To Key or Not to Key that is the question.

[ltlvt]

Lets hear it for keyless chucks and drill chucks that require keys. I have 4 keyless chucks . Seems to me all of them want to slip unless I sprain my wrist trying to get them tight. Is there a trick that I am not using (Like a 16" pipe wrench)? I keep a key type chuck and key on my Bridgeport clone mill and have no problem but the key never leaves the mill. I also have several other Key type chucks that are on M-2 and M-3 and even M-4 arbors. I have thought about just buying an R-8 arbor and pressing it onto one of the old key type chucks. So what is the consensus. To Key or not to Key ?

 

[Mauzinette]

Key for me, even with cordless tools.

 

[ltlvt]

Key for me, even with cordless tools.

I have a Makita cord type drill that came with keyless chuck and i finally bought a Key type chuck and put on it. I also have a cordless drill with keyless on it and it is a PITA

 

[GrifterGuru]

Keyed chuck. Every time.

No keyless chuck can or will ever grip as well as a properly tightened* keyed chuck will because we, as humans, can not exert enough grip force to lock them down tight enough. That said, using water pump pliers or Stilsons (Pipe wrench) will exert enough force, but knarl the chuck body and, in some instances, distort it , even if it can tighten the chuck as much as is needed to prevent slipping.

Every single drill I own, apart from my SDS has a keyed chuck. Even those supplied new with keyless have a keyed chuck fitted straight out of the box before use and that includes my Pistol grip Bosch cordless that came new with a 3/8" keyless chuck, that now has a 1/2" keyed chuck (a nice upgrade giving it more versatility).

Every drill chuck for my lathe is keyed.

* Always use all three key ports when tightening to ensure equal jaw pressure.

There is always a caveat and this is it... A 3 jaw drill chuck will never be able to properly grip a hardened shaft, such as that for an end mill or reamer, unless designed to be held in a drill chuck.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Lets hear it for keyless chucks and drill chucks that require keys. I have 4 keyless chucks . Seems to me all of them want to slip unless I sprain my wrist trying to get them tight. Is there a trick that I am not using (Like a 16" pipe wrench)? I keep a key type chuck and key on my Bridgeport clone mill and have no problem but the key never leaves the mill. I also have several other Key type chucks that are on M-2 and M-3 and even M-4 arbors. I have thought about just buying an R-8 arbor and pressing it onto one of the old key type chucks. So what is the consensus. To Key or not to Key ?

For me it depends on what I'm drilling.
For small holes, say spotting and center drills and holes up to 1/4" it's quicker to use a keyless Albrecht. Larger, up to 1/2" a keyed chuck. For larger still, I ĥave collected quite a few MT 3 drills - up to 1-1/4" and use those as they fit both my lathe and drill. I have never liked step drills as those always seem to slip in any chuck.
I can swap an MT chuck or bit in or out about as fast as I can swap drills in and out of a chuck so that's usually how I do it.
Hope that all makes sense.

 

[GeneT45]

I use primarily keyless chucks on my mill and lathe but still have a keyed chuck on my drill press. Keyless is great, and a wonderful convenience, but you either need to get a good one (both of mine are Albrecht) or go keyed. Those who say keyless won't hold, haven't tried the right chuck.

GsT

 

[GrifterGuru]

I use primarily keyless chucks on my mill and lathe but still have a keyed chuck on my drill press. Keyless is great, and a wonderful convenience, but you either need to get a good one (both of mine are Albrecht) or go keyed. Those who say keyless won't hold, haven't tried the right chuck.

GsT

Those of us who have tried keyless and tried the right keyless chuck still go with keyed.

Yes, keyless are fast and convenient but they never have been and never will be capable of being able to grip as well as a keyed chuck will.

 

[cathead]

I am not going to limit myself to one kind of chuck so have both. If drilling with gusto, I do prefer
a keyed chuck and sometimes use a bit with three 120 degree flats. You can get away with hand
tightening in some situations.

 

[GrifterGuru]

I am not going to limit myself to one kind of chuck so have both. If drilling with gusto, I do prefer
a keyed chuck and sometimes use a bit with three 120 degree flats. You can get away with hand
tightening in some situations.

Yes, apparently, sometimes using your hands is the only option.

Me? I will stick to my keyed only chucks.

 

[machPete99]

Both chuck styles are useful. I have a 3/8 keyless (Albrecht) and a couple of 1/2" keyed (US made Jacobs Super).
Keyless is more convenient with smaller drill sizes and lots of change-ups; some claim better accuracy, not sure.
I also happen to have a larger (5/8?) Jacobs (Keyed) but that does not get used much.