Speed handle for a 5C chuck.

[oaklandish]

This was my first real multi-machine project. Everything up until this one was either exclusively turning or milling/drilling. I plan to turn a new handle for the tool but for now it works perfectly fine. This was my first time every using a 5c chuck and I was actually surprised by the amount of turns it took to close the collet on the part. The factory T-handle needed to be put out to pasture.

I found this one on amazon that was designed for 6" milling vises. While perfectly suitable for testing clearances for the tool and my knuckles, something was telling me that this rev1 was not going to hold up to shop action...


So instead of using some mystery bar stock I had laying around, I ordered some 3/4" 303 Hex bar from McMaster-Carr to expedite the process a bit.


Cut to rough length:


Turned down to final OD of the chuck closer and added a transition to the profile:


These vise blocks are pretty awesome. I was easily able to index the square collet block precisely for milling each of the four sides of the closer profile:




Switched the part over the Hex block and added a chamfer to the wrench side of the part:


Back into the lathe for a clean up with scotch-brite:


SS Part is finished:


Drilled and tapped for an allen grub screw and this thing is ready for action:


Fit is perfect!


One more thing....

 

[MrWhoopee]

This was my first time every using a 5c chuck and I was actually surprised by the amount of turns it took to close the collet on the part. The factory T-handle needed to be put out to pasture.

This is one of the biggest complaints about these chucks. Some users make a driver that can be used with a cordless drill to speed things up.

Oh yeah, that's some nice work.

 

[oaklandish]

This is one of the biggest complaints about these chucks. Some users make a driver that can be used with a cordless drill to speed things up.

Oh yeah, that's some nice work.

Thank you!.

I had no idea how they worked until it showed up a couple of weeks ago. I don't have the clearance for a drawbar and I was not sure how much torque this needed to safely secure the workpiece so I hedged my bet and left the periscoping section for the hex wrench to grab.

 

[St. Paul Steam]

This is really creative, I need to make one now.

 

[Ken226]

Very nice work!

 

[mksj]

I used a vise speed handle which has two positions, I mounted the hex to the center, that way you have enough leverage to completely tighten the collet w/o a separate key or wrench by using it like a key wrench when final tightening.

 

[St. Paul Steam]

Do you find that you "need" the outside hole for final tightening with this speed wrench ?

 

[coolidge]

Outstanding!

 

[mksj]

Do you find that you "need" the outside hole for final tightening with this speed wrench ?

Not using the outside hole, but holding onto both sides of the body with my hands not holding the handle, so holding it as you would for a T handle to tighten is needed to get the leverage. Since both ends of the lever are rounded, very easy on the hands..

 

[coolidge]

Not using the outside hole, but holding onto both sides of the body with my hands not holding the handle, so holding it as you would for a T handle to tighten is needed to get the leverage. Since both ends of the lever are rounded, very easy on the hands..

I have two of the vise speed handles, this will be one of my first projects for the collet chuck. I knew I should have ordered the hex collets. lol