ER32/ER40 or 5C? Whats your choice and why?

[mksj]

I would keep them, you may change your mind in the future. One can pick up any missing ones through various vendors or eBay. Some people make draw holders, I opted to put two racks on the side of a rolling cart, previously the were on the side of my tailstock cabinet.

 

[GrifterGuru]

I would keep them, you may change your mind in the future.

Honestly, whilst I appreciate what you say, I just do not have the use for them nor, as it happens, do I have the room to keep them/store them

I have everything to hand that covers my needs and I honestly have no justification for 5C especially with a 7x where the chuck alone will rob space that the ER system does not.

The only thing 5C has that ER does not, to my knowledge have, is a collet stop option. Though that said, with the faceplate I have, I am working on a solution to that little problem child that could solve the issue.

 

[Larry$]

The only thing 5C has that ER does not, to my knowledge have, is a collet stop option.

I can appreciate your problem with the very short lathe bed BUT 5C is so effective for small work that it will become your go to if you give it a chance. Some of the examples in this series of posts demonstrate what can be held that an ER system simply can't. For very small work the length of your lathe is a non-issue or rather an opportunity to exploit.
I'd bet you can find a place to put the set if you really tried. Under your bed? (Except your most commonly used ones?? )

 

[Aaron_W]

Under your bed? (Except your most commonly used ones?? )

This is such a Hobby Machinist answer! I like the way you think.

 

[projectnut]

I like your answer It’s better than those I’ve gotten when asking where I should store things Most times it’s a variation of “where the moon don’t shine”

 

[GrifterGuru]

I can appreciate your problem with the very short lathe bed BUT 5C is so effective for small work that it will become your go to if you give it a chance. Some of the examples in this series of posts demonstrate what can be held that an ER system simply can't. For very small work the length of your lathe is a non-issue or rather an opportunity to exploit.
I'd bet you can find a place to put the set if you really tried. Under your bed? (Except your most commonly used ones?? )

TBH I have chucks to handle square and hex along with soft jaws for those chucks, so that rules out 5C in those forms. I also have enough ER collets to suit all my needs, so that rules out 5C in general.

ER32 takes 3-1/2" to 4" at most including space to install/remove collets, whereas 5C requires 8-1/4" clear space to use when including the 3" required to install/remove collets, so double the amount that ER332 requires.

A 7x is limited enough in usable space as it stands, 5C takes up far too much of that usable space which is why I settled on ER32. If I ever need to and if I could justify it, I can always add an ER50 faceplate and collets over and above the 26mm capacity of my current ER32 setup. Not sure I will need to though.

As to

5C is so effective for small work that it will become your go to if you give it a chance.

That is why I have the ER32 system.

 

[Larry$]

When you are just using the chuck, slide the tail stock off if you want more clearance.
At least give the 5C a try. Holding small, very short work is something an ER system can't do.

 

[epanzella]

I started with 5C which are great if your stock size is right to go with the limited 5C range. After a while I got tired of designing my projects around the 5C size limitations. I then got an ER32 set which totally overlaps stock size so I can accurately grip anything from 1/16 to 13/16. I would have gotten ER40 but the large size is a problem when getting in tight. I wish I had both. Also handy is the fact that my spin index and collet block sets take both 5C and ER32 collets.

 

[Chipper5783]

Honestly, whilst I appreciate what you say, I just do not have the use for them nor, as it happens, do I have the room to keep them/store them

I have everything to hand that covers my needs and I honestly have no justification for 5C especially with a 7x where the chuck alone will rob space that the ER system does not.

The only thing 5C has that ER does not, to my knowledge have, is a collet stop option. Though that said, with the faceplate I have, I am working on a solution to that little problem child that could solve the issue.

It seems the obvious solution is to buy a bigger lathe - to fit the chuck.

 

[Larry$]

5C which are great if your stock size is right to go with the limited 5C range.

Well, the set you now have ends that part of the objection!