was originally on my Shopsmith.. (5/8" shaft with set screw)

My problem is that if I change the adapter on the chucks, I can't use them on the other 2 lathes any more..

mac

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Damn... Never thought of that.. lol I've never had a reversing lathe before.. Definitely something to consider, since I do about 90% of my turning with the chuck...

Yeah.. the mini is about to be traded off for an ironwood log, but I'll replace it soon... I do working shows and the 14" Jet is kinda hard to carry.. If I was in the States, I'd try to sell my jet 1442 for maybe $500, but the last thing I want here is someone else with a lathe.. I don't want competition..

It's going outside for the dirty work like bark and stuff, and will probably become my buffer.... I'm guessing that once I get the new lathe, I won't want to spend much time turning on the old one..

Good point...

I may drill it if I go with a spindle adapter, but I'll probably just make new vac chucks for the Nova.. Just a matter of a few new nuts, since I have a life time supply of 1" 8 tpi ones, and a few chunks of wood..

mac

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Very good to hear, and concise and usual, Fred.. I'll order the sucker..

The Nova DVR XP is the lathe I'm TRYING to order from Woodcraft... How do you like it?

Sounds like it's the poor relation is your shop.. ;~]

mac

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A tip - make sure that you have snugged up the adapter before turning on the lathe. I had mine just about tight but not quite and now I cannot free it.