Strange (to me) 3 jaw chuck

[Kenwc]

This strange chuck and 2 others came with my lathe when I got it. It was quite rusty so it's getting a good cleaning but the way it works puzzles me. It has tightening holes around the rear outer ring but none in the chuck body. The stranger thing to me is that I rotates to tighten in the direction the chuck will be turning so it would seem that it would loosen itself under use. It has no marks other than a number that had no google hits. It looks like a D.E. Whitton chuck I found some references to on the net.

Anyone seen this arrangement?

 

[pjf134]

Did you get the jaws with it? It might be that the jaws rotate inward when you rotate the opposite way on the back side of the chuck, not sure though, but is worth a try with the jaws in. My Sherline has double holes on the outside of the chuck for moving the jaws in and out (see pic). Which lathe did it come with?
Paul

 

[Kenwc]

Yea I guess I should have mentioned that I do have the jaws but when I took the pic I had them out cleaning them.

I mounted the chuck as you see in another lathe and spun it to polish it. Then took it apart and got it squeaky clean and lubed it and put it back together. Doubt I'll us it because of the strange direction it tightens but at least it will look good in the drawer.

And pjf... It came with an old restored Craftsman 12" lathe I bought recently.

 

[ScrapMetal]

I'd go ahead and give it a try. If I understand how it tightens up the ring to tighten it should move in the direction of the lathe's operation. Think about it. The ring is independent of the chuck. When both are spinning in the standard direction (counter clockwise) there is no force acting on it and the chuck will remain tight. When you put a cutting tool to a piece that is in the chuck it will cause the chuck to slow a bit whereas the "ring" will try and continue on at the same speed resulting in a tightening of the chuck. :biggrin: Does that make sense or am sounding more "the village idiot"? :biggrin:

-Ron

 

[Kenwc]

I'll check again.....this may be all in my tiny little mind. Would not be the first time.

Thanks for the replies

Ken

 

[Kenwc]

Well all's well that spins well I guess. I took another look at the chuck and it hadn't occurred to me that the ring was independent of the spindle but it is and everything is good now. It's actually a cool little chuck.

Thanks for tolerating my journey to the obvious.

Ken