Utilizing jam chucks on the lathe

There are occasions in woodturning when the necessity arises for “artistic” or customizable work holding on the lathe. There are commercially out there options akin to flat jaws, comfortable jaws, vacuum chucks, and so forth., however these instruments have limitations. Value will be one such limitation; it could be tough to justify the price for a possible single-use answer. A jam chuck is a superb choice, as a result of it’s infinitely customizable and constructed of scrap materials you already personal. A jam chuck holds objects on the lathe using a wood-on-wood friction joint. This wood-on-wood joint won’t mar a completed piece so it will also be used on initiatives that want touching up.

I used to be not too long ago commissioned to make a classroom set of spinning tops for my spouse’s co-worker. Whereas making these tops, I used to be ready to make use of jam chucking to make extra environment friendly use of supplies. I began with a 1-1/2 in. sq. by 6-in.-long clean, which allowed me to make three tops from every part, leaving a scrap simply large enough for an additional high. That final piece often presents a difficulty as it will necessitate working too near the chuck jaws. I used to be ready to make use of a jam chuck to reverse-mount the spinning high and end the underside. Jam chucking could be a very correct approach of remounting workpieces.

A spinning high have to be precisely rotated a single heart level to work effectively. I began by shaping and texturing the highest facet of the highest.

There’s not sufficient room between the spinning high and the chuck jaws for shaping, texturing, and parting.

Jam chuck to the rescue!

To make use of a jam chuck, mount a block of scrap within the chuck and bore a gap by means of the middle with a spindle gouge (a drill bit could possibly be used additionally) to make room for the deal with of the highest. Minimize a recess with a parting device that may simply match the diameter of the outer fringe of the highest. The recess can even present good registration because it holds the spinning high across the high nook, gripping the sting and referencing the face. This match must be very tight and should take a couple of tries to get it excellent, however it’s value it.

Insert the spinning high deal with finish first and faucet it in with the butt finish of your chisel. At this level, the spinning high will be formed and adorned.

After eradicating the jam chuck with the spinning high connected, a dowel or compressed air can be utilized to push the spinning high out of the tight-fitting jam chuck.

Or, reusable comfortable jaws could be higher

As a bonus, an adjustable jam chuck could possibly be made by creating DIY comfortable jaws in your chuck.

The instance described right here is simply one of many many makes use of for a jam chuck. Jam chucks can be utilized for giant and small initiatives, the whole lot from jewellery pendants to bowls. The subsequent time you might be offered with a tough holding scenario, get artistic and use a jam chuck.

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-Darryl Jones is a Positive Woodworking Ambassador. He enjoys empowering others by means of instructing and sharing data and methods. His social media deal with is Dread Knot Woodshop (YouTube, Instagram) as a result of he believes that we’re all able to greater than we understand. Therefore the tagline “Dread Knot and Make One thing.”