To grease or not to grease the 3-jaw

[benmychree]

I have always used grease on the gearing in 3 jaw chucks, but do use oil on the face of the scroll, not so much that it slings out, just enough to keep things working smoothly, and do occasionally take it apart and thouroughly clean and re lube, especially if things feel binding up.

 

[pontiac428]

I always felt like I was "cheating" by using grease on chucks (and keeping my silence about it). When I got my Pratt-Burnerd scroll chuck, I was surprised to find a factory-supplied zerk fitting to feed the scroll and gears. One effect of adding an ounce or two of grease to the chuck innards is how the grease works as a fluid dynamic balancing mass. Dry, my chuck has a balance wobble, but partially filled with grease it runs smooth... Not saying to try this at home with your asian chuck, but it appears some manufacturers have no issue with sticky grease on the scrolls.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I can see where the viscosity of grease would dampen vibration and would act as a dynamic balancer. Like with anything, at some point it needs to come apart and be serviced otherwise you just keep pumping more grease in to mix with possibly contaminated grease.
Like others, I add a small amount to the scroll disc edge and to any gears, but I only use oil (ISO 68, 20w) on the jaws.

 

[Reddinr]

I would suggest experimenting a little further until the chuck actually ends up unusable.

Agree. It is like light bulbs. Remember real light bulbs? You have to test them until they burn out. ONLY THEN do you know how long it will last. Then you put a new one in, a better one. Repeat.

 

[benmychree]

On my 10" Buck AdjustTru 3 jaw chuck, I installed a drilling to connect a new zerk fitting in the face of the chuck to lube the diameter fit of the scroll; of course some of the grease will migrate to the gear, and scroll side. I do not grease this point frequently.

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Took a pic today of what I use,thought to share it.

 

[darkzero]

Fuchs Gleitmo 805 is the grease that Bison uses in their chucks. Not saying that it's superior to others. I have a little tub of it that'll probably last me a lifetime. Just mentioning it here cause of the pic above. It's not a common brand of grease in the US.

 

[pontiac428]

The German-made Liqui-Moly general purpose molybdenum disulfide grease (comes in a tube) is a good substitute. It's light and slick, not waxy and sticky like the American brand Autozone stuff. It's what I use where called for on my machines.

 

[dewbane]

I would suggest experimenting a little further until the chuck actually ends up unusable. That way your hand is forced, you have no choice, you will have to buy a new 3 jaw chuck.

Your reasoning is sound. I need to find a ridiculously ambitious project that pushes this cheap chuck to the breaking point, and then get a real one.

 

[westerner]

I would suggest experimenting a little further until the chuck actually ends up unusable.

As Dirty Harry said "A man has GOT to know his limitations".
As Westerner said "How do you FIND your limitations? You must EXCEED them"!

I use the grease closest to the lathe. So far, it is not hopping around the shop from the impending rotational catastrophe. I will give it some more time....