I'm in the market for a Jacobs branded chuck for the tailstock of my Jet Mini Lathe. Wondered if anyone here who is using one could give me a model / part number and what you think of it. I know I won't use it a lot, but it'll be handy for some things I'm doing.
I want a Jacobs brand, rather than buying twice...
Thanks.
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You can get a Jacobs brand chuck from ENCO amoung other places.
I would suggest you not be wedded to the Jacobs name. Currently, perhaps the very best chucks of this general design are made by Albrecht. A very expensive chuck, however. There are a number of Albrecht clones that are also very high quality for woodturning purposes.
I have three "Jacobs" style chucks, two that are fitted with Morse Tapers and one that is fitted to an adapter that allow it to mount to the spindle threads of the headstock. One is a Jacobs brand. It is my least prefered of the three.
Currently one of my favorites is on sale at The Woodtradesman where you can also get a Morse taper adapter if you like.
Lyn
Xlat wrote:
Thanks for the general information, but I guess I was looking for something more specific on a particular chuck.
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I think the trick in buying Harbor Freight merchandise is in separating the bargains from the junk, plus adapting their tools for purposes, they weren't intended for. ;)
As with their set of HSS turning tools, IMO their 'Jacobs type' chucks are bargains. You can buy several more than "twice" for your money. The tapers are soft enough to be easily drilled & tapped for different lengths of threaded rod draw bars. Their chucks with 1/2 X 20 threads can be attached to motors with cheap arbor adapters. I put several on road-kill washing machine motors and flex shafts. Handy having dedicated chucks.
I have Albrechts, Almonds and true Jacobs for machining, but I have found H.F. ok for most woodturning applications.
Reminder; With a keyed Jacobs chuck, a more secure & concentric grip can be achieved by inserting the key's tenon in each hole around the chuck body as you tighten. Easier on cheap chuck jaws too. Arch
Fortiter,
OK, I'll try again.
I have a Jacobs chuck that uses a Jacobs Morse taper to mount in a tailstock. I have used it satisfactorily on my Jet Mini lathe.
You can obtain a duplicate of what I have from ENCO (website I provided in my last post)
The Jacobs Morse Taper to 1/2-20 thread size Adaptor I have is ENCO Model number 891-7381 and currently costs $42.95
The Jacobs Medium Duty 1/2 inch capacity Drill Chuck is ENCO number
290-142 an currently costs $56.75As I said earlier, the key operated Jacobs I have is my least prefered (and most expensive when combined with the Jacobs adaptor) of the three "Jacobs-style" chucks I have. I much prefer the two different hand tightened Albrecht clones over the key operated Jacobs.
There is a wide range of Jacobs manufactured chucks, both hand tightened as well as key operated. If you obtain an ENCO or other machine tools catalog, you will likely find tables listing many versions. A hand tightening Jacobs will run you in the range of $150-200 about the same as an Albrecht. The Albrecht has the better reputation due to some minor design differences which they pioneered. I run an Albrecht on my Delta drill press,and find it better, but not really pragmatically better than the clones I use with my lathe.
As Arch said, for woodturning use one does not need a premium precision chuck, but if you want a Jacobs, I've told you exactly what I have used on a Jet Mini and where you can obtain a variety of suitable Jacobs brand chucks and adaptors at some of the better prices.
Lyn
Xlat wrote:
I believe Sears has a #2 morse taper shank with a 3/8-16 threaded end, and replacement Jacobs chucks are available at any good hardware store (as well as Sears) to fit this.
Ken Grunke
Absolutely! Also, don't forget to clean the chuck out fairly frequently. A quick, well-directed, blast of air can work wonders. It is also somewhat educational to take one of them apart, both to simply learn how one works and also to compare it to 'brand X'.
If he / you should find yourselves cutting metal with it, occasionally swish it around in mineral spirits or lacquer thinner and finish off with a little WD-40 on the scroll through a snorkel tube on the WD-40.
I worked in a prototype machine shop for several years. ALL of our 'precision' drilling (done on small milling machines, sensitive drills and huge boring mills alike) got Albrecht chucks installed.
Like Sorby tools, Albrechts cost far and away too much; but they're worth it.
Bill
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