A Tale of Laziness

[rleete]

I have a 5C collet chuck on my lathe. Having a pretty good selection of collets makes life easier. But recently, I started a project that requires swapping collets multiple times per part. Each time, it takes 35 turns of the chuck key to remove one collet, and another 35 turns to install the next. Over the course of an evening in the shop, I got tired of winding that chuck key. So, I modified this hex socket adapter to fit the collet chuck. It works in any drill and makes changing collets much faster and easier.

 

[Scott_M]

I would say that is not lazy at all, think of it as "work smarter , not harder"

Well done !!

I did a simalar "Modification" to my old grizzly knee mill. When I put my tilting rotary table on with chuck facing up I would have to wind the knee all the way down. Down was not as bad as back up. I finally drilled and tapped a 1/2 x 20 hole in the end of the shaft the handle was on and wound a SHCS in with loctite. I had to use my big 1/2" drill with a 2" piece of a 3/8 hex key in the chuck, but it wound it up and down really quick. I was really glad I did it

( note to self: don't forget to disengage the handle before starting the drill ) Don't ask me how I know

Scott

 

[petertha]

In the club!

 

[timo_gross]

I think I need to make some adapters, later.