Jam chucks

[Bodrighy]

I have so far created a huge pile of shavings, sawdust etc + 1 bowl with 4 holes in the bottom and an egg.I also have a couple of pots that I can't finish off because I can't get a jam chuck to work.
1 It doesn't automatically centralise a la books
2 It doesn't hold long enough to do any amount of cutting.

I have followed all the guidelines in 'A foundation course' and other books and looked up on the forum. The only thing I can think that it may be is that I am using a piece of soft pine. It grips tightly to start and then off it pops. I am also running at 500 rpm (just in case it flies too far too fast) Any ideas from you experts?

A very frustrated Pete

P.S. Spindle work is fine, except what can I make?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Pete, can't help with the jam chucks... haven't used the technique in years... a thought though, are you using the tailstock to support the bowl? If you do, this will leave a small nib which can be pared off by hand

Spindle... think, a goblet is a spindle with a hole in the end :wink:

There's your starter for 10 :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

A newbie question. To make a goblet, I need to have the blank held at the headstock end only don't I? It's that hollowing out bit I am having trouble with, The sooner I can get a chuck the better, SWMBO is oohing and aahing over the bowl and egg but will soon be expecting more

 

[Anonymous]

To make a goblet, I need to have the blank held at the headstock end only don't I?

Yes, but at the start use the tailstock for additional support... but you will need a chuck.

Make her a few more bowls and swap them for a chuck... if the housekeeping budget will allow :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

Thanks Graham, I guess it's partly a case of me looking at too many books, web sites and things and seeing what can be done and wanting to do it NOW! I can't imagine what it's like for Blister, at least mine is up and running and I am making something.

I'll post some images as soon as I can get some decent photos. I'll hide any holes in the bottom from the face plate until I get a chuck.

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

Holes... either hide them or make them a feature e.g. drill and insert a plug of contrasting wood... maybe add a few more for decoration?
... helps if you have a plug cutter..

 

[Nick W]

... I am using a piece of soft pine. ...

That'll be it then, though there is no harm in using tailstock support too. Belt and braces.

 

[CHJ]

...snip... I'll hide any holes in the bottom from the face plate until I get a chuck.
Pete

You can always use hot melt glue to hold your 'good' wood to a piece of scrap and screw into this from your faceplate.

Same with a goblet, if you prepare a basic blank slightly over length, (turn the corners off) between centres then mount a piece of scrap on your face plate, cut a shallow alignment recess in it to suit your goblet blank and then glue that to the faceplate 'blank' in situ with PVA. Use tailstock to hold in place with slight pressure until set.

 

[Bodrighy]

Hi Chas,
By hot glue are you talking about a glue gun or the crogenicanalytic stuff? I was wondering about using glue. I've seen a number of references to it and it's ringing bells from my schooldays....so long ago

SWMBO has started making comments such as, "you really do need a chuck don't you" so who knows. It just bugs me that people were turning beautiful things for centuries before chucks were invented so there's got to be a way. I'll post some pics of what I have achieved so far so you can all judge, gently please.
Pete

 

[PowerTool]

Hot melt glue - the sort that is now commonly available in glue sticks,and is used in a glue gun that plugs into the leccy.

Andrew

 

[CHJ]

Hi Chas,
By hot glue are you talking about a glue gun or the crogenicanalytic stuff? I was wondering about using glue. I've seen a number of references to it and it's ringing bells from my schooldays....so long ago
Pete

Hi Pete, Hot glue gun, the glue is quite strong in shear, a 300mm bowl will hold on a 75-100mm piece of scrap.

I would not use hot melt for the goblet hold because it can flex a little.

Even if you use Hot melt on a finished surface (sanded but not sealed or waxed) you can remove the scrap latter by carefully splitting it along the grain and pealing the glue off.

See this post for some samples

And here is a piece at Philly's bash being held by Hot Melt.

Admittedly this was on a screw chuck adaptor but it could just as easily have been mounted on a faceplate.

 

[Bodrighy]

Thanks Chas. I can afford a glue gun. I still want a chuck but I'm sure that there will be times when glue will be a better alternative. Let you know how it goes.

Pete

 

[paulm]

It's worth persevering with the jam chucks. They are very useful even if you do eventually get a chuck.

Sounds like you may need a longer and gentler taper on the jam chuck so that the pot makes contact on a larger area. With it popping off it sounds like the taper on the jam chuck is too severe. The longer gentler taper may well help with the centering also, although you can use the tailstock as well for additional gentle support, perhaps with a small piece of waste between too avoid marking the base of the pot.

A power drill with small sanding pad makes cleaniing up any marks on the base of the bowl much easier.

Good luck !

Cheers, Paul.

 

[paulm]

P.S. Spindle work is fine, except what can I make?

A quick "brain dump" of more straight forward spindle turning applications to get you started Pete:-

Garden dibbers
Wooden mallets
Tool handles (incl turning tools and bench chisels etc)
Fruit
Eggs
Rolling pins
Porridge stirrers !
Key rings
Light pulls

You can also buy some accessory kits for things like
Pens
Cutlery etc

See here for some further ideas and inspiration:

http://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/

And here:

http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/

Happy turning !
Cheers, Paul.

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Pete.
If your stuck for a chuck at the moment, i made my own,which i copied from a book.
It's made from 3-1/2" square solid or laminated Oak,although any hardwood would do, 4" long turned down to 3-1/4" dia and mounted to a 3" or 4" face plate.There are 2 recesses in the tailstock end that are 5/8" deep,the middle recess 1-1/2 dia,this is what holds your work,you need a 1/8" wall on the outside edge and one where the inner recess is.
Divide the outside wall into 6 equal spaces and saw a thin kerf across the diameter of both the outer and inner wall.
Cut out a section of the outer wall this will give you access to the jubilee clip that is placed on the inner wall.
Tighten the clip to mount your work.
It was pretty easy to make,but not to explain and it does work.
The secret with this chuck is turn your tenons on your bowl or whatever nice and snug fit to the 1-1/2 dia recess to fit the chuck.
Hope this is all clear.
If i was clever enough i would post the diagrams on here for you to see.Or if someone else has the diagrams or similar and could post them for you.If not perhaps there could be another way of showing you.
p.s nice turnings by the way.

Paul.J.

 

[Bodrighy]

Hello Pete.
If your stuck for a chuck at the moment, i made my own,which i copied from a book.

It was pretty easy to make,but not to explain and it does work.
The secret with this chuck is turn your tenons on your bowl or whatever nice and snug fit to the 1-1/2 dia recess to fit the chuck.
Hope this is all clear.
If i was clever enough i would post the diagrams on here for you to see.Or if someone else has the diagrams or similar and could post them for you.If not perhaps there could be another way of showing you.
p.s nice turnings by the way.

Paul.J.

Thanks Paul, your explanation is clear enough. Now you have mentioned it it is ringing bells. I think I have seen something like that in a book. I might just have a go at that if I don't get a chuck in the next week. Pay day soon with a bit of a bonus in it, I'll wait and see just how much I get.

There's probably dozens of ways of doing this if I was clever enough to work it out. Just plain impatient. I want to turn perfect things yesterday.

Pete