Axminster M33x 3.5 Woodturning woodscrew chuck

[Democritus]

Hi Guys,

Sometime ago I bought an Axminster woodscrew chuck. I have only used it occasionally, generally preferring faceplates. I used it today to mount a bowl blank. As well as the the centre screw, I also used 4 short screws to secure the blank. Having turned the outside of the bowl, I came to take the chuck off the headstock spindle. I locked the spindle, grasped the bowl and tried to turn it off. I couldn’t budge it. The chuck comes with a 6mm x 6 inch steel rod that can be inserted into a hole on the edge of the chuck. Usually inserting this rod and giving it a sharp tap will begin to unscrew the chuck from the spindle. It didn’t happen today. I gave the rod increasingly hard hits with a rubber mallet, all without any effect other than bending the rod. I became increasingly desperate, imagining the cost of sending the headstock away. Eventually I used a large pipe wrench. This did it, but at the cost of seriously marking the outside of the chuck body. I was relieved to find headstock spindle was undamaged, the thought that somehow a cross threading had happened had crossed my mind.
A long story, I know, but does anyone know why this happened, or have had the same problem with this Axminster product?
D.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Get a bit of strong, flat plastic - I use a Dettol bottle - and cut a washer from it. This will prevent its happening again. It's not just your chuck or lathe, it often happens.

A length of steel gripped between the jaws of the chuck will usually allow enough leverage to get the chuck off.

 

[Democritus]

Hi, Phil.
I have used the steel rod trick with a normal 4 jaw chuck, but this chuck is not of that type. See photos.
I have used cork washers in the past to prevent chucks sticking but stopped using them when I started using the metal rod in the jaws trick. Thanks for reminding me about the use of washers. I’d completely forgotten.
D.

 

[Democritus]

Hi, Phil.
I have used the steel rod trick with a normal 4 jaw chuck, but this chuck is not of that type.

 

[Democritus]

Hope you got the photos.
D

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, I was thinking you had a screw in a conventional four jaw chuck.

 

[Democritus]

Cheers, Phil.
D

 

[Robbo3]

Although the APTC screw chuck is supplied with a rod a better tool would be a correctly sized 'C' spanner. I say correct size as Axminster sell one to fit their chucks but it may be the wrong size for this application. C spanners are a fairly easy to find tool.
Edit: In the post 'Bought a lathe on a whim' it shows the use of C spanner.

 

[Democritus]

Although the APTC screw chuck is supplied with a rod a better tool would be a correctly sized 'C' spanner. I say correct size as Axminster sell one to fit their chucks but it may be the wrong size for this application. C spanners are a fairly easy to find tool.
Edit: In the post 'Bought a lathe on a whim' it shows the use of C spanner.

Cheers Robbo

I have a C spanner for my 4 jaw chucks (Record Power). I use it occasionally, but mostly rely I on the steel rod trick.Needless to say, in my desperation yesterday I tried it on the Axminster . Also needless to say, it didn’t fit.
I think I’ll contact them to see if they can supply one that would fit.
Thanks for your input, Robbo, much appreciated
D

 

[alex robinson]

Cheers Robbo

I have a C spanner for my 4 jaw chucks (Record Power). I use it occasionally, but mostly rely I on the steel rod trick.Needless to say, in my desperation yesterday I tried it on the Axminster . Also needless to say, it didn’t fit.
I think I’ll contact them to see if they can supply one that would fit.
Thanks for your input, Robbo, much appreciated
D

Try zorro tools. They do a great adjustable c spanner that is pretty cheap

 

[Democritus]

Thanks, Alex

 

[Fergie 307]

There are lots of adjustable c or pin spanners where you can also buy different sized pins, so you can get both the correct span and pin size. I think mine are kennedy, but lots of other makers out there and not too expensive.

 

[okeydokey]

I have used large Stilsons in the past, to get rid of the nasty marks I ended up filing the chuck on slow speed followed by emery paper, not perfect but looked better

 

[Democritus]

Thanks Fergie and okeydokey. I pursue both ideas.
D