is this a bad thing

savarin

savarin

Active User
H-M Supporter Gold Member
I had a 4"x1.25" length of rough cut 1/2" hot rolled steel plate and I wanted to square up the sides. (4"x 1/2" sides)
Not possessing a mill I chucked it up in the 3 jaw rather than set up the 4 jaw, ie 1 wide face (4"x1.25") resting across two of the jaws and the other face being pressed down by the 3rd jaw against them.
It all remained tight and went very well.
I was hugely impressed with the standard of finish compared with my last fiasco using hot rolled mild steel.
I guess my real question is:-
Is it ok to do this or will it damage the 3 jaw chuck.
Thanks
 
I have had to do a lot of oddball setups like that, and it didn't hurt the chucks a bit.

Sure, a chuck can be abused big time; but that's not going to do it.
 
Thanks, just thought I had better check it out just in case.
I wont feel bad doing it again.
 
Doing that sort of thing is common,especially if you don't have a mill. No harm as long as excessively heavy cuts that jar the chuck jaws are not taken.

MANY years ago,even ordinary machine shops frequently had no milling machine,and had to rig up ways to do everything in their lathes,and so did I when I was just starting out.
 
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