Beginner stuff

[Aukai]

I needed a longer chuck key for my Pratt chuck with a hex adjuster. Tool steel "press fit" cross bar. I cheated on that.

 

[Ken226]

I'll be copying this soon. Mine has a cross handle that's come loose, been spot welded, and is hell on the hands. Nice work!

 

[Aukai]

Drill the end, and thread for a set screw, then grind down the weld....

 

[Ken226]

I could do that, but it's crap chuck key anyway. I want a quality one, like yours.

You gave me chuck key envy! So, this is gonna happen. On my next day off.

Mines too short anyway. The handles hit the top of my headstock. The one you made looks perfect. I have a piece of 5/8" 1144 steel that's perfect for it.

 

[Aukai]

Mine is 7/8, with a 1/2" cross shaft

 

[Ken226]

Closest to 7/8" stock I had laying around was the muzzle half of an old Remington 700 .243 barrel.

So I kept the barrel taper and markings. It's .75" at the handle end and .68 at the square end. It has lands and grooves though!

 

[Aukai]

That came out great, looks good

 

[hman]

@Ken226 - Something VERY strange happened to your image! It got pixelated somehow, to the extent that it looks like you made the chuck key out of threaded rod! Looked cool, though, and I couldn't resist posting a screen shot.

PS - I've rebooted the Mac and restarted Safari. Everything looks good now.